Melcher Charitable Trust
Melcher Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Houston, Texas, that reported $51,212 in grants to 15 organizations in 2025. Its filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Melcher Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: Melcher Charitable Trust gave $51K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Texas. 42% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $51,212
- +7.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -21.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $3,414
- +35.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $1,215,472
- +4.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 42% first-time grantees (5 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Texas (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Melcher Charitable Trust
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 550 Post Oak Blvd Suite 560, Houston, TX 77027
Phone: (713) 621-9900
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Melcher Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ($17K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $49K.
Grant Size Distribution
73 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 73 grants of 73 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Texas organizations received 83% of grant dollars. Other reported shares were Colorado, 10%; California, 4%; Louisiana, 2%; and Minnesota, 2%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Melcher Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
42%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 12 grantees (42%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $5K. How we count
Medians: $1K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 42% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 48% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 87% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2024) to $98K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $51K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Houston, TX | Steer Auction Donation | $10,000 |
| Longhorn Foundation Austin, TX | Texas Excellence Campaign | $9,733 |
| The Kinkaid School Houston, TX | Support melcher gym revitalization- restriping the court and floor | $8,779 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | 2026 Gala Donation | $4,000 |
| Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Houston, TX | Lamb Auction Donation | $4,000 |
| Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Houston, TX | Swine Auction Donation | $3,000 |
| Friends of Mineral County Emergency Services Inc Creede, CO | Emergency First Responder Fund | $2,000 |
| Wings of Rescue San Diego, CA | Charity that flies at-risk pets from shelters and disaster areas to safe havens | $2,000 |
| Houston Zoo Houston, TX | General operating: animal care, education for children, and conservation efforts | $1,500 |
| Houston Museum of Natural Science Houston, TX | Annual Fund | $1,250 |
Ready to take the next step with Melcher Charitable Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Filing type: Form 990-PF (a private foundation)
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,215,472 | $79,520 | $99,976 | $51,212 | 15 | $57,662 | $39,004 | $66,377 |
| 2024 | $1,166,665 | $183,111 | $89,741 | $47,717 | 19 | $54,157 | $147,527 | $58,652 |
| 2023 | $1,067,108 | $3,325 | $111,880 | $69,617 | 14 | $75,857 | — | $54,957 |
| 2022 | $1,055,583 | $24,390 | $118,764 | $98,000 | 11 | $104,168 | $9,794 | $74,467 |
| 2021 | $2,005,417 | $181,288 | $90,717 | $70,000 | 14 | $76,171 | $166,742 | $104,012 |
| 2020 | $1,993,943 | $111,243 | $82,471 | $62,000 | 13 | — | $96,847 | $77,459 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Melcher Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $66K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the Trust is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a natural science museum, animal care and conservation, disaster relief and search-and-rescue services, education, and livestock-show auctions.
The Houston Museum of Natural Science describes its mission as advancing knowledge of natural science and fostering public interest in the subject. Wings of Rescue says it transports at-risk shelter pets to shelters with available space. The Houston Zoo describes its mission as connecting communities with animals and inspiring action to save wildlife. The United Cajun Navy says it provides disaster and other relief services to communities affected by catastrophic weather events.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Trust reported 15 grants totaling $51,212. Grant amounts ranged from $950 to $10,000, with a median grant of $2,000.
Among its largest reported grants were $10,000 to Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo for a steer auction donation; $9,733 to Longhorn Foundation for the Texas Excellence Campaign; and $8,779 to The Kinkaid School for gym revitalization, including court restriping and flooring. Other grants included $4,000 to Houston Museum of Natural Science for a 2026 gala donation, $2,000 to Friends of Mineral County Emergency Services for an emergency first responder fund, and $2,000 to Wings of Rescue.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Trey N. Melcher, Cody Melcher, and Yvonne Melcher as trustees.
Melcher Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Cody Melcher
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Trey N. Melcher
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
Yvonne Melcher
Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$6K (2020) → $6K (2025)
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $6K, to Trey N Melcher (Trustee). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Melcher Charitable Trust
How much does Melcher Charitable Trust give each year?
Melcher Charitable Trust gave $51K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $48K across 19 grants.
What is Melcher Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
Melcher Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $2,000, and its average grant was $3,414, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Melcher Charitable Trust that year got $3K on average.
Where does Melcher Charitable Trust give grants?
Melcher Charitable Trust gives mostly in Texas: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Houston, TX (7 grants) and Denver, CO (2 grants).
Does Melcher Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 13% of Melcher Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 15) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Melcher Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
Melcher Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo ($17,000 across 3 grants), Longhorn Foundation ($9,733) and The Kinkaid School ($8,779), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Melcher Charitable Trust?
Melcher Charitable Trust reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $58K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $66K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Melcher Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the Trust is provided. Its 2025 grants included support for a natural science museum, animal care and conservation, disaster relief and search-and-rescue services, education, and livestock-show auctions. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Melcher Charitable Trust?
The Trust states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Melcher Charitable Trust's EIN?
Melcher Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1915122. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Melcher Charitable Trust accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Melcher Charitable Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Melcher Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/melcher-charitable-trust-morg_e0672f60cd5c47dbbae2b6ee4d7ac023
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201915122_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Melcher Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/melcher-charitable-trust-morg_e0672f60cd5c47dbbae2b6ee4d7ac023},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Melcher Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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