Melvoin Foundation
Cambridge, MA · EIN 36-6047994. Reported 251 grants totalling $910,334 to 140 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Melvoin Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $2,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,000 and $5,000; the smallest was $90 and the largest $55,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anti-Defamation League | Chicago, IL | $61,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| North Shore Senior Center | Northfield, IL | $49,769 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Steppingstone Foundation | Boston, MA | $40,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Facing History | Chicago, IL | $38,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Brennen Center for Justice | New York, NY | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Epiphany School | Chicago, IL | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Jewish Center for Justice | Los Angeles, CA | $25,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| The Les Turner Als Foundation | Skokie, IL | $25,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Para Los Ninos | Los Angeles, CA | $24,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| United in Harmony | Los Angeles, CA | $23,000 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Nature Conservancy | Chicago, IL | $22,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Temple Shir Tikva | Wayland, MA | $21,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Belmont Hill | Belmont, MA | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Doctors Without Borders | New York, NY | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Field Museum | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jewish Federation | Los Angeles, CA | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wfmt & Wttw | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Big Sunday | Los Angeles, CA | $19,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Wilshire Boulevard Temple | Los Angeles, CA | $18,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Beacon Academy | Evanston, IL | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Harvard College Fund | Cambridge, MA | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| The Steppingstone Foiundation | Boston, MA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for Environmental Health | Oakland, CA | $11,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Henry's Fork Foundation | Ashton, ID | $11,250 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Noth Shore Congregation Israel | Glencoe, IL | $10,400 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Epiphany School | Dorchester, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Facing History and Ourselves | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Laist | Pasadena, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lyric Opera of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Kpcc - Laist | Pasadena, CA | $9,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| International Rescue Committee | New York, NY | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Northeastern Il University Foundation | Chicago, IL | $8,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Harvardwood | Los Angeles, CA | $7,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Judaism Your Way | Denver, CO | $7,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Jewish Agency for Israel | New York, NY | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Centre for Effective Altruism USA Inc | San Francisco, CA | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Gabriella Charter Schools | Los Angeles, CA | $6,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| United Way of Franklin County Inc | Louisburg, NC | $5,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Beacon Academy | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Everybody Dance La | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Ls | Los Angeles, CA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Teach for America | Chicago, IL | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Weinberg Center for Elder Justice | Bronx, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Weinberg Center for Elder Justice the Hebrew Home | Riverdale, NY | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Environmental Defense Fund | Washington, DC | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Amnesty International USA | Chicago, IL | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jewish Women's Theater | Santa Monica, CA | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Karsh Family Social Service Center | Los Angeles, CA | $4,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mac Angels Foundation | Larchmont, NY | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Northlight Theatre | Skokie, IL | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Institute for Therapy Through the Arts | Evanston, IL | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Natural Resources Defense Council | Chicago, IL | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Cancer Society | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Cambridge Community Foundation | Cambridge, MA | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Chicago, IL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Logan School | Wilmette, IL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| North Shore University Health System Foundation | Evanston, IL | $3,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Amalgamated Foundation | Washington, DC | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cancer Connection | Northampton, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Children in Conflict | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Doctors Withour Borders | New York, NY | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Effective Ventures Foundation USA Inc | San Francisco, CA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Roots | Dallas, TX | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mccarthy's Brothers Bond | Greenfield, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Film Collaborative | Los Angeles, CA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| United Way of Franklin & Hampshire Region | Northampton, MA | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Writers Guild Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $2,500 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Planned Parenthood Federation of America | Chicago, IL | $2,100 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| ACLU | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Brain Tumor Association | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Canavan Foundation | New York, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Chicago Symphony Orchestra | Chicago, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Community Partners for Affordable Housing | Libertyville, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Friends of Harriman State Park | Island Park, ID | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Gould Academy | Bethel, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Harvard Hillel | Cambridge, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| International Rett Syndrome Research Trust | Cincinnati, OH | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Lakes Environmental Association | Bridgton, ME | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Los Angeles Regional Food Bank | Los Angeles, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Mount Holyoke College | South Hadley, MA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| New Legacy Charter School | Aurora, CO | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| One Love Foundation | Bronxville, NY | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Southern Poverty Law Center | Montgomery, AL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Braid | Santa Monica, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| UCLA Foundation (neuro-Oncology) | Los Angeles, CA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| US Holocaust Memorial Museum | Highland Park, IL | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Writer's Guild Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Illinois Holocaust Museum | Skokie, IL | $1,750 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jewish Family Service La | Los Angeles, CA | $1,750 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Yellowstone Forever | Bozeman, MT | $1,750 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| The Ark | Chicago, IL | $1,600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| National Immigrant Justice Ctr | Chicago, IL | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Project Shema | New York, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Simon Wiesanthal Center | Los Angeles, CA | $1,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Brigid Alliance | New York, NY | $1,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for Enriched Living | Riverwoods, IL | $1,350 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Partners in Health | Boston, MA | $1,150 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Americus, GA | $1,100 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| American Jewish Committee | Philadelphia, PA | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Ansche Chesed | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Anti-Defamation League | New York, NY | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cambridge Insight Meditation Center | Cambridge, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cambridge Insight Meditation Ctr | Cambridge, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Center for Environmental Health (ceh) | Oakland, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cohen Brain Tumor Research Fund | Los Angeles, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Combined Jewish Philanthropies | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Combined Jewish Philanthropy (cjp) | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Harrison Food Bank | Harrison, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Inst for Therapy Through Arts (ita) | Evanston, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Lakes Environmental Assoc (lea) | Bridgton, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| National World War II Museum | New Orleans, LA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Peace First Inc | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rett Syndrome Research Trust | Trumbull, CT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Rhett Syndrome Research Trust | Trumbull, CT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Soteni | Cincinnati, OH | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Jester & Pharley Fund | Palos Verde Estates, CA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Josselyn Center | Waukegan, IL | $1,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Logan Lab | Denver, CO | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Thresholds | Chicago, IL | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Winsor School | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| National Jewish Health | Denver, CO | $900 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Chicago Botanic Garden | Glencoe, IL | $700 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jewish National Fund | Northbrook, IL | $680 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lurie Children's Foundation | Chicago, IL | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| National Wildlife Federation | Reston, VA | $600 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Jewish Council for Youth Services | Chicago, IL | $560 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| AIDS Foundation of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Bright Futures Foundation | Avon, CA | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Merit School of Music | Chicago, IL | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lambs Farm | Libertyville, IL | $450 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| March of Dimes | Arlington, VA | $400 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Special Olympics Illinois | Chicago, IL | $400 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| The Michael J Fox Foundation | Hagerstown, MD | $400 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wbez | Chicago, IL | $365 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jewish Council on Urban Affairs | Chicago, IL | $360 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Art Institute of Chicago | Chicago, IL | $310 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Leelanau Conservancy | Leland, MI | $300 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Black Film & Tv Collective | Brooklyn, NY | $250 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jewish United Fund | Chicago, IL | $90 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
77 of 140 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 40%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.
What kind of organizations it funds
By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 152 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 76 | $255,375 | $1,300 |
| 2022 | 73 | $289,690 | $2,000 |
| 2023 | 47 | $160,000 | $2,500 |
| 2024 | 55 | $205,269 | $2,500 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 40% of this one's giving went to organizations in Illinois. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $2,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Illinois.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Melvoin Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.
Address of record on the latest return: 1 Garden Lane, Cambridge, MA, 02138. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 36-6047994 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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