The Fidelio Foundation
The Fidelio Foundation is a private foundation based in Glenside, Pennsylvania. In its 2025 filing, it reported grants to charitable organizations, including organizations working in education, health, and youth programs.
The Fidelio Foundation at a glance
In short: The Fidelio Foundation gave $236K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $17K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 36% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $235,500
- +41.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- +27.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $16,821
- +11.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $2,173,511
- +12.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 36% first-time grantees (5 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (74% 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 The Fidelio Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2826 Mt Carmel Ave, Glenside, PA 19038
Phone: (215) 460-3268
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Fidelio Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cahill Property Foundation ($50K). Together the top 10 received $227K.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 56 (96%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing’s grant-dollar distribution was 74% to Pennsylvania, 19% to Iowa, 4% to Arizona, 2% to Maryland, and less than 1% to Georgia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Fidelio Foundation open to new grantees?
36%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 14 grantees (36%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $20K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 64% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 39% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 114% 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 $129K (2023) to $236K (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $236K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cahill Property Foundation Philadelphia, PA | Building Fund | $50,000 |
| Young Life Harlan, IA | Operating Fund | $44,500 |
| Michaels Way Fort Washington, PA | Operating Fund | $35,000 |
| La Salle University Philadelphia, PA | Education | $30,000 |
| Villanova University Villanova, PA | Education | $25,000 |
| Holy Redeemer Hospital Meadowbrook, PA | Operating Fund | $20,000 |
| The Legacy Foundation Tempe, AZ | Education | $10,000 |
| Companions of St Anthony Ellicott City, MD | Operating Fund | $5,000 |
| Roman Catholic High School Philadelphia, PA | Education | $5,000 |
| St Rita of Cascia Philadelphia, PA | Operating Funds | $2,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Fidelio Foundation?
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 | $2,173,511 | $539,604 | $295,963 | $235,500 | 14 | $235,500 | $494,201 | $207,332 |
| 2024 | $1,929,870 | $255,802 | $226,979 | $166,750 | 11 | $166,750 | $210,906 | $177,224 |
| 2023 | $1,901,047 | $55,812 | $179,052 | $128,750 | 10 | $128,750 | $273,666 | $136,373 |
| 2022 | $1,756,415 | $53,697 | $207,266 | $170,000 | 10 | — | $159,048 | — |
| 2021 | $1,773,729 | $38,911 | $175,565 | $140,000 | 11 | — | $85,965 | — |
| 2020 | $1,821,813 | $76,506 | $167,600 | $135,000 | 10 | — | $72,404 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fidelio Foundation reported a distributable amount of $207K 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
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included education support for La Salle University and Villanova University. Those universities describe themselves, respectively, as a Lasallian Catholic university committed to educating the whole person, and a Catholic Augustinian community of higher education.
Other 2025 grantees describe work in family assistance and youth opportunity: Michael’s Way says it helps families of children with cancer cope with extraordinary expenses, while Ed Snider Youth Hockey & Education says it creates opportunities for under-resourced youth in the Greater Philadelphia region to prosper in life. These are the grantees’ stated missions, not statements of the foundation’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $235,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $7,500. Among the listed grants, the largest were $50,000 to Cahill Property Foundation for a building fund, $44,500 to Young Life for an operating fund, $35,000 to Michael’s Way for an operating fund, $30,000 to La Salle University for education, and $25,000 to Villanova University for education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists David Mele as trustee.
The Fidelio Foundation is led by David Mele, Trustee on every filing since 2023 — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David Mele
Trustee
On filings since 2023
$10K (2023) → $15K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Michael Mele (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Mario V. Mele (2020) — Trustee
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.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $15K, to David Mele (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Fidelio Foundation
How much does The Fidelio Foundation give each year?
The Fidelio Foundation gave $236K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $167K across 11 grants.
What is The Fidelio Foundation's typical grant size?
The Fidelio Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $16,821, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Fidelio Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Fidelio Foundation give grants?
The Fidelio Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 74% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Iowa (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (6 grants).
Does The Fidelio Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 64% of The Fidelio Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (9 of 14) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Education" (4 grants).
Who are The Fidelio Foundation's largest grantees?
The Fidelio Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cahill Property Foundation ($50,000), Young Life ($44,500) and Michaels Way ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 55% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Fidelio Foundation?
The Fidelio Foundation reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $236K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $207K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Fidelio Foundation fund?
No foundation mission statement is provided. Its 2025 grants included education support for La Salle University and Villanova University. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Fidelio Foundation?
The foundation states on its 2025 filing that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Fidelio Foundation's EIN?
The Fidelio Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 03-6074145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does The Fidelio 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Fidelio Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Fidelio Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Pennsylvania
Mutual of America Foundation
New York, NY
Assets
$136K
Grants
539
Total Given
$839K
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Connelly Foundation
West Conshohocken, PA
The Connelly Foundation funds education, human services, arts and culture, and civic life, supporting charitable organizations serving Philadelphia and nearby Pennsylvania counties, as well as Camden, New Jersey. Its average grant was $41,000 in 2025, and awards may cover multiple years. It accepts online applications in several focus areas, but does not accept unsolicited requests of $100,000 or more.
Assets
$362.1M
Grants
305
Total Given
$15.4M
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
The Pittsburgh Foundation funds nonprofits working in basic needs, equity and social justice, environmental action, arts and culture, and economic mobility, with most opportunities for organizations in Allegheny County or primarily serving its residents. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of about $18,600, though awards varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
1,132
Total Given
$64.0M
The William Penn Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The William Penn Foundation funds arts and culture, children and families, civic participation, the environment and public spaces, and workforce training, primarily in the Philadelphia region. Its 2024 median grant was $50,000, though awards varied widely. It accepts unsolicited requests through limited open applications and invites letters of inquiry from public charities.
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
1,027
Total Given
$148.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Pennsylvania
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Fidelio Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 21, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-fidelio-foundation-morg_f7790c86fe2e409cbb6173c630a18fa3
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_036074145_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Fidelio Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-fidelio-foundation-morg_f7790c86fe2e409cbb6173c630a18fa3},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-21. 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 The Fidelio 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.
The Fidelio Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?