The Louise Merage Family Foundation
The Louise Merage Family Foundation is a private foundation, based in Newport Beach, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $4.6M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $215K. Net investment income was $180K.
The Louise Merage Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Louise Merage Family Foundation gave $215K across 5 grants in 2024 (avg $43K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $215,290
- +5.6% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 5
- +66.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $43,058
- -36.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,400
- Total assets
- $4,566,303
- -8.0% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.
Who The Louise Merage Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Orange County Community Foundation ($171K). Together the top 5 received $215K.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 29 grants of 38 (76%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Louise Merage Family Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $201K (2022) to $257K (2020). In 2024 it made 5 grants totaling $215K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Orange County Community Foundation Irvine, CA | General Operations | $170,500 |
| Segerstrom Center for the Arts Costa Mesa, CA | General Operations | $19,390 |
| Pacific Symphony Irvine, CA | General Operations | $10,400 |
| Yampa Valley Community Foundation Steamboat Springs, CO | General Operations | $10,000 |
| M3ND Project Orange, CA | General Operations | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,566,303 | $180,117 | $227,356 | $215,290 | 5 | $221,964 | $180,065 | $233,674 |
| 2023 | $4,964,340 | $207,576 | $211,718 | $203,879 | 3 | $213,226 | $207,010 | $214,415 |
| 2022 | $3,393,359 | $697 | $214,219 | $200,654 | 4 | $209,633 | $139 | $228,530 |
| 2021 | $4,764,713 | $204,224 | $242,910 | $238,651 | 10 | $242,352 | $203,616 | $238,727 |
| 2020 | $4,906,706 | $81,966 | $269,217 | $257,200 | 16 | — | $81,011 | $234,472 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Louise Merage Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $234K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Louise Merage Family Foundation is led by Louise Merage, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Louise Merage
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Merage
Secretary, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Gregory Merage
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Jeff Merage
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Louise Merage Family Foundation
How much does The Louise Merage Family Foundation give each year?
The Louise Merage Family Foundation gave $215K across 5 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $204K across 3 grants.
What is The Louise Merage Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Louise Merage Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,400, and its average grant was $43,058, across 5 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Louise Merage Family Foundation give grants?
The Louise Merage Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Irvine, CA (2 grants).
Does The Louise Merage Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Louise Merage Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 5) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Louise Merage Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Louise Merage Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Orange County Community Foundation ($170,500), Segerstrom Center for the Arts ($19,390) and Pacific Symphony ($10,400), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Louise Merage Family Foundation?
The Louise Merage Family Foundation reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $222K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $234K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Louise Merage Family Foundation's EIN?
The Louise Merage Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0657537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Louise Merage Family Foundation funds
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