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Richard & Martha Melman Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

Richard & Martha Melman Foundation

Its FY2025 filing reports that it funds preselected organizations and did not take unsolicited requests; check the foundation's own site before ruling it out.

$365k
Granted FY2025still arriving
10
Grants FY2025still arriving
3
States reached
$210k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0185% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2017 to 2024.

Philanthropy$2.2MHuman Services$961kHealth$343kArts & Culture$130kEducation$100kPublic Safety & Disaster$40kYouth Development$30kRecreation & Sports$24kOther$0
02FY2025 · 10 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k3 grants · $15k
  • $10k–50k5 grants · $90k
  • $50k–250k2 grants · $260k
$15,000
Median grant
3
States reached
$3.8M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION$210,000
HAROLD AND CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION$50,000
METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES$30,000
BOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS$25,000
ADL$15,000
CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT FOUNDATION$10,000
JOFFREY BALLET$10,000
Individual grant recipient$5,000
GLENKIRK$5,000
ISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND$5,000
02The need
03

Does the money reach high-need areas?

Each grant placed by the hardship in its grantee’s ZIP, against the area’s typical level.

show:

Its human-services grants (FY17–25, $942k) land where the poverty rate runs at 14%, against an area that typically sits at 11%. 100% of those dollars go to grantees based in above-average-need neighborhoods. Most of its grants land in higher-need ZIPs.

area typical 11%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $270k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $250k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $180k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $65k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $50k → 14%GLENKIRK: $5k → 14%GLENKIRK: $3k → 14%GLENKIRK: $3k → 14%GLENKIRK: $1k → 14%GLENKIRK: $1k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $55k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $30k → 14%METROPOLITAN FAMILY SERVICES: $30k → 14%0%20%40%50%more need →
grant to an above-average-need area below average· circle size = grant amount
How this is measured
Matched: human-services grants are those whose grantee’s IRS cause code is Human Services. Placed by people below the poverty line in the grantee’s ZIP, averaged from the tracts in that ZIP.
How this is measured
US grants placed by each grantee’s ZIP, which can differ from where services are delivered. Need from public data (U.S. Census/ACS, CDC PLACES, Eviction Lab, USDA), shown as context about the area, never attributed to the funder’s giving.
03Its grantees
repeat funding

Who it funds again

Organizations funded in more than one year, against those funded once.

91%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$4.2M · 28 repeat orgs$424k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +33% since the first grant, against +20% for those funded once.

28 repeat relationships: 8 still active in FY2025, 20 since wound down; 2 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

28
40

Total granted

$4.2M
$364k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+33%
+20%

Still filing today

68%
38%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 84% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $60k went to new ones.

50%100%’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

Where new relationships form · theme of each grantee’s first grant

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
HealthArts & CultureEducationInternationalHuman ServicesPhilanthropyOther
How this is measured
First-time means a grantee’s first year in the filing window; renewed means funded in an earlier year too. The renewed share climbs naturally as a portfolio matures, so the signal is a year that bucks it (a wave of new grantees). The earliest year is left-censored: relationships that predate the data read as new. Theme is the grantee’s IRS cause.

Backed again, and grew

  • MF
    Metropolitan Family Services
    8× · 2017–2025 · $930k · revenue +332%
  • EH
    Endeavor Health Clinical Operations
    2× · 2018–2019 · $185k · revenue +30%
  • JU
    JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO
    4× · 2017–2023 · $138k · revenue +13%

Funded once

  • MF
    METROPOLITAL FAMILY SERVICES
    one grant, 2022 · $59k
  • NF
    NORTHSHORE FOUNDATION
    one grant, 2022 · $50k
  • RB
    ROB BROWN'S FUND FOR PERSONALIZED PROSTATE CANCER CARE
    one grant, 2020 · $25k
How this is measured

Repeat means funded in two or more distinct years. Growth and survival are read from each grantee’s own subsequent IRS filings.

04Its field

Closest unfunded matches

The nonprofits that most resemble its grantees but are not funded by it, scored along the direction from the rest of the field toward the portfolio. A resemblance in what they say they do, not a recommendation.

1
University of Chicago Medical Center

Our mission at the university of chicago medicine is to provide superior health care through rigorous research, innovative education, and comprehensive care and healing. in partnership with our colleagues, we pursue life-changing…

Health
2
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The mission of mit is to advance knowledge and educate students in science, technology, and other areas of scholarship that will best serve the nation and the world in the 21st century.

Education
3
Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Leadership in the prevention, treatment, and cure of cancer through excellence, vision and cost effectiveness in patient care, outreach programs, research, and education.

Health
4
New York Genome Center Inc

Operate a state-of-the-art, world-class genomic research center that creates and uses advanced genomics to understand the genetic basis of disease. for more information, see schedule o.

Health
5
Stanley Manne Childrens Research Institute

Stanley manne children's research institute strives to generate new knowledge and advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pediatric diseases.

