The Melville Charitable Trust Inc
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc is a private foundation based in New Haven, Connecticut. It supports work to address homelessness and housing instability, with grantmaking in Connecticut and across the country.
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc at a glance
In short: The Melville Charitable Trust Inc gave $12.4M across 54 grants in 2024 (avg $229K), top state District of Columbia. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $12,366,430
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 54
- -18.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $229,008
- +17.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $150,000
- Total assets
- $130,710,411
- -0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (19 of 54, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (30% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Melville Charitable Trust Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Contact
Application contact: See Funding Guidelines At Httpsmelv
Mailing address: 157 Church Street 19Th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: (203) 901-1065
Website: https://melvilletrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Melville Charitable Trust Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Amalgamated Charitable Foundation ($1.9M). Together the top 10 received $6.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
322 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 95 grants of 322 (30%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Trust says it works in Connecticut, its home state, and across the country. In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state were DC (30%), Connecticut (23%), Maryland (15%), Missouri (8%), and Massachusetts (8%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Melville Charitable Trust Inc open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 54 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $170K; repeat grants $261K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $250K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 252% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $8.1M (2020) to $12.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 54 grants totaling $12.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Rockville, MD | Perc General Operating Grant | $1,850,000 |
| Urban Strategies Inc St. Louis, MO | Perc Project Grant | $792,680 |
| Partnership for Strong Communities Hartford, CT | General Operating Grant | $750,000 |
| Forge City Works Hartford, CT | Sponsorship | $670,000 |
| Center for Budget Policies & Priorities Washington, DC | General Operating Grant | $600,000 |
| National Low Income Housing Coalition Washington, DC | General Operating Grant | $550,000 |
| New Venture Fund (Funders for Housing and Opportunity) Washington, DC | General Operating Grant | $500,000 |
| National Alliance to End Homelessness Washington, DC | General Operating Grant | $403,500 |
| Funders Together to End Homelessness Boston, MA | General Operating Grant | $325,000 |
| Grounded Solutions Network Oakland, CA | General Operating Grant | $294,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Melville Charitable Trust Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $130,710,411 | $8,203,177 | $28,869,866 | $12,366,430 | 54 | $15,759,521 | $9,260,180 | $6,251,951 |
| 2023 | $131,673,042 | $3,804,620 | $10,597,163 | $12,855,943 | 66 | $15,245,147 | $4,678,895 | $6,184,868 |
| 2022 | $129,619,491 | $2,935,827 | $18,981,298 | $11,828,929 | 70 | $15,135,854 | $2,080,543 | $6,188,558 |
| 2021 | $162,739,957 | $8,994,737 | $14,488,779 | $8,798,050 | 62 | $11,190,868 | $8,471,193 | $7,581,090 |
| 2020 | $154,835,983 | $3,576,490 | $12,003,656 | $8,133,517 | 70 | — | $2,844,021 | $7,041,940 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Melville Charitable Trust Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s stated aim is for all people to have a safe, affordable home that allows them to thrive. Its 2021 Grantmaking Strategy for Equitable Results focuses on people most impacted by homelessness and housing instability, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latino/a/x people with extremely low incomes. The Trust identifies three root causes for its work: limited rapid pathways to decent, permanent housing; insufficient income and assets; and racist housing, zoning, and land-use policies.
Its strategies include supporting anti-racist policy change and efforts to build and shift power among people with extremely low incomes. The Trust also describes direct charitable activities: The Lyceum provides a hub for educational programs and the exchange of ideas on housing, homelessness, and community development; New Song supports development of safe, adequate, affordable housing for low- and moderate-income families and individuals.
Among the organizations receiving grants in 2024, the Partnership for Strong Communities says it promotes equitable change in Connecticut housing policy through advocacy, research, and partnerships. The National Low Income Housing Coalition describes its mission as achieving racially and socially equitable public policy so the lowest-income people can access quality, affordable homes. Grounded Solutions Network says it advances lasting affordable-housing solutions to cultivate equitable, inclusive communities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Trust reported 54 grants totaling $12,366,430. Grant amounts ranged from $3,750 to $1,850,000, with a median of $150,000. Notable grants included $1,850,000 to Amalgamated Charitable Foundation for a PERC general operating grant; $792,680 to Urban Strategies Inc for a PERC project grant; $750,000 to the Partnership for Strong Communities for general operating support; and $670,000 to Forge City Works for sponsorship. Other large grants included $600,000 to the Center for Budget Policies & Priorities and $550,000 to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, both for general operating support.
The Trust’s website says it does not accept unsolicited applications for funding. Its 2024 filing directs prospective applicants to funding guidelines for the inquiry process, materials, and award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Susan Thomas as president. Directors listed are Karen Dubois-Walton, Biniam Gebre, JC David Hadden, Robert Haggett, Carla Javits, Rolan Joni Young, Jennifer Leimaile Ho, Kica Matos, and Ruth Melville.
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc is led by Susan Thomas, President on every filing since 2020; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Susan Thomas
President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$216K (2020) → $307K (2024)
Carla Javits
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jc David Hadden
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Leimaile Ho
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Karen Dubois-Walton
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Haggett
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ruth Melville
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Melville
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Biniam Gebre
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kica Matos
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rolan Joni Young
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $307K, to Susan Thomas (President).
Frequently asked questions about The Melville Charitable Trust Inc
How much does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc give each year?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc gave $12.4M across 54 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $12.9M across 66 grants.
What is The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's typical grant size?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's median grant in 2024 was $150,000, and its average grant was $229,008, across 54 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Melville Charitable Trust Inc that year got $170K on average.
Where does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc give grants?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's top state is District of Columbia, with 30% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (23%) and Maryland (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (16 grants), Hartford, CT (12 grants), New York, NY (5 grants) and Boston, MA (4 grants).
Does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 61% of The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (33 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Sponsorship" (13 grants) and "Project Grant" (6 grants).
Who are The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's largest grantees?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Amalgamated Charitable Foundation ($1,850,000), Urban Strategies Inc ($792,680) and Partnership for Strong Communities ($750,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Melville Charitable Trust Inc?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc reported $130.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $15.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc fund?
The Trust’s stated aim is for all people to have a safe, affordable home that allows them to thrive. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Melville Charitable Trust Inc?
The Melville Charitable Trust Inc does not accept unsolicited proposals, according to Grantable's research on its published guidelines. Check melvilletrust.org for any change to that policy.
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.
Does The Melville Charitable Trust Inc 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 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 November 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Melville Charitable Trust Inc funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Melville Charitable Trust Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Melville Charitable Trust Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-melville-charitable-trust-inc-morg_3fe38ded71d8437b9e65dd963a362d53
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_461670702_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Melville Charitable Trust Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-melville-charitable-trust-inc-morg_3fe38ded71d8437b9e65dd963a362d53},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Melville Charitable Trust Inc'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.
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