The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc
The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Reno, Nevada. Established in 1988, it operates as an independent foundation focused on philanthropic support across multiple sectors.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$15.6M
-12.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.8M
+223.1% YoY
Grant Count
22
+69.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$173K
+90.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $822K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Higher education
- Youth development
- The arts
- Health care
- The environment
- Education
- Human services
The foundation demonstrates particular interest in arts education, arts and culture, and creative endeavors.
Grantmaking
The foundation actively distributes grants across its priority areas, with a significant portion directed toward education and arts-related initiatives.
Grant Range
Range:** $2,500 to $1,000,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nevada and Hawaii.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Total Assets: $15,648,494
Total Annual Giving: $3,805,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $15,648,494 | $17,855,592 | $17,345,507 |
| Revenue | $2,515,088 | $829,314 | $1,318,443 |
| Expenses | $4,092,033 | $1,423,417 | $1,433,944 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,919,269 | $1,282,281 | $1,274,224 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,384,997 | $697,909 | $1,175,089 |
| Distributable Amount | $822,374 | $903,160 | $993,676 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Junior Achievement of Northern Nevada ($1,000,000), University of Nevada Reno Foundation ($1,000,000), Desert Research Institute ($500,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Artown Reno, NV | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Big Brother and Sisters of Northern Nevada Reno, NV | Mentoring Program | $10,000 |
| Boy Scouts of America Nevada Area Council Reno, NV | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Boys and Girls Club Truckee Meadows Reno, NV | College and Careers Readiness Program | $25,000 |
| Center For Adaptive Riding Reno, NV | Equipment | $10,000 |
| Desert Research Institute Reno, NV | Innovation Reasearch Program Endowment | $500,000 |
| Discovery Children's Museum Las Vegas, NV | Discovery on Wheels Program | $10,000 |
| First Tee of Northern Nevada Reno, NV | Program Support | $15,000 |
| Girls on the Run Reno, NV | Program Support | $5,000 |
| Hawaii Food Bank Honolulu, HI | Program Support | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael J Melarkey | President | 16 | $50,000 |
| Dick Gilbert partial year | Secretary | 8 | $30,000 |
| Gregory Ferraro | Trustee | 8 | $40,000 |
Contact Information
Address: 165 W Liberty St Ste 110, Reno, NV 89501-1901
Telephone: 775-221-8004
EIN: 88-0241424
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Higher education • Youth development • The arts • Health care • The environment • Education • Human services The foundation demonstrates particular interest in arts education, arts and culture, and creative endeavors.
How do I apply for a grant from The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc?
**Grant Size Range:** $2,500 to $1,000,000 **Annual Giving:** $3,805,000 (based on most recent IRS 990 filing from 2024) The foundation actively distributes grants across its priority areas, with a significant portion directed toward education and arts-related initiatives.
Where does The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in Nevada and Hawaii.
What size grants does The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc awarded 22 grants totaling $3.8M — an average of about $173K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $822K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Bretzlaff Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0241424. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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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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