Mb and Edna Zale Foundation
The M.B. & Edna Zale Foundation is a private charitable foundation based in Dallas, Texas, established to support individuals and families as they build productive and meaningful lives. Incorporated in 1951 and tax-exempt since April 1953, the foundation operates as a family foundation with five generations of the Zale family actively involved in its governance and grantmaking decisions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.5M
+4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.5M
+2.9% YoY
Grant Count
143
-2.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$10K
+5.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission is to support individuals and families as they build productive and meaningful lives. The foundation is guided by the values of L'Dor V'Dor (from generation to generation), which emphasize:
- Respect (Kavod) — honoring the time, knowledge, and commitment of board members, family, and philanthropic partners
- Partnership (Areyvut) — cultivating relationships grounded in mutual responsibility and shared purpose
- Integrity (Derech Eretz) — acting with honesty, transparency, and consistency
- Commitment to Impact (Tikkun Olam) — repairing the world and making meaningful, sustainable impact
Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Health and healthcare services
- Human services
- Jewish heritage and continuity
- Programs serving the poor and disenfranchised
- Family strengthening and child development
- Senior services
- Job skills training and workforce development
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants primarily in communities where family members live, work, or have interests. Family members convene twice annually (spring and fall) to review and approve grants.
Grant Range
$5,000
Average Grant
amount: approximately $13,800
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grants are made primarily in the following communities:
- Dallas County, Texas
- Palm Beach County, Florida
- New York, New York (including parts of Westchester and Nassau Counties and the North Shore of Long Island)
The foundation also supports various other cities and states across the United States where family members reside or have interests.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $37,514,761
- Total revenues: $5,145,205
- Total expenses: $1,777,001
- Total giving: $1,467,150
- Giving rate: 3.9% of assets
As of 2023:
- Total assets: $36,000,000
- Total revenues: $1,550,000
- Total expenses: $1,960,000
- Total liabilities: $872,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,514,761 | $35,950,872 | $33,091,714 |
| Revenue | $5,145,205 | $1,545,484 | $1,734,291 |
| Expenses | $1,777,001 | $1,958,588 | $2,854,232 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,805,528 | $1,759,258 | $1,730,552 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,571,855 | $1,253,725 | $1,159,847 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,743,998 | $1,674,876 | $1,695,133 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Mb and Edna Zale Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board of Directors (2026):
- Margie Plough, Director and Chair (FL)
- Olivia Zale, Director and Vice Chair (IL)
- Karen Seltzer, Director and Immediate Past Chair (NY)
- Donald Zale, Director and Chair Emeritus (TX)
- David Fields, Secretary/Treasurer (TX)
- Emily Hargrove, President (TX)
- Leah Benjamin, Director (MA)
- Sheryl Fields Bog, Director
Staff:
- 2 employees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALISON SELTZER FEIN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| CLAUDIA ZALE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DAVID FIELDS | SECRETARY/TREASURER | — | — |
| DAVID ZALE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| DONALD ZALE | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | — | — |
| EMILY HARGROVE | PRESIDENT | 40 | $165,120 |
| GLORIA LANDSBERG | DIRECTOR EMERITUS | — | — |
| JEFFREY LANDSBERG | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JOSH ASEN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| KAREN SELTZER | IMMEDIATE PAST CHAIR | — | — |
| LYDIA GERARD MILLHORN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| MARGIE PLOUGH | CHAIRMAN | — | — |
| MELISSA SELTZER PAYETTE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| OLIVIA ZALE | VICE-CHAIR OF THE BOARD | — | — |
| PAUL GERARD | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| RUTH SUZMAN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| SHERYL FIELDS BOGEN | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| ETHAN ROSENBERG | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JANET ZALE | DIRECTOR | — | — |
| JULISSE LEVY | DIRECTOR | — | — |
Contact Information
- Address: 12801 N Central Expy Ste 430, Dallas, TX 75243-1716
- Phone: 214-855-0627
- Website: zalefoundation.org
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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