The Merali Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Rapid City, SD EIN: 26-0875013

The Merali Foundation is a private foundation, based in Rapid City, SD. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $7.5M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 4 grants totaling $396K. Net investment income was $905K.

Key facts about The Merali Foundation

In short: The Merali Foundation gave $396K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $99K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
26-0875013
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$396,000
Grants made (2024)
4
Average grant
$99,000
Median grant
$18,000
Total assets
$7,486,180
Primary geography
Texas (88% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$7.5M

+6.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$396K

+32.8% YoY

Grant Count

4

+33.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$99K

-0.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Merali Foundation reported a distributable amount of $389K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

How The Merali Foundation gives

  • Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 113% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

4states

Share of all 4 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

Cities

HamelSan FranciscoLong BeachHoustonMountain ViewNew York

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$100K$200K$300K$400K3 grants20204 grants20214 grants20223 grants20234 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $213K (2022) to $396K (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $396K.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 4 recipients in 2024

The Citizens Foundation: $350KThe Citizens Foundation$350KFoundation to Support Education: $21KFoundation to SupportEducation$21KGive to Give Foundation: $15KGive to Give Foundation$15KThe Nagourney Institute: $10KThe Nagourney Institute$10K

The largest 2024 recipient was The Citizens Foundation ($350K). Together the top 4 received $396K.

Grant Size Distribution

18 grants across all recorded years

12<$50K1$50–100K3$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 18 (67%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
The Citizens Foundation Houston, TXFinance Education for Women in Developing Coutries$350,000
Foundation to Support Education Hamel, MNFinance Education for Women in Developing Coutries$21,000
Give to Give Foundation New York, NYFinance Education for Women in Developing Coutries$15,000
The Nagourney Institute Long Beach, CACancer Research and Treatement Center$10,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$500K$1M$1.5M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$7,486,180$7,020,650$7,163,536
Revenue$1,036,608$237,469$206,329
Expenses$570,982$390,780$300,721
Qualifying Distributions$439,060$341,407$256,368
Net Investment Income$904,686$188,096$161,976
Distributable Amount$389,103$325,262$316,875

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS June 15, 2026)
  2. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2023

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 2024 are compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Karim Merali

    President

    On filings since 2020

    5 hrs/week

    $5K (2020) → $75K (2024)

  • Mehdi Merali

    Vice President & Director

    On filings since 2020

    30 hrs/week

    $38K (2020) → $40K (2024)

  • Azim Merali

    Director

    On filings since 2020

    1 hr/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.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Karim Merali — President: $75KKarim MeraliPresident$75KMehdi Merali — Vice President & Director: $40KMehdi MeraliVice President & Director$40K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $75K, 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 $396K across 4 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $298K across 3 grants.

What is The Merali Foundation's typical grant size?

The Merali Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $18,000, and its average grant was $99,000, across 4 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

Where does The Merali Foundation give grants?

The Merali Foundation gives mostly in Texas: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Minnesota (5%).

Does The Merali Foundation give general operating support?

Not in 2024: none of the 4 grants with a stated purpose on The Merali Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Finance Education for Women in Developing Coutries" (3 grants).

How large is The Merali Foundation?

The Merali Foundation reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $439K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $389K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

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 2020–2024.

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

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