Ronald M Simon Foundation logo

Ronald M Simon Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Newport Beach, CA EIN: 68-0524905 Website

The Ronald M Simon Foundation is a private foundation based in Newport Beach, California. Its 2022 filing is marked as its final return, indicating that it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.

Key facts about Ronald M Simon Foundation

In short: Ronald M Simon Foundation gave $6.9M across 14 grants in 2022 (avg $491K), mostly in California. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
68-0524905
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2022
Annual giving (2022)
$6,878,724
Grants made (2022)
14
Average grant
$491,337
Median grant
$10,000
Total assets
$7,421,820
Primary geography
California (100% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.4M

-54.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$6.9M

-4.7% YoY

Grant Count

14

-12.5% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$491K

+9.0% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Ronald M Simon Foundation reported a distributable amount of $353K for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How Ronald M Simon Foundation gives

  • 64% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
  • In 2022 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The available sources do not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2022 grants included general operating support for the Simon Family Foundation and Simon Charitable Foundation, as well as grants to educational, youth-development, and other charitable organizations.

The grantees describe their own work as follows: Jewish Graduate Student Initiative says it supports Jewish life on graduate school campuses and connects Jewish graduate students, alumni, and executives to their heritage and the greater Jewish community. Chapman University says its mission is to provide personalized education that leads to inquiring, ethical, and productive lives as global citizens. Hispanic 100 Foundation says it seeks to enhance opportunities for Hispanics and supporters of Hispanics and support policies addressing issues critical to the Hispanic community. Taller San Jose Hope Builders says it empowers disadvantaged young adults through mentorship and job- and life-skills training.

Grantmaking

In 2022, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $6,878,724. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $3,276,912, with a median of $10,000. The largest listed grants were $3,276,912 and $1,787,712 to Simon Family Foundation, and $852,600 and $852,500 to Simon Charitable Foundation; each was for general operating expenses. Other listed grants included $25,000 each to Jewish Graduate Student Initiative and UCI Foundation, and $10,000 each to Southern California Hospice Foundation, Hispanic 100 Foundation, Taller San Jose Hope Builders, and Chapman University. The filing also lists $5,000 to Philanthropy Day.

How to Apply

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

All 2022 grant dollars were reported for recipients in California. The filing lists 0% for Virginia and 0% for Hawaii.

Grant Distribution by State

3states

Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.

Cities

Newport BeachSanta AnaOrangeSan ClementeCosta MesaIrvineLos AngelesAlexandriaArlingtonFountain ValleyKailuakona

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M1 grant2020 16 grants2021 14 grants2022

From 2020 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $6.3M (2020) to $7.2M (2021). In 2022 it made 14 grants totaling $6.9M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2022

Simon Family Foundation: $5.1M across 2 grantsSimon Family Foundation$5.1M · 2 grantsSimon Charitable Foundation: $1.7M across 2 grantsSimon Charitable Foundation$1.7M · 2 grantsJewish Graduate Student Initiative: $25KJewish Graduate StudentInitiative$25KUCI Foundation: $25KUCI Foundation$25KHispanic 100 Foundation: $20K across 2 grantsHispanic 100 Foundation$20K · 2 grantsSouthern California Hospice Foundation: $10KSouthern California HospiceFoundation$10KTaller San Jose Hope Builders: $10KTaller San Jose Hope Builders$10KChapman University: $10KChapman University$10KPhilanthropy Day: $5KPhilanthropy Day$5KThe Wooden Floor: $3KThe Wooden Floor$3K

The largest 2022 recipient was Simon Family Foundation ($5.1M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $6.9M.

