The Paul & Elisabeth Merage
The Paul & Elisabeth Merage is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEWPORT BEACH, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $40.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $1.9M. Net investment income was $1.6M.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$40.8M
-8.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.9M
-8.1% YoY
Grant Count
5
-44.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$375K
+65.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Paul & Elisabeth Merage reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Paul & Elisabeth Merage
Based on IRS filings
The Paul & Elisabeth Merage is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEWPORT BEACH, CA. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $40.8M in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $1.9M. Net investment income was $1.6M.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $40,814,596 | $44,450,281 | $30,478,231 |
| Revenue | $1,612,456 | $1,861,387 | $5,842 |
| Expenses | $1,896,216 | $2,052,349 | $2,269,484 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,881,401 | $2,047,186 | $2,139,315 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,611,993 | $1,856,446 | $784 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,088,822 | $1,898,302 | $2,070,766 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Orange County Community Foundation ($1,335,500), Simbelle Productions ($500,000), El Sol Academy Foundation ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| EL SOL ACADEMY FOUNDATION SANTA ANA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $25,000 |
| ORANGE COUNTY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION IRVINE, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $1,335,500 |
| SEGERSTROM CENTER FOR THE ARTS COSTA MESA, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $4,688 |
| SIMBELLE PRODUCTIONS NEWPORT BEACH, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $500,000 |
| UNIVERSITY SYNAGOGUE IRVINE, CA | GENERAL OPERATING | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MICHELLE MERAGE | PRES/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| ELISABETH MERAGE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| PAUL MERAGE | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Paul & Elisabeth Merage?
The Paul & Elisabeth Merage is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in NEWPORT BEACH, CA. It holds $40.8M in total assets as of 2024.
How large is The Paul & Elisabeth Merage?
As of 2024, The Paul & Elisabeth Merage holds $40.8M in total assets with $1.6M in annual revenue. It awarded 5 grants totaling $1.9M in 2024.
Where does The Paul & Elisabeth Merage operate?
The Paul & Elisabeth Merage has awarded grants in California, Nevada.
What size grants does The Paul & Elisabeth Merage award?
In 2024, The Paul & Elisabeth Merage awarded 5 grants totaling $1.9M — an average of about $375K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Paul & Elisabeth Merage required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Paul & Elisabeth Merage reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Paul & Elisabeth Merage's EIN?
The Paul & Elisabeth Merage's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 68-0529692. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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