Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr is a private foundation, based in Houston, TX. IRS filing data is available from 2019 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $5.0M in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 6 grants totaling $1.1M. Net investment income was $160K.
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr at a glance
In short: Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr gave $1.1M across 6 grants in 2025 (avg $180K), mostly in California. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,080,000
- -32.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 6
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $180,000
- -10.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $4,970,831
- +1.6% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- California (93% 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 Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 6 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Glaucoma Research Foundation ($1.0M). Together the top 6 received $1.1M.
Grant Size Distribution
43 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 26 grants of 43 (60%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 6 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−12%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 538% of 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2025) to $7.5M (2020). In 2025 it made 6 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Glaucoma Research Foundation San Fransico, CA | Support research on glaucoma, Alzheimer and other neuro-degenerative diseases. | $1,000,000 |
| Raptor Trust Millington, NJ | Support for education programs & care of injured wild birds. | $20,000 |
| Sustainable Harvest Int'l Washington, DC | Support of Central American agricultural programs. | $20,000 |
| Wild Earth Allies Chevy Chase, MD | Support for Prey Lang Forrest environmental project, Cambodia. | $20,000 |
| People and Plants International Bristol, VT | Support ecology of Nantu Forest Area, Indonesia. | $10,000 |
| Center for Amazon Community Ecology Lemoyne, PA | Support for conservation in the Amazon region. | $10,000 |
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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 | $4,970,831 | $1,160,085 | $1,080,000 | $1,080,000 | 6 | $1,080,000 | $160,085 | $200,888 |
| 2024 | $4,890,746 | $2,169,652 | $1,607,237 | $1,600,000 | 8 | $1,600,000 | $169,652 | $159,251 |
| 2023 | $4,328,331 | $2,147,550 | $2,675,000 | $2,675,000 | 10 | $2,675,000 | $147,550 | $167,718 |
| 2022 | $4,855,782 | $4,025,765 | $1,221,075 | $1,221,075 | 9 | $1,221,075 | $25,765 | $108,829 |
| 2021 | $2,051,092 | $2,000,330 | $5,539,063 | $5,539,063 | 10 | $5,539,063 | $330 | $136,453 |
| 2020 | $5,589,825 | $5,019,623 | $7,491,985 | $7,490,000 | 13 | — | $19,623 | $164,659 |
| 2019 | $8,062,187 | $4,079,249 | $1,580,830 | $1,578,425 | 11 | — | $79,249 | $246,218 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr reported a distributable amount of $201K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr is led by Frank Theodore Barr, President, Treasurer & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Frank Theodore Barr
President, Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Michael Barr
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Marilyn Beach
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Melza M Barr
Vice President, Secretary & Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patricia Shanley
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Terence David Barr
Director
On filings since 2019
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr
How much does Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr give each year?
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr gave $1.1M across 6 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 8 grants.
What is Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's typical grant size?
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $180,000, across 6 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr give grants?
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr gives mostly in California: 93% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 6 grants with a stated purpose on Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's largest grantees?
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's largest 2025 grantees include Glaucoma Research Foundation ($1,000,000), Raptor Trust ($20,000) and Sustainable Harvest Int'l ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 96% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr?
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr reported $5.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $201K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What is Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's EIN?
Melza M and Frank Theodore Barr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-0301511. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS February 10, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 2, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS February 21, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 6, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS February 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 11, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 9, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
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