Meldrum Foundation
The Meldrum Foundation is a private family foundation based in Salt Lake City, Utah, with an additional presence in Durham, North Carolina. The foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals and enriching the quality of life of people around the world through philanthropic support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$27.4M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.3M
+5.4% YoY
Grant Count
21
+31.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$60K
-19.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Meldrum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Meldrum Foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals and enriching the quality of life of people around the world by fostering, promoting, and supporting:
Educational Endeavors
- Scholarships
- Educational Facilities
- Endowments
Artistic & Cultural Activities
- New Works
- Artistic Facilities
- Special Programs
- Endowments
Humanitarian Programs
- Social Services
- Community Facilities
- Special Projects
Grantmaking
Organizations interested in grant opportunities should send inquiries to info@meldrumfoundation.org. Organizations must be federally recognized not-for-profit entities. The foundation operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$2,000 to $675,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. locations, including:
- American Fork, Arizona
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Carrboro, North Carolina
- Durham, North Carolina
- Fort Collins, Colorado
- New York, New York
- Prescott, Arizona
- Salt Lake City, Utah
- St. Clair Shores, Michigan
- St. Augustine, Florida
- Wellesley, Massachusetts
Primary geographic focus areas include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, and Utah.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year 2023:
- Total Assets: $27,296,290
- Total Expenses: $1,305,465
- Investment Income and Dividends: $1,213,596
- Total Revenues: -$221,976
- Number of Employees: 0
- Giving Rate: 4.4% of assets
Historical Context: The foundation was formed in 2000 and has maintained substantial assets to support its philanthropic mission.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $27,443,331 | $27,296,290 | $28,823,731 |
| Revenue | $1,477,011 | $-221,976 | $857,216 |
| Expenses | $1,379,970 | $1,305,465 | $1,408,019 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,269,389 | $1,202,354 | $1,303,455 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,363,695 | $1,052,975 | $959,103 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,280,097 | $1,246,943 | $1,346,318 |
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
78 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include University of Utah ($750,000), Durham Children's Initiative ($100,000), University of Utah ($75,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION - MELDRUM THEATRE | $75,000 |
| DURHAM CHILDREN'S INITIATIVE DURHAM, NC | CHILD DEVELOPMENT - PRE-SCHOOL | $100,000 |
| FLYING KITES BOSTON, MA | KENYA HUMANITARIAN AID: LITERACY | $50,000 |
| TEACHUNITED FORT COLLINS, CO | TEACHER NETWORKS IN COSTA RICA | $50,000 |
| WESTMINSTER COLLEGE SALT LAKE CITY, UT | SILVER TEA LUNCHEON | $2,000 |
| HER FUTURE COALITION SAINT AUGUSTINE, FL | RENOVATION OF HOTEL AND PROGRAMMING FOR YOUNG WOMEN | $25,000 |
| NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH SALT LAKE CITY, UT | MUSEUM SPECIAL EXHIBITS - BASKET DISPLAY AND INSECT MICROSCULPTURE | $50,000 |
| SPY HOP SALT LAKE CITY, UT | BUILDING CONSTRUCTION | $20,000 |
| JORDAN HIGH SCHOOL DURHAM, NC | EDUCATION | $25,000 |
| GITHENS MIDDLE SCHOOL PTA DURHAM, NC | EDUCATION | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Personnel:
- Christopher S. Meldrum - Executive Director (serves without compensation)
- Catherine R. Meldrum - Secretary/Treasurer (serves without compensation)
- Jennette D. Meldrum - Trustee (serves without compensation)
Founder Connection: The foundation is connected to Peter D. Meldrum, a University of Utah chemical engineering graduate and co-founder of Myriad Genetics. Peter Meldrum was recognized as one of Scientific American's Top 50 Scientific Visionaries and was a lifelong benefactor of the University of Utah's College of Engineering.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CHRISTOPHER S MELDRUM | EXEC DIR | — | — |
| CATHERINE R MELDRUM | SEC/TREAS | — | — |
| JENNETTE D MELDRUM | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Meldrum Foundation fund?
The Meldrum Foundation is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of individuals and enriching the quality of life of people around the world by fostering, promoting, and supporting: **Educational Endeavors** • Scholarships • Educational Facilities • Endowments **Artistic & Cultural Activities** • New Works • Artistic Facilities • Special Programs • Endowments **Humanitarian Programs** • Social Services • Community Facilities • Special Projects
How do I apply for a grant from Meldrum Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • The foundation made 10 grants in 2023 • Total giving in 2023: $1,261,000 • Grant range: $2,000 to $675,000 • Median grant amount: $25,000 **Recent Grants (2023):** • University of Utah (Building Construction - Meldrum Theatre): $675,000 • Durham Children's Initiative (Child Development - Pre-School): $100,000 • Flying Kites (Kenya Humanitarian Aid: Literacy): $62,500 **Application Process:** Organizations interested in grant opportunities should send inquiries to info@meld…
Where does Meldrum Foundation make grants?
The foundation provides funding across multiple U.S. locations, including: • American Fork, Arizona • Boston, Massachusetts • Carrboro, North Carolina • Durham, North Carolina • Fort Collins, Colorado • New York, New York • Prescott, Arizona • Salt Lake City, Utah • St. Clair Shores, Michigan • St. Augustine, Florida • Wellesley, Massachusetts Primary geographic focus areas include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, New York, and Utah.
What size grants does Meldrum Foundation award?
In 2024, Meldrum Foundation awarded 21 grants totaling $1.3M — an average of about $60K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Meldrum Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Meldrum Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.3M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Meldrum Foundation's EIN?
Meldrum Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-0657244. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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