The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation is a private foundation based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Its 2025 grants supported UNLV’s Little Rebel Expansion and Three Square, both in Las Vegas.
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation at a glance
In short: The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation gave $2.5M across 2 grants in 2025 (avg $1.3M), mostly in Nevada. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $2,515,000
- +7085.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 2
- -90.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,257,500
- +71757.1% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,257,500
- Total assets
- $12,239,946
- -10.1% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Nevada (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Mailing address: 4138 Yucca Bloom St, Las Vegas, NV 89135
Phone: (702) 248-2144
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 2 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was UNLV - Little Rebel Expansion ($2.5M). Together the top 2 received $2.5M.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 54 grants of 57 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Both listed 2025 recipients are in Nevada; Nevada received 100% of the foundation’s grant dollars that year.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 2 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation gives
- Giving fell 75% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 368% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $35K (2024) to $10.1M (2022). In 2025 it made 2 grants totaling $2.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| UNLV - Little Rebel Expansion Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $2,500,000 |
| Three Square Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $15,000 |
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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 | $12,239,946 | $1,291,936 | $2,669,226 | $2,515,000 | 2 | $2,515,000 | $1,137,710 | $683,149 |
| 2024 | $13,617,236 | $485,538 | $185,404 | $35,000 | 20 | $35,000 | $334,888 | $709,284 |
| 2023 | $13,317,102 | $122,195 | $128,584 | — | — | — | $184,171 | $624,456 |
| 2022 | $13,323,491 | $15,535,893 | $10,259,262 | $10,082,000 | 17 | $10,082,000 | $192,309 | $658,986 |
| 2021 | $8,069,061 | $1,590,590 | $1,101,026 | $995,000 | 18 | $1,012,181 | $1,507,222 | $408,164 |
| 2020 | $7,571,665 | $272,585 | $138,710 | $101,400 | 20 | — | $290,213 | $386,191 |
| 2019 | $7,423,421 | $2,995,315 | $324,644 | $309,900 | 61 | — | $265,493 | $290,697 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $683K 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support for UNLV’s Little Rebel Expansion and Three Square. Three Square describes its mission as providing wholesome food to hungry people while pursuing a hunger-free community.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation made two grants totaling $2,515,000. The grants were $2,500,000 to UNLV – Little Rebel Expansion and $15,000 to Three Square, both for general support. The median grant was $1,257,500.
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Constance D Wolzinger as President, Jean Anne Johnson as Vice President, Donald Johnson as Treasurer, and Tracy Johnson as Secretary.
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation is led by Constance D Wolzinger, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 4 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Constance D Wolzinger
President
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donald Johnson
Treasurer
Secretary → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Anne Johnson
Vice President
Treasurer → Vice President, 2021
On filings since 2019
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tracy Johnson
Secretary
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation
How much does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation give each year?
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation gave $2.5M across 2 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $35K across 20 grants.
How large is The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation?
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation reported $12.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.5M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $683K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants included general support for UNLV’s Little Rebel Expansion and Three Square. Three Square describes its mission as providing wholesome food to hungry people while pursuing a hunger-free community. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation?
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines.
Where does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation make grants?
Both listed 2025 recipients are in Nevada; Nevada received 100% of the foundation’s grant dollars that year.
What is The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation's EIN?
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-0468356. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 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 2024 (received by the IRS May 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 15, 2026)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS June 16, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS September 19, 2024)
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