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The Melly Foundation at a glance

· Private foundation

The Melly 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.

$1.1M
Granted FY2025still arriving
49
Grants FY2025still arriving
13
States reached
$124k
Largest
01What it fundsRead
02The needRead
03Its granteesRead
04Its fieldRead
01What it funds
0195% classified

What it funded, over time

Every grant placed by its stated purpose and the recipient’s mission, by year, FY2020 to 2025.

Education$2.6MScience & Tech$533kHealth$456kReligion$390kHuman Services$248kFood & Nutrition$170kEnvironment$103kArts & Culture$30kOther$0
02FY2025 · 49 grants

Where the money goes

Grants by size, and the largest recipients.

By grant size · FY2025

  • Under $10k30 grants · $52k
  • $10k–50k11 grants · $178k
  • $50k–250k8 grants · $823k
$2,500
Median grant
13
States reached
$24M
Total assets
Largest grants
RecipientAmount
TRINITY COLLEGE$123,563
THE SALVATION ARMY$100,000
ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK$100,000
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH$100,000
SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION$100,000
MOTE MARINE LABORATORY$100,000
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH$100,000
SMITH COLLEGE$99,167
THE HILL SCHOOL$25,000
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES$25,000
UNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA$22,500
THE BERRY CENTER$20,000
KENT SCHOOL$19,868
SOCIETY FOR MATERNAL FETAL MEDICINE$13,000
HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES$13,000
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 (FY23–24, $24k) land where the poverty rate runs at 20%, 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%THE FAMILY CENTER: $10k → 20%THE FAMILY CENTER: $10k → 20%THE FAMILY CENTER: $2k → 20%THE FAMILY CENTER: $2k → 20%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.

Which US states its grants reach

ID
MI
NY
MA
WY
PA
NJ
CT
KY
VA
NM
TN
NC
DC
AL
GA
FL
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.

85%of every dollar goes to organizations it has funded before.
$3.8M · 35 repeat orgs$684k to everyone else

Grantees it renews have grown median revenue +19% since the first grant, against -28% for those funded once.

35 repeat relationships: 33 still active in FY2025, 2 since wound down; 4 grantees were first funded in FY2025 (too recent to call).

How the two cohorts compare

Re-uppedFunded once

Organizations

35
41

Total granted

$3.8M
$658k

Median revenue growth · since first grant

+19%
-28%

Still filing today

74%
7%

New vs renewed · share of each year

In FY2025, 98% of grant dollars renewed an existing relationship; $26k went to new ones.

50%100%’20’22’23’24’25
RenewedFirst-time

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

’20’22’23’24’25
EducationHealthEnvironmentPhilanthropyCommunity ImprovementFood & NutritionOther
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

  • HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES
    4× · 2020–2025 · $1.4M · revenue +74%
  • MOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC
    4× · 2022–2025 · $529k · revenue +74%
  • TT
    THE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE
    2× · 2024–2025 · $199k · revenue +37%

Funded once

  • HC
    HOBART COLLEGE
    one grant, 2022 · $250k
  • TH
    THE HILL SCHOOL
    one grant, 2022 · $150k
  • SC
    SMITH COLLEGE
    one grant, 2022 · $100k
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 New Haven

The University of New Haven is a student-centered comprehensive university with an emphasis on excellence in liberal arts and professional education. Our mission is to prepare our students to lead purposeful and fulfilling lives in a…

Education
2
Boston Architectural College

The bac is committed to provide excellence in design education grounded in practice and accessible to diverse communities.

—
3
Williams College

Williams College strives to achieve educational excellence by fostering a community of learning in collaboration with students, faculty, staff, devoted alumni and parents.

Education
4
The Trustees of Princeton University

Research, education and general - princeton university is a private not-for-profit, non-sectarian institution of higher learning with approximately 5,700 undergraduate and 3,300 graduate students. 2,500 students graduated in the 2024-2025…

Education
5
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
6
Wilson College

Wilson college empowers students to be confident and critical thinkers, creative visionaries, effective communicators, honorable leaders, and agents of justice.

