Melvin Garb Foundation
The Melvin Garb Foundation is a private foundation based in Encinitas, California. In 2025, it made 22 grants totaling $1,567,000 to charitable organizations, with grants supporting work that includes diabetes research, Jewish community services, senior care, and economic opportunity.
Melvin Garb Foundation at a glance
In short: Melvin Garb Foundation gave $1.6M across 22 grants in 2025 (avg $71K), mostly in California. 23% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,567,000
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 22
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $71,227
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $5,590,686
- -11.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 23% first-time grantees (5 of 22, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- California (97% 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 Melvin Garb Foundation
- 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. The filing lists Michael D Berlin as the contact; application form and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions are listed as N/A.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael D Berlin
Mailing address: 441 Saxony Road, Encinitas, CA 92024
Phone: (619) 980-5500
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Melvin Garb Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Coastal Roots ($260K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
104 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 42 grants of 104 (40%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in California and 3% to recipients in New York. Many listed recipients were in the San Diego area, including organizations in Encinitas, San Diego, Del Mar, La Jolla, and Carlsbad.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 22 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Melvin Garb Foundation open to new grantees?
23%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 22 grantees (23%) were first-time recipients. With only 22 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $29K; repeat grants $84K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $75K repeat.
- 68% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−14%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 168% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $988K (2020) to $1.9M (2024). In 2025 it made 22 grants totaling $1.6M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Coastal Roots Encinitas, CA | Sustainable Agriculture, Food Justice, Ancient Jewish Wisdom | $260,000 |
| Diabetes Research Connection Del Mar, CA | Diabetes Research | $200,000 |
| Hillel of San Diego San Diego, CA | Mentors and educators to provide students with valuable tools and opportunities to be jewish leaders | $150,000 |
| American Jewish Committee San Diego, CA | Support Jewish Democratic Values and Fighting Antisemitism | $112,000 |
| Jewish Family Services San Diego, CA | Working to create a stronger, healthier community where everyone can thrive | $100,000 |
| Seacrest Foundation Encinitas, CA | Supports Senior Housing and Healthcare | $100,000 |
| Vehicles for Change - San Diego National City, CA | To provide automobiels to people experiencing extreme poverty and in need of reliable transportation | $100,000 |
| Hebrew Free Loan of San Diego La Jolla, CA | Provide zero-interest loans to support those facing financial challenges or investing in their life dreams | $75,000 |
| Leap to Success Carlsbad, CA | Programs for Women | $75,000 |
| American Joint Distribution Committee New York, NY | Disaster relief response to emergent crises and ongoing development needs | $50,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Melvin Garb Foundation?
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 | $5,590,686 | $1,127,511 | $1,851,421 | $1,567,000 | 22 | $1,567,000 | $885,461 | $933,408 |
| 2024 | $6,314,603 | $4,402,407 | $2,660,978 | $1,875,000 | 22 | $1,875,000 | $4,187,811 | $851,389 |
| 2023 | $4,385,074 | $647,142 | $1,803,832 | $1,544,575 | 17 | $1,544,575 | $449,828 | $807,986 |
| 2022 | $5,541,764 | $1,540,892 | $2,084,429 | $1,832,000 | 22 | $1,832,000 | $1,440,570 | $848,211 |
| 2021 | $6,091,342 | $1,321,356 | $1,333,190 | $1,092,841 | 21 | $1,092,841 | $1,162,025 | $931,522 |
| 2020 | $5,767,294 | $835,313 | $1,238,301 | $988,406 | 20 | — | $585,418 | $787,545 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Melvin Garb Foundation reported a distributable amount of $933K 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
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as health research, social services, Jewish community life, senior housing and healthcare, women’s programs, and employment and transportation access.
The grantees describe their own work in varied ways. Diabetes Research Connection says it connects donors with early-career scientists conducting peer-reviewed research to prevent and cure type 1 diabetes and improve quality of life for people living with the disease. Seacrest Foundation says it supports services for San Diego County’s elderly community. Leap to Success says it inspires women overcoming adversity to build confidence and transform their lives and communities. Kitchens for Good describes its work as transforming lives through culinary arts.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 22 grants totaling $1,567,000. Awards ranged from $10,000 to $260,000, with a median grant of $50,000.
Among the largest reported grants were $260,000 to Coastal Roots for sustainable agriculture, food justice, and ancient Jewish wisdom; $200,000 to Diabetes Research Connection for diabetes research; $150,000 to Hillel of San Diego for mentors and educators supporting students as Jewish leaders; and $112,000 to the American Jewish Committee to support Jewish democratic values and fight antisemitism. Other 2025 grants included $100,000 to Jewish Family Services, $100,000 to Seacrest Foundation, and $100,000 to Vehicles for Change–San Diego.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michael D Berlin, David Winkler, Estee Aaronson, and Robin Rubin as directors.
Melvin Garb Foundation's 2025 filing lists 4 officers; all 4 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Winkler
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2025)
Estee Aaronson
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2025)
Michael D. Berlin
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $37K (2025)
Robin Rubin
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$11K (2020) → $12K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Carolyn C. Berlin (2023) — Secretary
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 $37K, to Michael D Berlin (Director). 4 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Melvin Garb Foundation
How much does Melvin Garb Foundation give each year?
Melvin Garb Foundation gave $1.6M across 22 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.9M across 22 grants.
What is Melvin Garb Foundation's typical grant size?
Melvin Garb Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $71,227, across 22 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Melvin Garb Foundation that year got $29K on average.
Where does Melvin Garb Foundation give grants?
Melvin Garb Foundation gives mostly in California: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were San Diego, CA (8 grants), Carlsbad, CA (3 grants), Encinitas, CA (2 grants) and La Jolla, CA (2 grants).
Does Melvin Garb Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 22 grants with a stated purpose on Melvin Garb Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Melvin Garb Foundation's largest grantees?
Melvin Garb Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Coastal Roots ($260,000), Diabetes Research Connection ($200,000) and Hillel of San Diego ($150,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 39% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Melvin Garb Foundation?
Melvin Garb Foundation reported $5.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $933K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Melvin Garb Foundation fund?
The available information does not state a mission for the foundation. Its 2025 grants included support for organizations working in areas such as health research, social services, Jewish community life, senior housing and healthcare, women’s programs, and employment and transportation access. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Melvin Garb Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Melvin Garb Foundation's EIN?
Melvin Garb Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-1067365. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Melvin Garb 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.
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 August 6, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Melvin Garb Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/melvin-garb-foundation-morg_c118d220096b49728d200d4b740ca482
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_931067365_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Melvin Garb Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/melvin-garb-foundation-morg_c118d220096b49728d200d4b740ca482},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Melvin Garb Foundation'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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