The Melkus Family Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Nashville, TN EIN: 62-1518285

The Melkus Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Nashville, Tennessee. Its 2024 filing reports 75 grants totaling $7,332,734 to charitable organizations, including recipients in Tennessee and New York.

Key facts about The Melkus Family Foundation

In short: The Melkus Family Foundation gave $7.3M across 75 grants in 2024 (avg $98K), mostly in Tennessee. 28% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.

EIN
62-1518285
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$7,332,734
Grants made (2024)
75
Average grant
$97,770
Median grant
$25,000
New grantees (estimate)
28% first-time grantees (21 of 75, 2024)
Total assets
$61,375,549
Primary geography
Tennessee (53% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to apply
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$61.4M

-3.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$7.3M

+31.6% YoY

Grant Count

75

+4.2% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$98K

+26.4% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Melkus Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $7.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

Is The Melkus Family Foundation open to new grantees?

28%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 21 of 75 grantees (28%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $101K; repeat grants $97K. How we count

Medians: $10K first-time, $25K repeat.

  • 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
  • Giving grew 49% from 2021 to 2024. Method
  • In 2024 it paid out 100% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. For example, the International Rescue Committee says it responds to humanitarian crises and helps people affected by conflict and disaster; Belmont University describes itself as a Christ-centered, student-focused Christian community providing education; and Martha O’Bryan Center says it empowers people in poverty through work, education, employment, and fellowship.

Other 2024 grantees include Renewal House, which says it treats and provides housing to women and children affected by substance use disorders; MANNA FoodBank, whose mission is to help end hunger in western North Carolina; and the Sexual Assault Center, which provides healing services and works to end sexual violence through counseling, education, and advocacy.

Grantmaking

In 2024, the foundation reported 75 grants totaling $7,332,734. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $1,000,000, with a median grant of $25,000. Among the largest were $1,000,000 to the International Rescue Committee, $989,184 to Belmont University, $500,000 to Doctors Without Borders, $400,000 to ANCORA TN, and $300,000 to City Harvest. Other large awards included $294,940 to Martha O’Bryan Center and $250,000 each to National Resources Defense Council, Renewal House, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2024, 53% of grant dollars went to recipients in Tennessee and 37% to recipients in New York. The remaining reported shares went to Florida (4%), North Carolina (3%), and Massachusetts (2%).

Grant Distribution by State

19states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 75 itemized grants.

Cities

NashvilleNew YorkNaplesBrentwoodMilwaukeeWashingtonBrooklynChicagoBowling GreenMt JulietSandySandy SpringsChestnut HillKnoxvilleLomitaMerrifieldSeattleVassFranklinFredonia

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$2M$4M$6M$8M60 grants2020 56 grants2021 62 grants2022 72 grants2023 75 grants2024

From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $4.3M (2020) to $7.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 75 grants totaling $7.3M.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

International Rescue Committee: $1.0MInternational Rescue Committee$1.0MBelmont University: $989KBelmont University$989KDoctors Without Borders: $500KDoctors Without Borders$500KAncora TN: $400KAncora TN$400KCity Harvest: $300KCity Harvest$300KMartha O'Bryan Center: $295KMartha O'Bryan Center$295KCommunity Foundation of Collier County: $270KCommunity Foundation ofCollier County$270KNational Resources Defense Council: $250KNational Resources DefenseCouncil$250KRenewal House: $250KRenewal House$250KSecond Harvest Food Bank: $250KSecond Harvest Food Bank$250K

The largest 2024 recipient was International Rescue Committee ($1.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.5M.

Grant Size Distribution

325 grants across all recorded years

195<$50K49$50–100K51$100–250K16$250–500K11$500K–1M3$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 195 grants of 325 (60%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
International Rescue Committee New York, NYTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$1,000,000
Belmont University Nashville, TNTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$989,184
Doctors Without Borders New York, NYTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$500,000
Ancora TN Nashville, TNTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$400,000
City Harvest New York, NYTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$300,000
Martha O'Bryan Center Nashville, TNTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$294,940
Community Foundation of Collier County Naples, FLTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$270,000
National Resources Defense Council New York, NYTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$250,000
Renewal House Nashville, TNTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$250,000
Second Harvest Food Bank Nashville, TNTo further one or more of the exempt purposes of the charity$250,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grants
2024 $61,375,549 $5,675,356 $8,189,441 $7,332,734
2023 $63,861,503 $29,790,597 $5,811,785 $5,570,540
2022 $39,234,849 $1,158,794 $5,224,401 $5,056,848

The foundation files Form 990-PF. In 2024 it reported 75 grants; it reported 72 in 2023 and 62 in 2022.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$10M$20M$30M$40M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$61,375,549$63,861,503$39,234,849
Revenue$5,675,356$29,790,597$1,158,794
Expenses$8,189,441$5,811,785$5,224,401
Qualifying Distributions$7,587,190$5,696,025$5,118,777
Net Investment Income$4,704,894$29,674,863$1,677,627
Distributable Amount$7,589,798$6,519,543$5,991,265

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing lists Kenneth J. Melkus as chairman and treasurer, Barbara L. Melkus as vice president and secretary, and Lauren E. Melkus as president.

The Melkus Family Foundation is led by Lauren E. Melkus, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 3 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.

Officers on the 2024 filing

  • Lauren E. Melkus

    President

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    $34K (2020) → $110K (2024)

  • Kenneth J. Melkus

    Chairman & Treasurer

    On filings since 2020

    20 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Barbara L. Melkus

    Vice President & Secretary

    On filings since 2020

    2.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Lauren E Melkus — President: $110KLauren E MelkusPresident$110K

The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $110K, to Lauren E Melkus (President).

Contact

Mailing address: 102 Woodmont Blvd 110, Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (646) 285-4430

Frequently asked questions about The Melkus Family Foundation

How much does The Melkus Family Foundation give each year?

The Melkus Family Foundation gave $7.3M across 75 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.6M across 72 grants.

What is The Melkus Family Foundation's typical grant size?

The Melkus Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $97,770, across 75 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Melkus Family Foundation that year got $101K on average.

Where does The Melkus Family Foundation give grants?

The Melkus Family Foundation gives mostly in Tennessee: 53% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was New York (37%). The most frequent recipient cities were Nashville, TN (32 grants), New York, NY (14 grants), Naples, FL (3 grants) and Washington, DC (2 grants).

Who are The Melkus Family Foundation's largest grantees?

The Melkus Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include International Rescue Committee ($1,000,000), Belmont University ($989,184) and Doctors Without Borders ($500,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.

How large is The Melkus Family Foundation?

The Melkus Family Foundation reported $61.4M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $7.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $7.6M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.

What does The Melkus Family Foundation fund?

No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants went to organizations with varied missions. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Melkus Family Foundation?

The foundation states 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 Melkus Family Foundation's EIN?

The Melkus Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-1518285. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Does The Melkus Family 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.

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