The Merali Foundation
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.
The Merali Foundation at a glance
In short: The Merali Foundation gave $396K across 4 grants in 2024 (avg $99K), mostly in Texas. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $396,000
- +32.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 4
- +33.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $99,000
- -0.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $18,000
- Total assets
- $7,486,180
- +6.6% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Texas (88% 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 Merali Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was The Citizens Foundation ($350K). Together the top 4 received $396K.
Grant Size Distribution
18 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 12 grants of 18 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 4 itemized grants.
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $213K (2022) to $396K (2024). In 2024 it made 4 grants totaling $396K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Citizens Foundation Houston, TX | Finance Education for Women in Developing Coutries | $350,000 |
| Foundation to Support Education Hamel, MN | Finance Education for Women in Developing Coutries | $21,000 |
| Give to Give Foundation New York, NY | Finance Education for Women in Developing Coutries | $15,000 |
| The Nagourney Institute Long Beach, CA | Cancer Research and Treatement Center | $10,000 |
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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 | $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 $389K for 2024 — 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 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
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.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- 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.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Merali Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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