Fishes & Loaves Foundation
Fishes & Loaves Foundation is a private foundation, based in Montclair, NJ. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $577K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $104K. Net investment income was $56K.
Fishes & Loaves Foundation at a glance
In short: Fishes & Loaves Foundation gave $104K across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in New Jersey. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $103,550
- +35.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- +33.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,944
- +1.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $6,600
- Total assets
- $577,135
- -7.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (88% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who Fishes & Loaves Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Human Needs Food Pantry ($58K). Together the top 8 received $104K.
Grant Size Distribution
46 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 45 grants of 46 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Fishes & Loaves Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+9%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 259% 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 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $67K (2021) to $104K (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $104K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Human Needs Food Pantry Montclair, NJ | To provide food, clothing, and other services to help people in need. | $57,500 |
| Montclair Film Festival Montclair, NJ | General Support | $15,000 |
| The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair Upper Montclair, NJ | General Support | $11,850 |
| KLL Foundation Shawbee Mission, KS | General Support | $10,000 |
| Spectrum 360 West Orange, NJ | General Support | $3,200 |
| The Cooper School Charleston, SC | General Support | $2,500 |
| Montclair Scholarship Fund Montclair, NJ | General Support | $2,000 |
| The Jewish Federation of Greater Metrowest Whippany, NJ | General Support | $1,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $577,135 | $60,305 | $107,675 | $103,550 | 8 | $103,550 | $56,180 | $40,048 |
| 2024 | $624,505 | $86,239 | $85,564 | $76,250 | 6 | $76,250 | $76,925 | $36,812 |
| 2023 | $623,830 | $34,290 | $98,616 | $84,778 | 11 | $84,778 | $20,452 | $34,481 |
| 2022 | $688,156 | $-48,808 | $114,429 | $94,671 | 10 | $94,671 | — | $39,120 |
| 2021 | $852,593 | $205,060 | $105,056 | $67,360 | 11 | $67,360 | $167,364 | $44,524 |
| 2020 | $753,389 | $77,066 | $111,134 | $90,000 | 12 | — | $55,932 | $39,610 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fishes & Loaves Foundation reported a distributable amount of $40K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Fishes & Loaves Foundation is led by Melissa Bigelow, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Melissa Bigelow
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carole Wagner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel Wagner
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Bigelow
Treasurer, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Fishes & Loaves Foundation
How much does Fishes & Loaves Foundation give each year?
Fishes & Loaves Foundation gave $104K across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $76K across 6 grants.
What is Fishes & Loaves Foundation's typical grant size?
Fishes & Loaves Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $6,600, and its average grant was $12,944, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Fishes & Loaves Foundation give grants?
Fishes & Loaves Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 88% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Kansas (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Montclair, NJ (3 grants).
Does Fishes & Loaves Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 88% of Fishes & Loaves Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (7 of 8) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Fishes & Loaves Foundation's largest grantees?
Fishes & Loaves Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Human Needs Food Pantry ($57,500), Montclair Film Festival ($15,000) and The Presbyterian Church of Upper Montclair ($11,850), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Fishes & Loaves Foundation?
Fishes & Loaves Foundation reported $577K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $104K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $40K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Fishes & Loaves Foundation's EIN?
Fishes & Loaves Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-2738132. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2025 (received by the IRS June 24, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Fishes & Loaves Foundation funds
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