The Melville Charitable Trust Inc
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc is a private philanthropic foundation based in New Haven, Connecticut, dedicated exclusively to ending homelessness in the United States. As the largest foundation in the U.S. focused solely on this mission, the Trust invests in proven, lasting, and cost-effective solutions that enable people experiencing homelessness to reclaim their lives and dignity.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$12.4M
-3.8% YoY
Grant Count
54
-18.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$229K
+17.6% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: The Melville Charitable Trust is the largest foundation in the U.S. exclusively devoted to ending homelessness. The organization invests in proven, lasting, and cost-effective solutions that enable people with the least resources and biggest barriers to success to reclaim their lives. Where solutions have not yet been identified, the Trust supports exploration and innovation to find the most promising approaches.
Vision: All Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x people with extremely low incomes live in safe, stable, affordable housing in neighborhoods that allow them to thrive.
Primary Focus Areas:
- Housing and supportive housing solutions
- Service programs for homeless individuals
- Educational, research, and advocacy initiatives
- Community and economic development
- Shelter and residential care
- Human services for economically disadvantaged populations
The Trust's grantmaking dollars are roughly split between efforts to end homelessness in Connecticut and creating a better policy environment at the national level. In 2021, the Trust outlined a new vision grounded in racial equity and focused on the people most impacted by homelessness.
The organization is a signatory to Philanthropy's Promise, an initiative of the National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy (NCRP), committing to allocate the majority of its grantmaking dollars to marginalized communities and at least 25 percent to social justice strategies, including advocacy, community organizing, and civic engagement.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$126,000
Average Grant
$182,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust funds initiatives across the United States, with primary focus on:
- Connecticut (home state)
- District of Columbia
- Operations in 20 U.S. states including major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago
- Additional states include: Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total assets: $130.7–$131 million
- Annual revenue: $8.2 million
- Annual expenses: $28.9 million
- Total liabilities: $14 million
Historical Context: In 2017, the Trust transferred a significant portion of assets to create The Melville Charitable Trust Inc (EIN: 46-1670702), the current operating entity. The original Melville Trust (EIN: 13-3415258) was established in 1987 in New York and reorganized in 1990.
Tax Status:
- 501(c)(3) organization
- Tax-exempt since January 2017
- IRS Form 990-PF filer
- Donations are tax-deductible
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Amalgamated Charitable Foundation ($1,850,000), Partnership for Strong Communities ($750,000), Forge City Works ($670,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| A BETTER WAY FOUNDATION HARTFORD, CT | SPONSORSHIP | $10,000 |
| ASSOCIATION OF BLACK FOUNDATION EXECUTIVES NEW YORK, NY | SPONSORSHIP | $15,000 |
| AFRICAN AMERICAN ALLIANCE OF CDFI CEOS ORLANDO, FL | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $100,000 |
| AMALGAMATED CHARITABLE FOUNDATION ROCKVILLE, MD | PERC GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $1,850,000 |
| CENTER FOR BUDGET POLICIES & PRIORITIES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $600,000 |
| CENTER FOR CHILDREN'S ADVOCACY HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $80,500 |
| CENTER FOR COMMUNITY PROGRESS FLINT, MI | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $265,000 |
| CENTER FOR LEADERSHIP & JUSTICE HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $100,000 |
| COMMUNITY SOLUTIONS NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $250,000 |
| CONNECTICUT COALITION TO END HOMELESSNESS HARTFORD, CT | GENERAL OPERATING GRANT | $100,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Executives:
- Susan K. Thomas — President
- Aimee Hendrigan — Executive Vice President
- Ann Woodward — Chief Operating Officer
- Biniam Gebre — Board Member
Organization Structure:
- Staff: 5 employees
- Governed by 11 officers and trustees
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SUSAN THOMAS | PRESIDENT | 40 | $307,029 |
| KAREN DUBOIS-WALTON | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| BINIAM GEBRE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JC DAVID HADDEN | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROBERT HAGGETT | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| CARLA JAVITS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| ROLAN JONI YOUNG | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| JENNIFER LEIMAILE HO | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| KICA MATOS | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| RUTH MELVILLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
| STEPHEN MELVILLE | DIRECTOR | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The Trust granted $75,000 to the Urban Land Institute to seek real estate solutions in the affordable housing crisis
Melville Charitable Trust Grants ULI $75,000 to Seek Real Estate SolutionsThe organization published "New Equity Focus for the Employment and Education Opportunity Fund," reflecting its commitment to equity-centered grantmaking
New Equity Focus for the Employment and Education Opportunity Fund - MelvilleThe Trust documented its journey in "Embracing Growth and Engagement: The Melville Trust's Journey Forward," highlighting organizational evolution and expanded engagement
Embracing Growth and Engagement: The Melville Trust''s Journey Forward -Contact Information
- Address: 157 Church Street, Floor 19, New Haven, CT 06510-2100
- Phone: 203-901-1065 or 1-877-424-3838
- Email: info@melvilletrust.org
- Website: melvilletrust.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc fund?
**Mission:** The Melville Charitable Trust is the largest foundation in the U.S. exclusively devoted to ending homelessness. The organization invests in proven, lasting, and cost-effective solutions that enable people with the least resources and biggest barriers to success to reclaim their lives. Where solutions have not yet been identified, the Trust supports exploration and innovation to find the most promising approaches. **Vision:** All Black, Indigenous, Latino/a/x people with extremely l…
How do I apply for a grant from The Melville Charitable Trust Inc?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual grants: $6–10 million • Total grants made: 136 grants totaling $24.7 million (based on available records) • Median grant size: $126,000 • Average grant size: $182,000 • Grant range: $1,000 to $1.2 million • Annual distribution: Between $11.8 million and $12.9 million (2022–2023) • Supported organizations: 85 unique organizations **Recent Grants:** • $75,000 grant to Urban Land Institute (ULI) to seek real estate solutions in the affordable housing crisis
Where does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc make grants?
The Trust funds initiatives across the United States, with primary focus on: • Connecticut (home state) • District of Columbia • Operations in 20 U.S. states including major urban centers such as New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago • Additional states include: Alabama, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, South Carolina, and Virginia
What size grants does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc award?
In 2024, The Melville Charitable Trust Inc awarded 54 grants totaling $12.4M — an average of about $229K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's EIN?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-1670702. 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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