The Mellen Charitable Foundation Inc
Invitation OnlyBoston, Massachusetts · EIN 85-3945419 · Private foundation
Grants paid (2024)$35.7M
Organizations funded17
Typical grant$425,000
Total assets$318M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $250,000 and $540,000.
From the return
How to apply
On its return for tax year 2024 the foundation checked the box saying it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
41% of grants went outside Massachusetts.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jerome Avenue Fund Co the Boston Foundation | East Haven, CT | General purpose - 90,885 sh vti book value $19,385,886mean fmv used for deduction | $25,047,906 |
| Dana-Farber Inc | Boston, MA | Dana-Farber cancer institute projects and initiatives | $4,060,000 |
| Upstream USA | Boston, MA | Support upstream usa's mission to expand opportunity by reducing unplanned pregnancy | $1,000,000 |
| Social Finance | Boston, MA | Support training for the unemployed or underemployed to gain access to high-demand jobs that pay family sustaining wages | $1,000,000 |
| Year Up Inc | Boston, MA | Direct service programs and new pilots and initiatives | $540,000 |
| Focusing Philanthropy | Santa Monica, CA | Jewish vocational service / focusing philanthropy matching gift campaign | $537,000 |
| Youth Villages | Woburn, MA | Provide young adults with lifeset services | $500,000 |
| Milford Public Schools | Milford, MA | Support evidence based 1:1 virtual tutoring through ignite reading to support 1st and 2nd grade students in high poverty | $445,500 |
| St Vincent's Medical Center | Bridgeport, CT | Establish the neil and diane mellen critical care fund | $425,000 |
| Waltham Public Schools | Waltham, MA | Support evidence based 1:1 virtual tutoring through ignite reading to support 1st and 2nd grade students in high poverty | $402,750 |
| Duet Inc | Boston, MA | Provide opportunities for post-secondary degrees that are designed for affordability and career advancement | $300,000 |
| Cedars-Sinai Medical Center | Los Angeles, CA | Further the area of gynecologic oncology at cedars-sinai | $250,000 |
| Horizons for Homeless Children | Roxbury, MA | Fund the incremental costs of educating 50 additional children in the early education program | $250,000 |
| New England Aquarium | Boston, MA | Support the hiring of conservation field staff within the anderson cabot center for ocean life | $250,000 |
| Teach for America - Ma | New York, NY | Commitment to a future where every child has an equal chance in life | $250,000 |
| Teach for America - Ct | New York, NY | Commitment to a future where every child has an equal chance in life | $200,000 |
| Teach for America - Ri | New York, NY | Commitment to a future where every child has an equal chance in life | $200,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $35,658,156 | 17 |
| 2023 | $5,595,000 | 13 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 11, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202513159349101736
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 85-3945419
- Profile updated Nov 6, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.