Richard & Martha Melman Foundation
The Richard & Martha Melman Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. It makes charitable contributions to preselected organizations and, according to its 2025 filing, does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation at a glance
In short: Richard & Martha Melman Foundation gave $365K across 10 grants in 2025 (avg $37K), mostly in Illinois. 20% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $365,000
- -7.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 10
- +11.1% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,500
- -16.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $12,500
- Total assets
- $3,814,629
- +62.4% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 20% first-time grantees (2 of 10, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (82% 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 Richard & Martha Melman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 5419 N Sheridan Road, Chicago, IL 60640
Phone: (312) 207-1040
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Richard & Martha Melman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($210K). Together the top 10 received $365K.
Grant Size Distribution
77 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 66 grants of 77 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 16% to recipients in California, and 1% to recipients in New York.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Richard & Martha Melman Foundation open to new grantees?
20%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 2 of 10 grantees (20%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $30K first-time, $13K repeat.
- 60% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 63% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 188% 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 $224K (2022) to $656K (2020). In 2025 it made 10 grants totaling $365K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Northwestern Memorial Foundation Chicago, IL | Charitable | $210,000 |
| Harold and Carole Pump Foundation Sherman Oaks, CA | Charitable | $50,000 |
| Metropolitan Family Services Chicago, IL | Charitable | $30,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs Chicago, IL | Charitable | $25,000 |
| ADL Chicago, IL | Charitable | $15,000 |
| California Restaurant Foundation Sacramento, CA | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Joffrey Ballet Chicago, IL | Charitable | $10,000 |
| Am Yisrael Northfield, IL | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Israel Cancer Research Fund New York, NY | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Glenkirk Northbrook, IL | Charitable | $5,000 |
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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 | $3,814,629 | $1,859,513 | $393,859 | $365,000 | 10 | $365,000 | $1,679,136 | $194,016 |
| 2024 | $2,348,975 | $149,341 | $416,814 | $393,600 | 9 | $393,600 | $126,127 | $181,512 |
| 2023 | $2,616,448 | $1,203,228 | $327,318 | $301,600 | 15 | $301,600 | $1,416,720 | $134,257 |
| 2022 | $1,740,538 | $34,311 | $255,249 | $223,600 | 18 | $223,600 | $7,662 | $158,776 |
| 2021 | $1,961,476 | $218,575 | $604,724 | $566,000 | 25 | $566,000 | $80,449 | $211,528 |
| 2020 | $2,347,625 | $699,425 | $688,447 | $655,500 | 18 | — | $735,658 | $173,745 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Richard & Martha Melman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $194K 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 foundation does not state a mission in the information provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose work spans family and community services, cancer research, and services for people with intellectual disabilities. Metropolitan Family Services describes its mission as strengthening families and communities. Israel Cancer Research Fund says it supports cancer research in Israel for the benefit of Israel and all mankind. Glenkirk says it provides lifetime supports and services intended to help people with intellectual disabilities participate fully in community life.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $365,000. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $210,000, with a median of $12,500. Notable awards included $210,000 to Northwestern Memorial Foundation, $50,000 to Harold and Carole Pump Foundation, $30,000 to Metropolitan Family Services, $25,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs, and $15,000 to ADL.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Richard Melman, Martha Melman, and RJ Melman as directors.
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's 2025 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Martha Melman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard Melman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rj Melman
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/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 Richard & Martha Melman Foundation
How much does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation give each year?
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation gave $365K across 10 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $394K across 9 grants.
What is Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's typical grant size?
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $12,500, and its average grant was $36,500, across 10 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Richard & Martha Melman Foundation that year got $30K on average.
Where does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation give grants?
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants).
Does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (10 grants).
Who are Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's largest grantees?
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($210,000), Harold and Carole Pump Foundation ($50,000) and Metropolitan Family Services ($30,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 79% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Richard & Martha Melman Foundation?
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation reported $3.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $365K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $194K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation fund?
The foundation does not state a mission in the information provided. Its 2025 grants include support for organizations whose work spans family and community services, cancer research, and services for people with intellectual disabilities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Richard & Martha Melman Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's EIN?
Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4140849. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Richard & Martha Melman 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
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 27, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 29, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 28, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Richard & Martha Melman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/richard-and-martha-melman-foundation-morg_765da7c4631f43db95550a7461a8e90c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_364140849_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Richard \& Martha Melman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/richard-and-martha-melman-foundation-morg_765da7c4631f43db95550a7461a8e90c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Richard & Martha Melman 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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