The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc
The Melville Hankins Family is a private foundation based in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Its website says the Hankins Foundation supports resiliency across the lifespan through programming in Human Services, Education, and the Arts.
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2022 (avg $70K), mostly in New Mexico. 0% of 2022 grantees were new. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $1,055,500
- -10.6% vs 2021
- Grants made (2022)
- 15
- -6.3% vs 2021
- Average grant
- $70,367
- -4.6% vs 2021
- Median grant
- $40,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 15, 2022; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (79% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation stated that it made contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Because its 2022 filing is marked as a final return, this is not presented as a current application process.
- Contact
Mailing address: 517 Acequia Madre, Santa Fe, NM 87505
Phone: (617) 320-4911
Website: https://hankinsfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Santa Fe Opera ($300K). Together the top 10 received $971K.
Grant Size Distribution
66 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 38 grants of 66 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 79% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Mexico and 21% to recipients in Colorado. The listed grants included recipients in Santa Fe and other New Mexico communities, as well as Aspen, Colorado.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2022
In 2022, 0 of 15 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
- 100% of 2022 grantees were also funded in 2021. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2019 to 2022 (−5%). Method
- In 2022 it paid out 355% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2022). 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 2019 to 2022, annual grant giving ranged from $1.1M (2022) to $1.2M (2021). In 2022 it made 15 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Santa Fe Opera Santa Fe, NM | Opera in Schools Program | $300,000 |
| Aspen Santa Fe Ballet Aspen, CO | Folklore in Public Schools and Ballet Mentoring Programs | $220,000 |
| Mandela International Magnet School PTA Santa Fe, NM | Education | $140,000 |
| Assistance Dogs of the West Santa Fe, NM | "Warrior Canine Connection" - Veterans' Vocational Training Program | $60,000 |
| New Mexico School for the Arts Santa Fe, NM | Education | $50,000 |
| Santa Fe Animal Shelter Santa Fe, NM | Purchase of a mobile clinic van; feral cat program | $50,000 |
| Santa Fe Botanical Gardens Santa Fe, NM | Wetlands Learning Center at La Cienega | $50,000 |
| The Horse Shelter Santa Fe, NM | Training of horses to allow them to be adoptable; extension of corral space | $40,000 |
| First Serve New Mexico Santa Fe, NM | Help to pay for teachers to tutor at-risk children in a program that combines after school tutoring | $30,500 |
| Lensic Performing Arts Center Santa Fe, NM | Backstage Internship Program for High School Students | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
— = not provided.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | — | $439,319 | $1,426,186 | $1,055,500 | 15 | $1,115,173 | $188,178 | $313,885 |
| 2021 | $12,852,815 | $1,779,822 | $1,574,889 | $1,180,500 | 16 | $1,219,865 | $1,486,396 | $570,773 |
| 2020 | $11,945,928 | $713,979 | $1,482,257 | $1,123,000 | 18 | — | $447,625 | $549,355 |
| 2019 | $12,180,137 | $384,025 | $1,467,581 | $1,105,500 | 17 | — | $110,976 | $543,811 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $314K for 2022 — 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 foundation’s website describes its aim as “Improving Life in Santa Fe and Beyond” and says it supports programming in Human Services, Education, and the Arts.
Its 2022 grants included support for arts and education programs, animal welfare, and vocational training. Among the grantees, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet describes its mission as cultivating appreciation of dance and bringing dance companies to its two home cities. Assistance Dogs of the West says it provides trained assistance dogs and educational and vocational programs. New Mexico School for the Arts says it helps young artists develop their potential through arts and academic education. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation gave $1,055,500 through 15 grants. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $300,000, with a median grant of $40,000.
The largest listed grants included $300,000 to Santa Fe Opera for its Opera in Schools Program; $220,000 to Aspen Santa Fe Ballet for folklore in public schools and ballet mentoring programs; and $140,000 to Mandela International Magnet School PTA for education. Other listed grants included $60,000 to Assistance Dogs of the West for a veterans’ vocational training program, $50,000 to New Mexico School for the Arts for education, and $50,000 to Santa Fe Animal Shelter for a mobile clinic van and feral cat program.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2022 filing lists Michael Davis and Maria Gale as directors; Kenneth Bateman as president; Kevon Zehner as executive director and secretary; and Deborah Gaynor as treasurer.
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc is led by Kevon Zehner, Executive Director & Secretary since 2022 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 5 officers listed in 2022 is compensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Kevon Zehner
Executive Director & Secretary
Treasurer → Executive Director & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2019
32 hrs/week
$100K (2022)
Kenneth Bateman
President
Secretary → President, 2022
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Gale
Director
New on the 2022 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Davis
Director
New on the 2022 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Deborah Gaynor
Treasurer
New on the 2022 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Cameron McCluskey (2019–2021) — President
- Former: George E. Watson (2019–2021) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $100K, to Kevon Zehner (Executive Director and Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc
How much does The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc give each year?
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc gave $1.1M across 15 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2021 it gave $1.2M across 16 grants.
What is The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's median grant in 2022 was $40,000, and its average grant was $70,367, across 15 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc give grants?
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc gives mostly in New Mexico: 79% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Colorado (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Fe, NM (13 grants).
Does The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's largest 2022 grantees include Santa Fe Opera ($300,000), Aspen Santa Fe Ballet ($220,000) and Mandela International Magnet School PTA ($140,000), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 63% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
What does The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s website describes its aim as “Improving Life in Santa Fe and Beyond” and says it supports programming in Human Services, Education, and the Arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc?
The foundation stated that it made 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 ↑
How much is The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $314K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-0707823. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2022.
Does The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc 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.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 25, 2020)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2022
Live grants for the work The Melville Hankins Family Foundation Inc funds
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