Mellema Family Foundation
Mellema Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Pleasant Hill, California. It reported 11 grants totaling $80,000 in 2024, supporting charitable organizations including food assistance providers, land trusts, a scholarship fund, and other nonprofits.
Key facts about Mellema Family Foundation
In short: Mellema Family Foundation gave $80K across 11 grants in 2024 (avg $7K), mostly in California. 9% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 83-2330850
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $80,000
- Grants made (2024)
- 11
- Average grant
- $7,273
- Median grant
- $5,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 9% first-time grantees (1 of 11, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $1,395,913
- Primary geography
- California (75% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to apply
- The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$1.4M
-1.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$80K
+21.2% YoY
Grant Count
11
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
+21.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Mellema Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $70K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Mellema Family Foundation open to new grantees?
9%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 1 of 11 grantees (9%) were first-time recipients. With only 11 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 9 points. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $7K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 47% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes food and crisis assistance, land conservation, affordable homeownership, scholarships, medical research, and international relief. For example, Monument Crisis Center describes its mission as providing food, education, assistance, and referrals in crisis situations. John Muir Land Trust says it works to preserve the vitality of open spaces, while Habitat for Humanity East Bay describes its work as expanding access to affordable homeownership.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 11 grants totaling $80,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $20,000, with a median grant of $5,000. Notable awards included $20,000 to Monument Crisis Center, $10,000 to University of Arkansas Myeloma Center Foundation, and $8,000 to Roosmoor Scholarship Fund. John Muir Land Trust and Truckee Donner Land Trust each received $6,000.
How to Apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Ready to take the next step with Mellema Family Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 75% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 12% to Arkansas, 6% to New York, and 6% to Washington.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 11 itemized grants.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $66K (2023) to $150K (2021). In 2024 it made 11 grants totaling $80K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Monument Crisis Center ($20K). Together the top 10 received $75K.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 43 (95%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monument Crisis Center Concord, CA | General Support | $20,000 |
| University of Arkansas Myeloma Center Foundation Little Rock, AR | General Support | $10,000 |
| Roosmoor Scholarship Fund Walnut Creek, CA | General Support | $8,000 |
| John Muir Land Trust Martinez, CA | General Support | $6,000 |
| Truckee Donner Land Trust Truckee, CA | General Support | $6,000 |
| Contra Costa Solano Food Bank Concord, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Doctors Without Borders New York, NY | General Support | $5,000 |
| Habitat for Humanity East Bay Oakland, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa Martinez, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Contracosta Martinez, CA | General Support | $5,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $1,395,913 | $64,561 | $97,122 | $80,000 (11 grants) |
| 2023 | $1,414,228 | $45,582 | $77,994 | $66,000 (11 grants) |
| 2022 | $1,446,640 | $16,682 | $139,034 | $115,000 (11 grants) |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,395,913 | $1,414,228 | $1,446,640 |
| Revenue | $64,561 | $45,582 | $16,682 |
| Expenses | $97,122 | $77,994 | $139,034 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $80,000 | $66,000 | $115,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $62,561 | $46,845 | $16,713 |
| Distributable Amount | $69,534 | $66,041 | $69,718 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Dirk Mellema as president, Steven Mellema as secretary, and Cynthia Mellema as treasurer.
Mellema Family Foundation is led by Dirk Mellema, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Dirk Mellema
President
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cynthia Mellema
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven Mellema
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Mailing address: 3478 Buskirk Ave 308, Pleasant Hill, CA 94523
Phone: (925) 934-7090
Frequently asked questions about Mellema Family Foundation
How much does Mellema Family Foundation give each year?
Mellema Family Foundation gave $80K across 11 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $66K across 11 grants.
What is Mellema Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Mellema Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $7,273, across 11 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Mellema Family Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Mellema Family Foundation give grants?
Mellema Family Foundation gives mostly in California: 75% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Arkansas (13%) and New York (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Martinez, CA (3 grants) and Concord, CA (2 grants).
Does Mellema Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Mellema Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (11 of 11) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Mellema Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Mellema Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Monument Crisis Center ($20,000), University of Arkansas Myeloma Center Foundation ($10,000) and Roosmoor Scholarship Fund ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 48% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Mellema Family Foundation?
Mellema Family Foundation reported $1.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $80K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $70K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Mellema Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations whose stated work includes food and crisis assistance, land conservation, affordable homeownership, scholarships, medical research, and international relief. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Mellema Family Foundation?
The foundation 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 Mellema Family Foundation's EIN?
Mellema Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 83-2330850. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Does Mellema Family Foundation 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.
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