Richard & Martha Melman Foundation
The Richard & Martha Melman Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1997, it provides philanthropic support through grantmaking to charitable organizations, with a particular focus on providing short-term capital gains for its grantees.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$394K
+30.5% YoY
Grant Count
9
-40.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$44K
+117.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation primarily supports charitable organizations in Illinois.
Grantmaking
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, with a concentration in the Chicago area.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $2,348,975
- Total Giving: $393,600
- Total Revenues: $149,341
- Total Expenses: $416,814
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,620,000
- Total Revenues: $1,200,000
- Total Expenses: $327,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 9 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
85 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Northwestern Memorial Foundation ($250,000), Am Yisrael ($56,000), Metropolitan Family Services ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AM YISRAEL NORTHFIELD, IL | CHARITABLE | $56,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $20,000 |
| DIGESTIVE HEALTH FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $10,000 |
| METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $30,000 |
| NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $250,000 |
| US HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM HIGHLAND PARK, IL | CHARITABLE | $5,100 |
| CHICAGO HUMANITIES CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $2,500 |
| JOFFREY BALLET CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $5,000 |
| ADL CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Richard Melman is the founder and namesake of the foundation. He is the founder and chairman of Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, which operates more than 100 restaurants nationwide. In 2015, Melman received the James Beard Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his lifetime body of work in the restaurant industry and its positive impact on American food culture.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD MELMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| MARTHA MELMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| RJ MELMAN | DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation primarily supports charitable organizations in Illinois.
How do I apply for a grant from Richard & Martha Melman Foundation?
**Grant Amounts:** Typical awards range from $2,500 to $250,000. **Recent Grant Activity:** In 2024, the foundation made 18 grants totaling $393,600. **Recent Grantees (2024):** • Northwestern Memorial Healthcare / Dekalb Behavioral Health Foundation: $250,000 • The Fund for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Chicago: $20,000 • Joffrey Ballet: $5,000
Where does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Illinois, with a concentration in the Chicago area.
What size grants does Richard & Martha Melman Foundation award?
In 2024, Richard & Martha Melman Foundation awarded 9 grants totaling $394K — an average of about $44K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Richard & Martha Melman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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