The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation
The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2000 and based in Las Vegas, Nevada. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization with a volunteer leadership team and no paid staff.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$13.6M
+2.3% YoY
Annual Giving
$35K
Grant Count
20
Avg Grant Size
$2K
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $709K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including:
- Arts and culture
- Religion, with particular emphasis on Judaism
- Human services
- Family services
- Child welfare
- Youth development and youth services
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $10,000 in recent activity, with an average grant size of $2,000. Recent grants include:
Grant Range
of $2,000. Recent grants include:
Average Grant
of $2,000. Recent grants include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- Nevada (Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas)
- Idaho (Kimberly)
- Illinois (Oak Brook)
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $13.6 million
- Total Revenue: $486,000
- Total Expenses: $185,000
- Total Liabilities: $0
Historical Context: The foundation has maintained substantial assets over time, with assets previously reported at $13.3 million and $5.4 million in earlier periods, reflecting the enduring nature of the foundation's philanthropic capacity.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $13,617,236 | $13,317,102 | $13,323,491 |
| Revenue | $485,538 | $122,195 | $15,535,893 |
| Expenses | $185,404 | $128,584 | $10,259,262 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $35,000 | — | $10,082,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $334,888 | $184,171 | $192,309 |
| Distributable Amount | $709,284 | $624,456 | $658,986 |
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
75 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include UNLV Foundation ($5,000), UNLV Scholarships ($5,000), Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada ($3,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adams Place Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $1,500 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Southern Nevada Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $3,000 |
| Childrens Heart Foundation Northbrook, IL | General Support | $3,000 |
| City Mission of Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $500 |
| Cleveland Clinic Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $3,000 |
| Cure 4 Kids Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $1,000 |
| Kid's Foundation Sunrise Hospital Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $1,000 |
| LEAN Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $1,000 |
| Nevada Child Seekers Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $1,000 |
| Paralized Veterans of America Las Vegas, NV | General Support | $1,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation's volunteer leadership includes:
- Constance D Wolzinger – President
- Jean Anne Johnson – Vice President
- Donald Johnson – Treasurer
- Tracy Johnson – Secretary
All leadership positions are held on a volunteer basis without compensation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Constance D Wolzinger | President | 5 | — |
| Jean Anne Johnson | Vice President | 5 | — |
| Donald Johnson | Treasurer | 10 | — |
| Tracy Johnson | Secretary | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation fund?
The foundation supports a diverse range of causes including: • Arts and culture • Religion, with particular emphasis on Judaism • Human services • Family services • Child welfare • Youth development and youth services
How do I apply for a grant from The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made grants totaling approximately $10,000 in recent activity, with an average grant size of $2,000. Recent grants include: • $5,000 to Wolzinger - UNLV Foundation Charitable Remainder Annuity Trust (General Support) • $3,000 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Nevada (General Support) • $3,000 to The Children's Heart Foundation (General Support) The foundation has a history of supporting educational institutions and community organizations.
Where does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation make grants?
The foundation funds projects across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • Nevada (Henderson, Las Vegas, North Las Vegas) • Idaho (Kimberly) • Illinois (Oak Brook) • New York
What size grants does The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation award?
In 2024, The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation awarded 20 grants totaling $35K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Mel & Ruth Wolzinger Foundation reported a distributable amount of $709K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.