The Melsness Family Foundation
Preselected recipients only
The Melsness Family Foundation is a private foundation in Stevensville, Montana. In tax year 2025 it gave $453,102 in 20 grants; the typical grant was $12,500 and the largest $101,241. It only gives to organizations it selects itself and does not accept unsolicited applications.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$453,102
- Number of grants20
- Typical grant$12,500
- Largest grant$101,241
- Assets$980,609
- New grantees30%
Giving in 2025 was up from $429,790 the year before.
30% of its 2025 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a mix of repeat and new grantees.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $380,130 | 20 | $322,998 |
| 2024 | $429,790 | 20 | $425,936 |
| 2025 | $453,102 | 20 | $980,609 |
How to apply
The Melsness Family Foundation says in its IRS filing that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations, so unsolicited applications are unlikely to be considered. Organizations it funds are usually invited.
What The Melsness Family Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 6 states, the most to Washington.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | 11 | $225,000 |
| South Dakota | 1 | $101,241 |
| Nevada | 2 | $60,000 |
| Michigan | 1 | $50,000 |
| Alaska | 1 | $10,000 |
| Montana | 4 | $6,861 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| One Spirit | To provide assistance to lakota children and families with material needs | $101,241 |
| Watsons Childrens Shelter | To provide safety, nurturing, and stability to children & families through quality services and trauma-informed care. | $50,000 |
| Gig Harbor Kiwanis International | Service projects to improve the life of children in gig harbor and the world | $40,000 |
| Project 150 | To provide free support and services to homeless, displaced, and disadvantaged high school students so they can remain in school, graduate, and build bright futures. | $40,000 |
| Vine Maple Place | To end family homelessness in south king county, resulting in healthier communities where every child and parent has a stable home to grow and thrive. | $40,000 |
| South Sound Care Foundation | South sound care foundation brings the opportunity for life saving, cutting edge cancer clinical trials to all patients in the south sound. | $34,000 |
| Food and Backpacks 4 Kids | To meet the nutritional needs of hungry children and families at times when other resources are not available and to be a stable source of healthy foods for those who need it most. | $25,000 |
| Caring for Kids | To help raise healthy, happy, productive kids who are ready to learn! | $25,000 |
| Serving Our Kids Foundation | To provide hope and a brighter future for at-risk, food-insecure children by providing them a weekly, weekend meal bag through a vast group of donors, advocates and volunteers who work to help us end child hunger across the valley. | $20,000 |
| Compassion Washington | To unite with communities to share the compassion of christ by providing free healthcare clinics and fighting human trafficking. | $12,500 |
| Step by Step | To transform the lives of at-risk pregnant women, so they will deliver healthy babies, embrace positive parenting, and establish safe homes and secure futures. | $12,500 |
| The Coffee Oasis | Restoring communities through compassionate youth programs and coffee businesses. | $12,500 |
| Youth for Christ | To have a noticeable spiritual impact on pierce county by engaging 11-19 year olds in the life long journey of following jesus christ. Yfc reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the word of god and prayer, passion for sharing the love of christ and commitment to social involvement. | $12,500 |
| Sitka Community Recreation | Sitka counseling prevents and reduces the harmful effects of mental illness and substance abuse in the lives of youth, adults, and families. | $10,000 |
| Sibling Strong | To reunite brothers and sisters with washington ties, who are separated because of foster care, kinship care and through adoption for summer camp and day events that reinforce sibling connection, encourage social development, restore hope, and reduce feelings of isolation. | $10,000 |
| Ravalli County 4-H FFA | 4-h is a community of young people across america who are learning leadership, citizenship and life | $6,261 |
| Cystic Fibrosis Foundation | For research and education for cystic fibrosis | $1,000 |
| Bitterroot Humane Association | To build a compassionate community where pets and people thrive. | $250 |
| Bitterroot Land Trust | To protect the water, wildlife, working farms and ranches, and access to recreational lands that connect people to the beautiful open lands of the bitterroot valley, montana by partnering with willing landowners to implement voluntary conservation easements on privately owned property. | $250 |
| CM Russell Museum - Program for Kids | To collect, preserve, research, interpret, and educate on the art and life of charles marion russell | $100 |
Officers and trustees
- Sheilah K Melsness
- Mark Melsness
- Larry R Melsness
- Jamie Melsness
- Gordon Rush
- Melia Melsness
- Dan Durr
- Susan Hendrix
- Terri Spriggel
Questions people ask
Does The Melsness Family Foundation accept grant applications?
No. Its IRS filing says it only makes contributions to preselected organizations.
How much does The Melsness Family Foundation give?
$453,102 in tax year 2025, across 20 grants, with a typical grant of $12,500.
Who runs The Melsness Family Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Sheilah K Melsness (Vice President), Mark Melsness (Treasurer), Larry R Melsness (President) and Jamie Melsness (Secretary) among 9 officers and trustees.
What does The Melsness Family Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly youth programs, human services and health.