Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Chicago, IL. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. In 2025, it awarded 8 grants totaling $4.0M. Net investment income was $122K.
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation at a glance
In short: Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation gave $4.0M across 8 grants in 2025 (avg $501K), top state Massachusetts. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $4,006,004
- +33.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 8
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $500,751
- +66.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $335,335
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (25% 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 Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 8 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Drake University ($1.0M). Together the top 8 received $4.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
38 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $250–500K range: 15 grants of 38 (39%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 8 itemized grants.
Cities
How Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation gives
- Giving grew 27% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out well above 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 $3.0M (2024) to $4.0M (2025). In 2025 it made 8 grants totaling $4.0M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Drake University Des Moines, IA | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $1,000,000 |
| Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $835,335 |
| Argonautica Fidelity Donor Advised Fund Boston, MA | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $750,000 |
| Preventative Medicine Research Institute Sausalito, CA | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $335,335 |
| Northwestern University Chicago, IL | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $335,334 |
| Quahog Bay Conservation Harpswell, ME | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $300,000 |
| Our Regenerative Future Donor Advised Fund Boston, MA | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $250,000 |
| Second Amendment Foundation Bellevue, WA | All contributions made for the intent established by the various charities | $200,000 |
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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 | — | $622,298 | $4,025,463 | $4,006,004 | 8 | $4,014,240 | $122,485 | $178,202 |
| 2024 | $3,403,165 | $3,297,054 | $3,011,577 | $3,000,000 | 10 | $3,003,898 | $149,751 | $183,802 |
| 2023 | $3,117,688 | $3,283,914 | $3,158,607 | $3,150,000 | 6 | $3,153,680 | $137,615 | $169,506 |
| 2022 | $2,992,381 | $3,182,387 | $3,161,066 | $3,150,000 | 7 | $3,155,408 | $34,360 | $166,903 |
| 2021 | $2,971,060 | $3,147,964 | $3,153,406 | $3,150,000 | 7 | $3,151,470 | $3,875 | $168,978 |
| 2020 | $2,977,252 | $3,154,409 | $3,156,983 | $3,150,000 | 7 | — | $8,522 | $168,065 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $178K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation is led by Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan, President & Director on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Mary Bucksbaum Scanlan
President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Gene Bucksbaum
Vice President & Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine M. O'Brien
Secretary & Treasurer
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 Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation
How much does Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation give each year?
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation gave $4.0M across 8 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.0M across 10 grants.
What is Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's typical grant size?
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $335,335, and its average grant was $500,751, across 8 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation give grants?
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 25% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Iowa (25%) and Minnesota (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Boston, MA (2 grants).
Does Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 8 grants with a stated purpose on Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's largest grantees?
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Drake University ($1,000,000), Mayo Clinic ($835,335) and Argonautica Fidelity Donor Advised Fund ($750,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
What is Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation?
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation is a private foundation focused on Arts and culture, based in Chicago, IL.
How much is Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $178K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's EIN?
Melva Bucksbaum Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 42-6122182. 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 14, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 16, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 12, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 1, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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