Health
6
Institute for Advanced Study - Louis Bamberger & Mrs Felix Fuld Foundation

The institute for advanced study (the institute) is one of the world's leading centers for theoretical research and intellectual inquiry. see schedule o.

Science & Tech
7
Columbia College Chicago

The organization's mission is to educate students for creative occupations in diverse fields of arts and media.

Education
8
Gastro Intestinal Research Foundation Inc

The GI Research Foundation works to treat, prevent, and cure digestive diseases. In collaboration with the physicians and scientists at the University of Chicago Digestive Diseases Center, we fund innovative clinical and laboratory…

Health
9
Loyola University of Chicago

We are chicago's jesuit, catholic university - a diverse community seeking god in all things and working to expand knowledge in the service of humanity through learning, justice, and faith.

Education
10
New York University

Nyu is a private university with approximately 60,000 matriculating students in 20 schools and institutes. nyu's primary missions are education, research and scholarship, and patient care.

Education
11
National Opinion Research Center

See schedule onorc at the university of chicago conducts research and data science on critical societal issues to guide decision-making and the development of programs and public policy. our experts identify relationships and trends, and…

Social Science
12
Harold E Eisenberg Foundation

The foundation's objective is to fund breakthrough gastrointestinal (gi) cancer research, including clinical trials and studies, at the robert h. lurie comprehensive cancer center of northwestern university.additionally, another objective…

Philanthropy
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is University of Chicago; the most unlike its peers is Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. Resemblance is measured on each organization’s own IRS 990 mission text; it reflects how work is described, not its quality or impact.
04the grantee network

36 grantees tracked through their own filings, 2017–2025.

Each grant beside the grantee’s revenue from every source, year by year.

How this is measured

Counted here: distinct organizations funded across 2017 to 2025, not grant rows in a single year, so this will not match the grant count on the cover. 36 of the 70 grantees resolved in that span have returns of their own we could reconcile.

Each grantee is resolved to its own IRS returns. Association, dated; never a causal claim.

0
Load-bearing (≥25% of a budget)
6
Early backer (in before they grew)
36/36
Grantees still filing
28/36
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

NORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATION: $2,235,000 · OtherNORTHWESTERN MEMORIAL FOUNDATIONIndividual grant recipient: $211,000 · OtherIndividual grant recipient+47 more: $605,000 · Other+47 moreMetropolitan Family Services: $930,000 · Human ServicesMetropolitan Family Ser…+1 more: $12,000 · Human ServicesEndeavor Health Clinical Operations: $185,000 · HealthTHE HAROLD AND CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION (FKA THE HAROLD PUMP FOUNDATION): $50,000 · Health+6 more: $23,500 · HealthJEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO: $138,000 · PhilanthropyTHE JOFFREY BALLET: $58,500 · Arts & CultureNAVY PIER INC: $35,000 · Arts & CultureThe United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $15,300 · Arts & CultureMuseum of Broadcast Communications: $5,000 · Arts & Culture+2 more: $5,000 · Arts & CultureUniversity of Chicago: $32,500 · EducationCOLLEGE POSSIBLE INC: $20,000 · EducationCHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $10,000 · EducationLYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION: $20,000 · Housing & Shelter
Other$3,051,000Human Services$942,000Health$258,500Philanthropy$138,000Arts & Culture$118,800Education$62,500Housing & Shelter$20,000

Each grantee by its size and the funder’s share of it; top left is load-bearing

25%50%75%100%$1.0M$10M$100Mgrantee revenue →↑ funder's share of their budgetMetropolitan Family Services: $930,000 over 8y, 0.7% of budgetEndeavor Health Clinical Operations: $185,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetJEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO: $138,000 over 4y, 0.1% of budgetTHE JOFFREY BALLET: $58,500 over 8y, 0.1% of budgetNAVY PIER INC: $35,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetUniversity of Chicago: $32,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetDIGESTIVE HEALTH FOUNDATION: $30,000 over 4y, 5.8% of budgetTHE 100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS: $25,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetCOLLEGE POSSIBLE INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetLYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION: $20,000 over 4y, 0.6% of budgetCITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetThe United States Holocaust Memorial Museum: $15,300 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetNorthwestern University: $13,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetGlenkirk: $12,000 over 5y, 0.0% of budgetWORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC: $10,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION: $10,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetCANCER WELLNESS CENTER: $8,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetBETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION INC: $7,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetISRAEL CANCER RESEARCH FUND INC: $7,500 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetRehabilitation Institute of Chicago: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetAMERICAN COMMITTEE FOR THE WEIZMANN INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetThe Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation Inc: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHAVE DREAMS: $5,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetAMERICAN FRIENDS OF HEBREW UNIVERSITY INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBOYS AND GIRLS CLUBS OF CHICAGO: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetMuseum of Broadcast Communications: $5,000 over 1y, 0.6% of budgetMUSEUM OF CONTEMPORARY ART: $3,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetALZHEIMER'S DISEASE & RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetTHE NORA PROJECT: $2,500 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE: $2,500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetCHICAGO SHAKESPEARE THEATER: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetRush University Medical Center: $2,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetHIPPOCRATIC CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetLEAGUE OF CHICAGO THEATRES: $1,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budget
Grantee by grantee: a decade per organization, before and after funding

A decade per grantee: revenue shaded, grants as bars, all rows on one timeline.

  • Who funds Metropolitan Family Services ↗
  • Who funds Endeavor Health Clinical Operations ↗
  • Who funds JEWISH UNITED FUND OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO ↗
  • Who funds THE JOFFREY BALLET ↗
  • Who funds THE HAROLD AND CAROLE PUMP FOUNDATION (FKA THE HAROLD PUMP FOUNDATION) ↗
  • Who funds NAVY PIER INC ↗
  • Who funds University of Chicago ↗
  • Who funds DIGESTIVE HEALTH FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds THE 100 CLUB OF ILLINOIS ↗
  • Who funds COLLEGE POSSIBLE INC ↗
  • Who funds LYNN SAGE BREAST CANCER FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds CITYMEALS-ON-WHEELS ↗
  • Who funds The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum ↗
  • Who funds Northwestern University ↗
  • Who funds Glenkirk ↗
  • Who funds WORLD CENTRAL KITCHEN INC ↗
  • Who funds CHICAGO PUBLIC LIBRARY FOUNDATION ↗
  • Who funds CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds CANCER WELLNESS CENTER ↗

Co-funders

Grantmakers whose grantees overlap with this funder’s far more than size alone predicts. Closer means stronger alignment; arcs show where they also fund each other. Here they form a tightly interlocked group: most of these funders back each other's grantees too.

The Robert Thomas Bob…The Chicago Community…Lavin Family Foundati…Circle of Service Fou…Gs Donor Advised Phil…AbbVie FoundationThe Bank of America C…American Endowment Fo…National Philanthropi…American Online Givin…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …
The Robert Thomas Bobins FoundationIL15.7× affinity5 shared granteesties to 11 of 11Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation · The Chicago Community Trust · Lavin Family Foundation · Circle of Service Foundation · Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · AbbVie Foundation · The Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc · American Endowment Foundation · National Philanthropic Trust · American Online Giving Foundation Inc · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund

How this is measured
Affinity is a Gamma-Poisson posterior co-funding rate, re-centered on the typical rate, so thin evidence shrinks toward no signal. Overlap is association, not proof of shared intent.

How much its grantees rely on government

Each dot is one organization Richard & Martha Melman Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from Richard & Martha Melman Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 00%1%3%6%10%funder's share of their income ↑0%10%20%30%40%share of the org’s income from government →
    no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
    0get no government money at all
    7report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
    0rely on government for over half their income
    ⤢ axis zoomed · 0–40%
    typical government reliance, FY20–25
    How this is measured
    Government income is each org’s traced federal awards (USASpending grants and contracts) plus state payments (open checkbooks) as a share of its total revenue (IRS Form 990); the self-reported government-grant line (990 line 1e) is carried for cross-check: a grantee that reports government grants we could not trace to a source is left off the chart rather than shown as receiving none. An association, not a claim that a grant caused the public funding. Coverage is precision-first, a floor rather than a census; state records exist for 9 states, so a grantee outside them shows no state figure (dimmed) rather than a false zero. Federal award amounts are obligations, which can span years, so a single-year share is indicative. 990 filings lag 12 to 24 months.

    On method. Every financial figure here is read from IRS e-file XML, the funder’s own 990/990-PF, and from the multi-year returns of the 70 grantees we resolved, each linked to its source. Grantee outcomes are each organization’s own program-service reporting (Form 990, Part III), read as association with funding, never as caused by it. Low-confidence name matches are suppressed rather than guessed. How we build these →

    How this is measured
    Each figure carries one of six labels. Filed is what the funder reported on its return. Official is another government record about an organization, such as a federal award or a charity register, joined by name where no shared identifier exists. Resolved is an identity we worked out where the filing named a recipient without an EIN, kept only above a measured confidence threshold. Computed is arithmetic over those, like themes, portfolio clusters and co-funder strength. Context is a statistic about a place rather than about an organization, which is what the need overlay is: it describes the area a grantee’s address sits in, not where its work lands. Inferred is drawn by a model from text, like the partnerships read out of public news and organization websites. Each is labeled where it appears.

    Generated from the IRS Form 990-PF e-file return for fiscal year 2025, released 2025. Filings run roughly 12 to 24 months behind; figures are dated accordingly.

    Source object · view filing

    Play a game based on Richard & Martha Melman’s filings →

    More from the funding graph

    The unnamed billions
    grants reported with no recipient in the public record
    The regranting layer
    51% of grant dollars land in the regranting layer
    The DAF merry-go-round
    $9.7B circulates between donor-advised funds
    The endowment market
    who holds foundation money, and what just moved
    The camps
    funders cluster by geography, not ideology
    By state
    where grant money is based, and what stays home