Grant Size Distribution

31 grants across all recorded years

20<$50K$50–100K2$100–250K$250–500K4$500K–1M4$1–5M1$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 20 grants of 31 (65%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Simon Family Foundation Newport Beach, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$3,276,912
Simon Family Foundation Newport Beach, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$1,787,712
Simon Charitable Foundation Newport Beach, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$852,600
Simon Charitable Foundation Newport Beach, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$852,500
Jewish Graduate Student Initiative Los Angeles, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$25,000
UCI Foundation Irvine, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$25,000
Southern California Hospice Foundation Costa Mesa, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$10,000
Hispanic 100 Foundation San Clemente, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$10,000
Taller San Jose Hope Builders Santa Ana, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$10,000
Chapman University Orange, CAGeneral Operating Expenses$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2022 $7,421,820 $943,812 $7,347,453 $6,878,724
2021 $16,342,878 −$1,308,916 $8,371,951 $7,214,302
2020 $23,967,220 $5,555,331 $13,827,804 $6,287,884
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$15M$20M2020 2021 2022
Metric202220212020
Total Assets$7,421,820$16,342,878$23,967,220
Revenue$943,812$-1,308,916$5,555,331
Expenses$7,347,453$8,371,951$13,827,804
Qualifying Distributions$7,056,001——
Net Investment Income$738,652$3,136,452$532,166
Distributable Amount$352,661$739,559$1,043,966

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2022 filing lists Kathy Simon Abels, Steven H Simon, Ronald Simon, Gary Singer, James B Freedman, Gilbert E Levasseur Jr, Alex Calabrese, Sandi Simon, James L Doti, and Randy Thompson. Ronald Simon is listed as founding director, Gary Singer as chairman, and Randy Thompson as treasurer; the others are listed as directors.

Ronald M Simon Foundation is led by Sheryl Bourgeois, President on the 2022 filing; none of the 13 officers listed in 2022 report compensation.

Officers on the 2022 filing

  • Sheryl Bourgeois

    President

    New on the 2022 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Gary Singer

    Chairman

    On filings since 2020

    2.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Alex Calebrese

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Gilbert E. Levasseur Jr.

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • James B. Freedman

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • James L. Doti

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Kathy Simon Abels

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Ronald Simon

    Founding Director

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sandi Simon

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Steven H. Simon

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    No compensation reported

  • Benjamin Drutman

    Director

    New on the 2022 filing

    No compensation reported

  • James V. Mazzo

    Director

    New on the 2022 filing

    No compensation reported

  • Randy Thompson

    Treasurer

    New on the 2022 filing

    No compensation reported

Former officers (1)
  • Former: Jerry Liu (2020–2021) — Secretary & Treasurer

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Contact

Mailing address: 620 Newport Center Drive 12Th Floo, Newport Beach, CA 92660
Phone: (949) 720-1116
Website: HTTP://WWW.SIMONSCHOLARS.ORG

Frequently asked questions about Ronald M Simon Foundation

How much does Ronald M Simon Foundation give each year?

Ronald M Simon Foundation gave $6.9M across 14 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $7.2M across 16 grants.

What is Ronald M Simon Foundation's typical grant size?

Ronald M Simon Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $10,000, and its average grant was $491,337, across 14 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does Ronald M Simon Foundation give grants?

Ronald M Simon Foundation gives mostly in California: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Newport Beach, CA (4 grants), San Clemente, CA (2 grants) and Santa Ana, CA (2 grants).

Does Ronald M Simon Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Ronald M Simon Foundation's 2022 grants with a stated purpose (14 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Ronald M Simon Foundation's largest grantees?

Ronald M Simon Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Simon Family Foundation ($5,064,624 across 2 grants), Simon Charitable Foundation ($1,705,100 across 2 grants) and Jewish Graduate Student Initiative ($25,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 99% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.

How large is Ronald M Simon Foundation?

Ronald M Simon Foundation reported $7.4M in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $353K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Ronald M Simon Foundation fund?

The available sources do not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2022 grants included general operating support for the Simon Family Foundation and Simon Charitable Foundation, as well as grants to educational, youth-development, and other charitable organizations. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Ronald M Simon Foundation?

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Ronald M Simon Foundation's EIN?

Ronald M Simon Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0524905. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2022.

Does Ronald M Simon Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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