The Merali Foundation
The Merali Foundation is a private foundation, based in Rapid City, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $7.2M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 5 grants totaling $397K. Net investment income was $176K.
The Merali Foundation at a glance
In short: The Merali Foundation gave $397K across 5 grants in 2025 (avg $79K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $396,700
- +0.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 5
- +25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $79,340
- -19.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $7,238,352
- -3.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Texas (89% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated November 2026.
Who The Merali Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
20 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 14 grants of 20 (70%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 5 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Merali Foundation gives
- Giving grew 86% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $213K (2022) to $397K (2025). In 2025 it made 5 grants totaling $397K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 5 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $396,700 |
Ready to take the next step with The Merali Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,238,352 | $241,792 | $487,256 | $396,700 | 5 | $421,818 | $176,354 | $455,307 |
| 2024 | $7,486,180 | $1,036,608 | $570,982 | $396,000 | 4 | $439,060 | $904,686 | $389,103 |
| 2023 | $7,020,650 | $237,469 | $390,780 | $298,305 | 3 | $341,407 | $188,096 | $325,262 |
| 2022 | $7,163,536 | $206,329 | $300,721 | $213,266 | 4 | $256,368 | $161,976 | $316,875 |
| 2021 | $7,085,620 | $257,587 | $418,311 | $301,572 | 4 | $346,426 | $185,703 | $366,512 |
| 2020 | $7,257,146 | $441,242 | $341,077 | $243,088 | 3 | — | $384,520 | $327,837 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merali Foundation reported a distributable amount of $455K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Merali Foundation is led by Karim Merali, President on every filing since 2020; 2 of 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Karim Merali
President
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$5K (2020) → $25K (2025)
Mehdi Merali
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $23K (2025)
Azim Merali
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $25K, to Karim Merali (President). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Merali Foundation
How much does The Merali Foundation give each year?
The Merali Foundation gave $397K across 5 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $396K across 4 grants.
What is The Merali Foundation's typical grant size?
The Merali Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $79,340, across 5 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Merali Foundation give grants?
The Merali Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 89% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does The Merali Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 5 grants with a stated purpose on The Merali Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Finance Education for Women in Developing Coutries" (4 grants).
How large is The Merali Foundation?
The Merali Foundation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $422K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $455K (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 Merali Foundation's EIN?
The Merali Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0875013. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 27, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023
Live grants for the work The Merali Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Merali Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in South Dakota
Intuitive Foundation
Sunnyvale, CA
The Intuitive Foundation funds medical and technology research, robotic-surgery training, and STEM and healthcare pathways, supporting eligible nonprofits in the United States and worldwide. Giving varies widely: 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $2.8 million, with a median of about $52,000; clinical research grants offer up to $75,000 per project. It accepts unsolicited online requests, reviewed quarterly.
Assets
$122.7M
Grants
104
Total Given
$12.6M
O'Neill Family Charitable Trust
New York, NY
The O’Neill Family Charitable Trust funds organizations working in education, arts and culture, health, research, historic preservation, environmental causes, and international work. Its 2024 grants ranged from $3,000 to $500,000, with a median of $20,000; nearly half of grant dollars went to New York recipients, with additional support in several other states. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$153.8M
Grants
149
Total Given
$8.5M
John P and Anne Welsh McNulty Foundation
New York, NY
The foundation supports leadership development and leaders and ventures addressing social, economic, and environmental challenges, including through academic partnerships, the McNulty Prize, and the Catalyst Fund. Its 2024 grants had a median of $17,725 and ranged from $65 to $948,906; most funding went to New York, Washington, DC, and Florida. It gives only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited funding requests.
Assets
$42.0M
Grants
198
Total Given
$6.6M
Silicon Valley Community Foundation
Mountain View, CA
Silicon Valley Community Foundation funds work in areas such as housing, economic security, education, health, the environment, arts and culture, and civic engagement, with Community Action Grants supporting local, community-led organizations in San Mateo and Santa Clara counties. Its 2024 grants had a median of $51,716, though amounts varied widely; applications depend on the program, and SVCF states that it does not accept unsolicited proposals for advised funds.
Assets
$12.3B
Grants
3,576
Total Given
$3.2B
The Georgescu Family Foundation
Westport, CT
The Georgescu Family Foundation funds arts and cultural institutions, education and youth organizations, and groups working in international affairs and health, with most 2025 grant dollars going to New York recipients. Its 66 grants ranged from $117 to $46,000, with a median of $4,750. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3M
Grants
66
Total Given
$485K
Brayton Wilbur Foundation
Hillsborough, CA
Assets
$640K
Grants
7
Total Given
$136K
More similar funders
More Funders in South Dakota
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from The Merali Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
The Merali Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?