About Sabrina Merage Foundation
The Sabrina Merage Foundation concentrates its giving on media and storytelling that advance civic understanding and social bridge-building, alongside targeted support for Jewish community life. Many grants underwrite documentary film and podcast production about democracy, intergenerational trauma, and cross-community dialogue, while others fund Jewish young-adult engagement and state-level Jewish infrastructure. The foundation favors project-specific production support and general operating grants to cultural institutions that amplify public conversation.
Focus Areas
Documentary film production on civic engagement, intergenerational trauma, and social bridge‑buildingIndependent narrative and podcast media promoting healthy democratic debate (e.g., Lemonada Media, The Free Press)Jewish community engagement and young‑adult programming (e.g., Moishe House, Jewish Colorado)Support for indie film ecosystem and festivals/institutes (e.g., Sundance Institute)Policy and ideas organizations that foster public discourse (e.g., New America)
Who They Fund
U.S. general public / national audiences
About Sabrina Merage Foundation
A defining thread in Sabrina Merage Foundation’s recent giving is support for media projects that examine civic engagement, democratic dialogue, and social bridge-building. The foundation backed documentary and video work about understanding across constituencies, intergenerational trauma, and the mechanics of public conversation, while also funding Jewish community infrastructure and young-adult engagement. In 2025, grants supported a feature-length documentary on civic engagement and social bridge-building, a documentary on familial relations and intergenerational trauma, and a video series tied to healthy democratic debate. The foundation also made general-operating gifts to Jewish Colorado and Moishe House, showing that its portfolio includes both cultural storytelling and community institutions. Its recent grants also include ongoing support for Sundance Institute, alongside smaller gifts to organizations such as World’s Jewish Museum and Club Q Tribute Fundraiser. The pattern suggests a funder that uses a mix of project-specific production support and general operating grants, with particular attention to narrative media and Jewish communal life.
What Sabrina Merage Foundation Funds
The foundation gives across several connected cause areas. In media and public discourse, it awarded $50,000 to The Free Press for a video series promoting understanding among different constituencies and highlighting healthy democratic debate. In documentary film, it gave $50,000 to Old Chester Films LLC for a feature-length documentary about civic engagement and social bridge-building in the United States. Intergenerational trauma is another clear theme: Vent Film LLC received $50,000 for a feature-length documentary about familial relations, intergenerational trauma, and seeking understanding across differences. On the Jewish community side, Moishe House received $75,000 for general operations, and Jewish Colorado received $50,000 for general operations. The foundation also supported Sundance Institute with three general-operating grants over 2023–2025.
How Sabrina Merage Foundation Gives
Typical grant size is $1,000 at the 25th percentile, $25,000 at the median, and $70,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record shows both recurring and one-off support: Sundance Institute received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Visionary Women appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025 as well. The foundation is classified as a regular funder, not a DAF, and it does not fund individuals or make program-related investments. Recent activity includes a mix of general operating grants, documentary production support, and donor-advised-fund passthrough funding.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$340K
Total Assets
$16M
Total Revenue
$1.1M
Total Expenses
$593K
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $1K and $70K, with a median of $25K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$25K
75th Percentile
$70K
Geographic Reach
Regional8 states funded
About 10% of grants go to recipients in CA.
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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