The Pegasus Foundation is a private foundation based in Hobe Sound, Florida, dedicated to improving animal welfare through strategic grantmaking and partnerships. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and functions as a catalyst for animal welfare organizations across multiple regions.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
-100.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$1.4M
+1567.9% YoY
Grant Count
4
-88.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$348K
+14077.1% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Pegasus Foundation aids in rescuing and rehabilitating domestic and wild animals, awards grants to animal welfare initiatives, and supports vibrant and healthy ecosystems through strategic partnerships and sound environmental policies.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Marine animal rescue and protection
- Wildlife and habitat protection
- Domestic animal welfare and rescue
- Ecosystem health and environmental policies
- Spay/neuter initiatives
- Animal transport and adoption services
The foundation works on issues including wildlife protection (particularly elephants and rhinos), marine animal rescue, and support for abandoned animals in specific regions such as the Everglades.
Grantmaking
The foundation makes grants to established animal welfare organizations and charitable initiatives. Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Pegasus Foundation funds animal welfare initiatives in multiple regions including:
- The United States
- The Caribbean
- Native American Lands
- Africa
- Asia
Specific domestic focus includes the Everglades region of Florida.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (2024):
- Total Assets: $336,575
- Total Revenue: $162,842
- Total Expenses: $306,114
- Number of Employees: 1
Grant Activity: The foundation made 4 grants in its most recent filing, with a median grant size of $650 and a range from $250 to approximately $1.4 million.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | $485,507 | $498,871 |
| Revenue | $42,528 | $75,052 | $62,060 |
| Expenses | $1,412,206 | $86,941 | $88,804 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,392,687 | $83,500 | $75,450 |
| Net Investment Income | $22,643 | $72,315 | $52,490 |
| Distributable Amount | $33,801 | $63,041 | $65,094 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 4 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
139 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
No grants recorded for .
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Melville H. Ireland Jr. – President
- Elizabeth R. Ireland – Trustee
- Peter Ireland – Trustee
- William Ireland – Trustee
- Jennifer Ireland – Trustee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| MELVILLE H IRELAND JR | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| ELIZABETH R IRELAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| PETER IRELAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| WILLIAM IRELAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER IRELAND | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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