Education
7
Western New England University

Western new england university, a comprehensive private institution with a tradition of excellence in teaching and scholarship and a commitment to service, awards undergraduate, master's, and doctoral degrees in various departments from…

Education
8
Manhattanville University

To educate students to be ethical and socially responsible leaders in a global community.

Education
9
Northeast College of Health Sciences

Northeast college of health sciences (the college) is committed to academic excellence, leadership, and professional best practices in the health sciences.

Education
10
Stony Brook Urology University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
11
Stony Brook Internists University Faculty Practice Corporation

Provide clinical instruction to and supervision of medical school students, interns and residents and, incident thereto, rendering professional services.

Health
12
Cornell University

Education, research, medical services and other public services.

Education
How this is measured
The grantee most central to the portfolio’s shape is The Greenwich Land Trust Inc; the most unlike its peers is Greenwich Point Conservancy Inc. 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

35 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. 35 of the 82 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)
3
Early backer (in before they grew)
35/35
Grantees still filing
22/35
Grew since first funded

Where the money sits, by cause and then by grantee

HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES: $1,366,852 · EducationHOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGESTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE: $199,167 · EducationTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGETRINITY COLLEGE: $159,606 · EducationTRINITY COLLEGETHE HILL SCHOOL: $100,000 · EducationKENT SCHOOL: $66,868 · Education+6 more: $68,750 · EducationMOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC: $529,300 · OtherMOTE MARINE LABORATORY INCFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: $387,000 · OtherFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHHOBART COLLEGE: $250,250 · OtherHOBART COLLEGETHE SALVATION ARMY: $180,500 · OtherTHE SALVATION ARMYTHE HILL SCHOOL: $150,000 · OtherTHE HILL SCHOOLSMITH COLLEGE: $100,000 · OtherUNIVERSITY OF VICTORIA: $72,500 · Other+50 more: $229,650 · Other+50 moreSARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC: $405,000 · HealthSARASOTA ME…PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 · Health+3 more: $22,500 · HealthALL FAITHS FOOD BANK INC: $130,000 · Food & NutritionNATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL: $36,000 · EnvironmentWOOD RIVER LAND TRUST CO: $10,000 · EnvironmentTHE GREENWICH LAND TRUST INC: $2,500 · EnvironmentGREENWICH POINT CONSERVANCY INC: $2,500 · Environment+1 more: $1,000 · EnvironmentTHE FAMILY CENTER INC: $24,000 · Human ServicesCAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER: $6,000 · PhilanthropyUNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC: $5,000 · Philanthropy
Education$1,961,243Other$1,899,200Health$447,500Food & Nutrition$130,000Environment$52,000Human Services$24,000Philanthropy$11,000

