The Melling Family Foundation concentrates its philanthropic support locally in Jackson, MI, with all recorded giving directed to the Jackson Y-Center (YMCA). Their funding appears aimed at sustaining community recreational and youth development services through general operating support for a single, long-term local partner.
Highly concentrated: two grants totaling $285,000 to a single repeat grantee (Jackson Y-Center). The foundation favors substantial, unrestricted support to one longstanding local partner rather than diversified or program-restricted funding.
A single local institution anchors the Melling Family Foundation’s giving: Jackson Y-Center Inc (YMCA) received the foundation’s two largest recent grants, including $200,000 in 2024 and $85,000 in 2023 for general contributions. That repeated support shows a clear preference for sustaining one community-serving organization rather than spreading funds widely. The foundation’s broader record is small and local in scope, with every recorded grant going to recipients in Michigan and all grants staying within the United States. Beyond the YMCA, the foundation has also made a handful of smaller grants to Michigan organizations, including support for tornado response and general community needs. The mix suggests a funder that prioritizes practical, locally rooted support, with the largest share of dollars directed to a long-term partner in Jackson. Its recent giving pattern also includes unrestricted or general operating support, which points to trust in grantees’ day-to-day work rather than project-specific funding alone.
The Melling Family Foundation supports community-serving organizations in Michigan through a mix of general contributions and targeted relief. In disaster response, it gave $5,000 to Ostego Community Foundation for tornado response fund work, linking the foundation to immediate recovery efforts after severe storms. In Jackson County, it made a $5,000 grant to Compassionate Ministries of Jackson County for general contributions, showing interest in local nonprofit operations beyond a single institution. The foundation also gave $2,500 to Holy Cross Services in Saginaw for general contributions, and $2,000 to Lansing Catholic High School in Lansing for general contributions. A $500 grant to Lazy B's Ranch Inc in Clarklake was designated to support the organization’s mission. These grants show a pattern of modest, practical support for community nonprofits, schools, and relief efforts.
Grant sizes cluster around modest local awards, with a typical grant size of $2,250 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $45,000 at the 75th percentile. The recent record is weighted by one large recurring relationship: the same Jackson YMCA recipient appears in 2023 and 2024 with six-figure and mid-five-figure support. Most other grants are much smaller, falling in the $500 to $5,000 range. The foundation gives as a family foundation and does not fund individuals. The record also shows unrestricted or general operating support as a recurring form of giving, alongside occasional purpose-specific relief funding.
$90K
$1.2M
$100K
$108K
Most grants fall between $2K and $45K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$45K
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Notable grantees: Jackson Y-Center Inc (YMCA)
Giving is concentrated in Michigan, which accounts for 100% of recorded grants and is also the top state by grant count. Jackson is the primary recipient city, followed by smaller grants to Gaylord, Saginaw, Lansing, and Clarklake. The pattern is firmly local rather than regional or national. Within Michigan, the foundation’s largest share of support stays in Jackson, while additional awards reach other in-state communities tied to relief, education, and nonprofit operations.
Its recent grants go to community-serving nonprofits and institutions in Michigan, including a YMCA, a community foundation disaster fund, a ministries organization, a Catholic high school, and a ranch nonprofit. The foundation’s recorded support is focused on general contributions, mission support, and tornado response.
No recorded grants go outside Michigan. The grant recipient country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, and every recent grant listed is to a Michigan recipient in cities such as Jackson, Gaylord, Saginaw, Lansing, and Clarklake.
The foundation’s typical grant size is $2,250 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $45,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent grants range from $500 to $200,000, with most smaller awards sitting near the median level.
Yes. Jackson Y-Center Inc (YMCA) appears in both 2023 and 2024, including grants of $85,000 and $200,000 for general contributions. That repeated funding suggests an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time award.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SHOP RAT FOUNDATION | PLEASANT LAKE, MI | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES OF JACKSON COUNTY | JACKSON, MI | $15,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JACKSON Y-CENTER INC (YMCA) | JACKSON, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| SAINT MARTHA PARISH & SCHOOL | OKEMOS, MI | $10,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JACKSON FRIENDLY HOME | JACKSON, MI | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JOHN GEORGE HOME | JACKSON, MI | $7,500 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| MICHIGAN THEATRE OF JACKSON INC | JACKSON, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY | BIG RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | LANSING, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| LUMEN CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL | JACKSON, MI | $2,500 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| SHOP RAT FOUNDATION | PLEASANT LAKE, MI | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES OF JACKSON COUNTY | JACKSON, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| SAINT MARTHA PARISH & SCHOOL | OKEMOS, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JACKSON Y-CENTER INC (YMCA) | JACKSON, MI | $10,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JACKSON FRIENDLY HOME | JACKSON, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JOHN GEORGE HOME | JACKSON, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| ELLA SHARP MUSEUM | JACKSON, MI | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| MICHIGAN THEATRE OF JACKSON INC | JACKSON, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY | BIG RAPIDS, MI | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| LUMEN CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL | JACKSON, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | LANSING, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| EAGLE EDUCATION FUND | ANN ARBOR, MI | $2,500 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| JACKSON Y-CENTER INC (YMCA) | JACKSON, MI | $200,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| LAZY B'S RANCH INC | CLARKLAKE, MI | $500 | 2024 | TO SUPPORT MISSION OF ORGANIZATION |
| JACKSON Y-CENTER INC (YMCA) | JACKSON, MI | $85,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| OSTEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION | GAYLORD, MI | $5,000 | 2023 | TORNADO RESPONSE FUND |
| COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES OF JACKSON COUNTY | JACKSON, MI | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| HOLY CROSS SERVICES | SAGINAW, MI | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
| LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | LANSING, MI | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS |
SHOP RAT FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES OF JACKSON COUNTY
$15,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SAINT MARTHA PARISH & SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
JOHN GEORGE HOME
$7,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
MICHIGAN THEATRE OF JACKSON INC
$5,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LUMEN CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SHOP RAT FOUNDATION
$25,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES OF JACKSON COUNTY
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
SAINT MARTHA PARISH & SCHOOL
$10,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
JOHN GEORGE HOME
$7,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ELLA SHARP MUSEUM
$7,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
MICHIGAN THEATRE OF JACKSON INC
$5,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
FERRIS STATE UNIVERSITY
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LUMEN CHRISTI CATHOLIC SCHOOL
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
EAGLE EDUCATION FUND
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LAZY B'S RANCH INC
$500TO SUPPORT MISSION OF ORGANIZATION
OSTEGO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
$5,000TORNADO RESPONSE FUND
COMPASSIONATE MINISTRIES OF JACKSON COUNTY
$5,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
HOLY CROSS SERVICES
$2,500GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS
LANSING CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$2,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTIONS