The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable is a private foundation, based in Carbondale, CO. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $17.1M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 3 grants totaling $1.2M. Net investment income was $1.0M.
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable at a glance
In short: The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable gave $1.2M across 3 grants in 2024 (avg $388K), mostly in California. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,162,617
- +6.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $387,539
- +41.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $17,108,798
- -1.2% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- California (87% 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 Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was UCLA Foundation ($1.0M). Together the top 3 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
26 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 11 grants of 26 (42%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable gives
- Giving fell 72% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 124% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $712K (2022) to $4.1M (2021). In 2024 it made 3 grants totaling $1.2M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UCLA Foundation Pasadena, CA | To Support UCLA Division of Digestive Diseases | $1,010,617 |
| SUMMIT54 Aspen, CO | Support the operations of summit 54 which is to provide k-12 education support in the roaring fork valley. | $100,000 |
| Friends of Casita Ac Inc East Falmouth, MA | To support construction of simple homes for poor residents in the area of san miguel de allende mexico | $52,000 |
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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 | $17,108,798 | $1,076,728 | $1,216,574 | $1,162,617 | 3 | $1,162,617 | $1,020,980 | $936,732 |
| 2023 | $17,310,089 | $923,620 | $1,146,805 | $1,096,983 | 4 | $1,096,983 | $872,800 | $873,958 |
| 2022 | $17,558,028 | $3,807,050 | $750,665 | $712,180 | 8 | $712,180 | $2,764,530 | $1,839,714 |
| 2021 | $13,943,320 | $5,364,018 | $4,131,004 | $4,112,000 | 6 | $4,112,000 | $326,421 | $747,965 |
| 2020 | $12,677,364 | $424,973 | $1,873,371 | $1,825,000 | 5 | — | $277,911 | $685,892 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable reported a distributable amount of $937K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable is led by Bren Simon, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Bren Simon
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
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 Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable
How much does The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable give each year?
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable gave $1.2M across 3 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $1.1M across 4 grants.
What is The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable's typical grant size?
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $387,539, across 3 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable give grants?
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable gives mostly in California: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (9%).
Does The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
How large is The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable?
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable reported $17.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $937K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable's EIN?
The Melvin and Bren Simon Charitable's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 35-2049367. 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
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