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The Melanie Foundation is a private corporation based in WILMINGTON, DE. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 2023. The principal officer is Foundation Source. It holds total assets of $2.5M. Annual income is reported at $659K. Total assets have grown from $1.2M in 2022 to $2.2M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 1 officer or trustee. Tax records are available from 2022 to 2023. The foundation primarily funds organizations in Saratoga Springs NY and New York. According to available records, The Melanie Foundation has made 2 grants totaling $9K, with a median grant of $5K. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $8K, with an average award of $5K. The foundation has supported 2 unique organizations. Grants have been distributed to organizations in California and Florida. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
## Approach Strategy
The Melanie Foundation is a memorial foundation established in 2006 in honor of Melanie Merola O'Donnell, a young psychologist who died at age 33 while pursuing her doctoral degree. The foundation has two primary programs: an annual scholarship for mental health graduate students and annual community grants to local Saratoga Springs nonprofits.
The memorial mission creates a specific and emotionally resonant funding focus — the foundation is deeply committed to extending Melanie's legacy by supporting people who will do exactly the work she was training to do. This means mental health practitioners in training are the core constituency.
The Saratoga Palio fundraiser (a horse racing/Italian festival event in Saratoga Springs) was the primary fundraising engine from 2006 to 2020, and its success allowed the foundation to expand. The discontinuation of Palio events in 2020 (likely COVID-related) may have affected the foundation's fundraising capacity.
For mental health graduate students, this is a specialized, cause-aligned scholarship opportunity. For Saratoga Springs community organizations, the annual community grant represents a reliable small local funder.
## Funding Patterns
## Peer Comparison
Memorial foundations focused on mental health graduate student support:
What distinguishes The Melanie Foundation: (1) the highly personal memorial mission creates genuine community investment from Melanie's family and friends, resulting in unusual donor loyalty; (2) the dual scholarship + local community grant model connects mental health advocacy with local human service needs; (3) Saratoga Springs location in a high-visibility horse racing community enabled the Palio fundraiser to attract significant donors; (4) 15+ years of operation indicates a stable, enduring foundation despite its small scale.
## Application Tips
For Mental Health Graduate Students:
The Melanie O'Donnell Scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding post-graduate student in a mental health field. The scholarship honors someone who was pursuing her doctorate in psychology, so:
1. Most Likely Eligible Programs: Clinical psychology (PhD/PsyD), counseling psychology, social work (MSW/DSW), psychiatry (MD/DO), or related mental health graduate programs 2. What to Emphasize: Passion for relieving mental health suffering, commitment to direct practice with those experiencing mental illness, alignment with Melanie's legacy of giving and care 3. How to Apply: The scholarship application page is currently returning a 404 error. Contact the foundation directly through the main website to inquire about the application process for the current year.
For Saratoga Springs Nonprofits:
The foundation gives one community grant per year to a local Saratoga Springs area nonprofit. Past recipients suggest a preference for food security (SNACpack), immigrant services (Latino Advocacy), and senior services. Direct outreach to the foundation or building relationships in the Saratoga Springs philanthropic community is the best approach.
Contact: Through themelaniefoundation.com
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Annual scholarship awarded since 2009 to an outstanding post-graduate student in the field of mental health. Open to graduate students pursuing careers in mental health fields, honoring Melanie Merola O'Donnell's legacy of relieving suffering from mental illness.
Annual grants to local Saratoga Springs nonprofits. Past recipients: SNACpack Program (2019, children's food program), Latino Community Advocacy Program (2018, Saratoga County EOC), Senior Support Services of the Saratoga Senior Center (2017).
## Funding Patterns - Asset Base: ~$2.5 million (EIN 88-3770310, Wilmington DE) - Founded: 2006 in memory of Melanie Merola O'Donnell - Programs: Annual mental health graduate scholarship + annual Saratoga Springs community grant - Scholarship: Awarded annually since 2009 to outstanding post-graduate mental health students - Community Grants: Annual donations to local Saratoga Springs nonprofits (typically one org per year) - Past Community Grantees: SNACpack Program (2019), Latino Community Ad.
The Melanie Foundation has distributed a total of $9K across 2 grants. The median grant size is $5K, with an average of $5K. Individual grants have ranged from $1K to $8K.
## Approach Strategy The Melanie Foundation is a memorial foundation established in 2006 in honor of Melanie Merola O'Donnell, a young psychologist who died at age 33 while pursuing her doctoral degree. The foundation has two primary programs: an annual scholarship for mental health graduate students and annual community grants to local Saratoga Springs nonprofits.
The Melanie Foundation is headquartered in WILMINGTON, DE. While based in DE, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 2 states.
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| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rick Lin | Dir, Pres, Sec, Treas | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$17K
Total Assets
$2.2M
Fair Market Value
$2.3M
Net Worth
$2.2M
Grants Paid
$9K
Contributions
$1M
Net Investment Income
$35K
Distribution Amount
$68K
Total: $1.3M
Total Grants
2
Total Giving
$9K
Average Grant
$5K
Median Grant
$5K
Unique Recipients
2
Most Common Grant
$8K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Peach FoundationGeneral & Unrestricted | Foster City, CA | $8K | 2023 |
| Yeh Associates Foundation IncGeneral & Unrestricted | Winter Park, FL | $1K | 2023 |