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 budgetHOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES: $1,366,852 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetMOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC: $529,300 over 4y, 0.4% of budgetSARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC: $405,000 over 4y, 0.5% of budgetTHE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE: $199,167 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetTRINITY COLLEGE: $159,606 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetALL FAITHS FOOD BANK INC: $130,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE HILL SCHOOL: $100,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetKENT SCHOOL: $66,868 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE BERRY CENTER INC: $40,000 over 3y, 0.7% of budgetNATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL: $36,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetTHE FAMILY CENTER INC: $24,000 over 2y, 0.2% of budgetPARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC: $20,000 over 2y, 0.0% of budgetSOCIETY FOR MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE: $13,000 over 1y, 0.1% of budgetNew College Foundation Inc: $11,000 over 1y, 0.3% of budgetWOOD RIVER LAND TRUST CO: $10,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY: $10,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetThe Family Center Inc: $10,000 over 1y, 0.4% of budgetST LUKE'S WOOD RIVER FOUNDATION INC: $9,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetIDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE INC: $9,000 over 3y, 0.1% of budgetVanderbilt University: $8,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetMETROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetGREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetCAPITAL RESEARCH CENTER: $6,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetUNITED JEWISH APPEAL-FEDERATION OF JEWISH PHILANTHROPIES OF NEW YORK INC: $5,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetBROOKLYN BRIDGE PARK CORPORATION: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWellesley College: $3,000 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetWOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION: $2,500 over 3y, 0.0% of budgetJUNIOR LEAGUE OF GREENWICH CONN INC: $2,500 over 2y, 0.5% of budgetTHE GREENWICH LAND TRUST INC: $2,500 over 2y, 0.1% of budgetGREENWICH POINT CONSERVANCY INC: $2,500 over 2y, 0.7% of budgetElkhorn Marine Conservancy Inc: $2,000 over 3y, 0.2% of budgetFAMILY CENTERS INC: $2,000 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetFRIENDS OF DUANE PARK INC: $1,000 over 1y, 0.5% of budgetTIDEWELL FOUNDATION INC: $500 over 1y, 0.0% of budgetHILLSDALE COLLEGE: $250 over 1y, 0.0% 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 HOBART AND WILLIAM SMITH COLLEGES ↗
  • Who funds MOTE MARINE LABORATORY INC ↗
  • Who funds SARASOTA MEMORIAL HEALTHCARE FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds THE TRUSTEES OF THE SMITH COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds TRINITY COLLEGE ↗
  • Who funds ALL FAITHS FOOD BANK INC ↗
  • Who funds THE HILL SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds KENT SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds THE BERRY CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds NATIONAL OUTDOOR LEADERSHIP SCHOOL ↗
  • Who funds THE FAMILY CENTER INC ↗
  • Who funds PARKINSON'S FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds SOCIETY FOR MATERNAL-FETAL MEDICINE ↗
  • Who funds New College Foundation Inc ↗
  • Who funds WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST CO ↗
  • Who funds THE NATURE CONSERVANCY ↗
  • Who funds The Family Center Inc ↗
  • Who funds ST LUKE'S WOOD RIVER FOUNDATION INC ↗
  • Who funds IDAHO CONSERVATION LEAGUE INC ↗
  • Who funds Vanderbilt University ↗
  • Who funds METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART ↗
  • Who funds GREENWICH COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL INC ↗
  • Who funds CAPITAL RESEARCH 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.

Gs Donor Advised Phil…Morgan Stanley Global…Vanguard Charitable E…National Philanthropi…Donor Advised Charita…Fidelity Investments …Amazonsmile Foundation
Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management IncNY11.9× affinity5 shared granteesties to 6 of 6Hover any node to trace its alignments.Compare side by side →

Open a dossier: Gs Donor Advised Philanthropy Fund for Wealth Management Inc · Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust Inc · Vanguard Charitable Endowment Program · National Philanthropic Trust · Donor Advised Charitable Giving Inc · Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund · Amazonsmile Foundation

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 The Melly Foundation funds: left to right is the share of its income from government, bottom to top the share from The Melly Foundation. Bigger dots raise more.

2024
’20’21’22’23’24’25
no gov · 70%0%1%3%5%funder's share of their income ↑0%19%38%56%75%share of the org’s income from government →median 1%
  • Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution: 63% of income from government
  • Family Centers Inc: 20% of income from government
  • Mote Marine Laboratory Inc: 4% of income from government
  • The Trustees of the Smith College: 1% of income from government
  • All Faiths Food Bank Inc: 1% of income from government
  • Wellesley College: 1% of income from government
  • Trinity College: 0% of income from government
  • The Family Center Inc: 0% of income from government
no gov moneyreceives it· size = income
7get no government money at all
2report government grants on their 990 we could not trace to a source (not plotted)
1rely on government for over half their income
⤢ axis zoomed · 0–75%
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 82 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 Melly’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