The Melville Foundation
The Melville Foundation is a private family foundation established in 1987, based in North Palm Beach, Florida. The foundation was created to organize charitable giving through a philosophy centered on listening to communities, compassion, and dignity. The foundation's approach to philanthropy is rooted in the family's multi-generational commitment to service and community support.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$25.9M
+1.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.0M
+65.6% YoY
Grant Count
72
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+65.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Melville Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission emphasizes serving others with love, purpose, and respect. According to the founders, the foundation was created after conducting a year-long listening tour in communities with limited opportunity, prioritizing understanding community needs before deploying resources.
Primary funding areas include:
- Children & Young People — Supporting charities that serve underprivileged and deprived children and young people
- Education — Emphasis on providing good education to improve self-esteem and life outcomes
- Social Inclusion — Programs addressing social barriers and opportunity gaps
- Human Services — General charitable support in local communities
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
The foundation believes that children with good education and strong self-esteem will go on to live happier and more fulfilling lives.
Grantmaking
The foundation made 42 grants in 2024. Grant descriptions are typically listed as "Charitable Grant."
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on:
- Virginia
- Florida
- New York
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
2024 Financial Summary
- Total assets: $25,940,504
- Total revenues: $1,607,828
- Total expenses: $2,593,977
- Number of employees: 0
Tax Status
- EIN: 22-2777140
- IRS 501(c)(3) classification
- Tax-exempt since March 1987
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $25,940,504 | $25,472,842 | $23,159,671 |
| Revenue | $1,607,828 | $5,415,489 | $6,370 |
| Expenses | $2,593,977 | $1,577,136 | $3,211,511 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,022,043 | $1,220,980 | $2,755,900 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,035,894 | $3,116,983 | $213,853 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,129,626 | $1,384,480 | $2,116,899 |
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 Darden School Foundation ($913,275), New York Botanical Gardens ($203,182), Heterodox Academy ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALBEMARLE COUNTY POLICE FOUNDATION CHARLOTTSEVILLE, VA | CHARITABLE GRANT | $2,500 |
| BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE PIEDMONT CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA | CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF MARTIN COUNTY HOBE SOUND, FL | CHARITABLE GRANT | $25,000 |
| BRAIN CHEMISTRY LABS JACKSON, WY | CHARITABLE GRANT | $5,000 |
| BRAVO VAIL VAIL, CO | CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| CAMP HOLIDAY TRAILS CHARLOTTESVILEE, VA | CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| CCNC FOUNDATION NEW CANAAN, CT | CHARITABLE GRANT | $3,000 |
| CHARLOTTESILLE DAY SCHOOL CHARLOTTSEVILLE, VA | CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| CHICAGO COMMONS CHICAGO, IL | CHARITABLE GRANT | $2,000 |
| CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH PONTE VERDA BEACH, FL | CHARITABLE GRANT | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Trustees:
- Harry Burn
- Jean Burn
The foundation was founded by a husband and wife team who conducted extensive community listening tours before establishing the foundation's grantmaking strategy.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| HARRY BURN III | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| JEAN BURN | TRUSTEE | — | — |
Contact Information
Primary Address: 11556 Turtle Beach Road North Palm Beach, FL 33408-3345 United States
Phone: 303-250-7883
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Melville Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission emphasizes serving others with love, purpose, and respect. According to the founders, the foundation was created after conducting a year-long listening tour in communities with limited opportunity, prioritizing understanding community needs before deploying resources. Primary funding areas include: • **Children & Young People** — Supporting charities that serve underprivileged and deprived children and young people • **Education** — Emphasis on providing good education …
How do I apply for a grant from The Melville Foundation?
**Grant Activity (2024)** • Total giving: $2,022,043 • Total assets: $25,940,504 • Typical award range: $500–$1,000,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2024)** • University of Virginia Darden School Foundation: $913,275 • New York Botanical Garden: $203,182 • Lost Tree Chapel: $50,000 • Additional 39 grants totaling $1,464,457 The foundation made 42 grants in 2024. Grant descriptions are typically listed as "Charitable Grant."
Where does The Melville Foundation make grants?
The foundation's grantmaking focuses primarily on: • Virginia • Florida • New York
What size grants does The Melville Foundation award?
In 2024, The Melville Foundation awarded 72 grants totaling $2.0M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Melville Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Melville Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Melville Foundation's EIN?
The Melville Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-2777140. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Melville Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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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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