Melville Charitable Trust Inc

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $12,855,943 (2023)
Total Assets: Over $131 million
Grant Range: $15,000 - $300,000 (average: $194,787)
Number of Grants: 65 awards (2023)
Geographic Focus: Connecticut and national (20+ states)
Application Method: Invitation only/proactive selection
Accepts Unsolicited Applications: No

Contact Details

Media Inquiries: Aimee Hendrigan, Executive Vice President
Email: ahendrigan@melvilletrust.org

Address: 157 Church Street, 19th Floor, New Haven, CT 06510
Phone: 203-901-1065

Social Media: Twitter @melvilletrust

Overview

Founded in 1990, the Melville Charitable Trust is the largest foundation in the United States exclusively devoted to ending homelessness. With over $131 million in assets, the Trust has made more than $165 million in grants since its inception. The foundation began its work in Connecticut as a "petri dish" to develop supportive housing programs that could serve as models throughout the country. Today, its grantmaking is roughly split between efforts to end homelessness in Connecticut and creating a better policy environment at the national level. Under President Susan Thomas's leadership since 2020, the Trust has sharpened its focus on racial equity, recognizing that "given the racial disparity of those most likely to experience homelessness, we will not end homelessness until we prevent and end it for black and brown people."

Funding Priorities

Strategic Focus Areas

The Trust funds initiatives addressing the root causes of homelessness and housing instability through three primary strategies:

Systemic Policy Change: Advocacy, research, and policy work to address structural drivers of homelessness
Supportive Housing: Programs and initiatives that provide stable housing combined with support services
Racial Equity: Anti-racist approaches that address decades of structural racism and investment gaps in communities of color

Major Grant Programs and Initiatives

Employment & Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF)

Connecticut-focused program providing up to $7,500 grants to nonprofit providers
Originally supported employment and educational expenses for people experiencing or exiting homelessness
Recently repurposed to support individuals coming out of incarceration
10-12 grants awarded annually to Connecticut organizations
Over $1 million distributed to 40+ organizations since 1994

Partnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities (PERC)

$10 million commitment over three years from Melville Trust
Coordinated with Arnold Ventures, Marguerite Casey Foundation, and HUD
Sites receive up to $5 million over three years
Initial cities: Cleveland, Durham NC, Selma AL, and St. Paul
Focuses on equity-based housing and community development plans

Funders for Housing and Opportunity

National, non-partisan, cross-sector funder collaborative
Melville Trust instrumental in creation
Addresses housing affordability crisis
Supports advocacy, narrative change, and scaling effective practices

Housing Narrative Lab

Co-funded with Conrad N. Hilton Foundation
Pro-bono communications and research hub
Elevates voices of people most impacted
Connects homelessness with inequitable housing, legal, and healthcare systems
Works with journalists, grassroots organizers, and national advocacy organizations

Priority Geographic Areas

While national in scope, the Trust prioritizes:

Connecticut: Home state and testing ground for innovative programs
Large Urban Areas: Initiatives serving homeless populations in major cities across 20+ states
Communities of Color: Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities disinvested by structural racism

What They Fund

Supportive housing development and operations
Policy advocacy and systems change initiatives
Research connecting practice to policy
Capacity building for national organizations
Community organizing and grassroots advocacy
Narrative change and communications work
Anti-racist approaches to housing justice
Educational and employment opportunities for people experiencing homelessness

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the Trust:

Does not operate shelters or provide emergency resources
Does not fund outside their exclusive focus on homelessness and housing instability
Does not support individual requests for assistance

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Karen DuBois-Walton, Ph.D. - Board Chair

Rolan Joni Young - Board Secretary

Robert M. Haggett, CPA - Board Treasurer

Biniam Gebre - Board Member

Kica Matos - Board Member

Christopher J. Cesare - Board Member

The Board consists of five members, including two members of the founding Melville family (Stephen Melville and Ruth Melville). Recent appointments of Rolan Joni Young, Kica Matos, and Biniam Gebre reflect the Trust's commitment to equity and justice, with all new members being seasoned professionals and committed advocates. The Board meets quarterly, and members serve on the boards of some grantees. Bank of America serves as Trustee.

Leadership

Susan K. Thomas, President (effective January 6, 2020)

Susan Thomas oversees the Trust's grantmaking strategy, philanthropic partnerships, and administration. Selected for her visionary leadership, longstanding commitment to advancing racial equity, and deep experience fostering successful collaboration between sectors and agencies.

Key Leadership Quotes:

"I joined the Trust over five years ago because of its unwavering commitment to ending homelessness and its strategic support of systems change."

"Given the racial disparity of those most likely to experience homelessness, we will not end homelessness until we prevent and end it for black and brown people. It does not work the other way around."

"Social justice issues can't be solved with programmatic approaches; effective solutions require broad and deep systemic change."

"I am convinced that hope for progress lies in connecting research to practice."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Melville Charitable Trust does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. The Trust practices an internal, proactive approach to selecting grantees, identifying and reaching out to organizations whose work aligns with their strategic priorities.

Getting on Their Radar

While the Trust does not have a public application process, they maintain transparency through:

Publicly Accessible Grants Database: Review their funding history at melvilletrust.org/grants to understand funding patterns
Staff Contact Information: The Trust provides staff email addresses on their website, suggesting openness to relationship building
Strategic Partnerships: The Trust collaborates with major national organizations including the National Alliance to End Homelessness, Corporation for Supportive Housing, and National Low Income Housing Coalition
Sector Engagement: Staff members are available for speaking engagements (contact via Staff page)

Organizations working to end homelessness may introduce their work to relevant staff members, though this does not guarantee funding consideration. The Trust's proactive approach means they identify potential grantees through their own research and networks.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed due to invitation-only process. The Trust makes grants on an ongoing basis rather than fixed cycles, with 65 grants awarded in 2023.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities

The Trust seeks organizations that:

Address Root Causes: Focus on systemic drivers of homelessness rather than only emergency services
Center Racial Equity: Employ anti-racist approaches that address structural racism and prioritize Black, Indigenous, and Latinx communities
Connect Research to Practice: Bridge evidence-based approaches with practical implementation
Support Systems Change: Work toward broad policy and structural reforms
Demonstrate Impact in Large Urban Areas or Connecticut: Particularly programs serving major metropolitan areas or the Trust's home state

What the Trust Values

Based on their funding patterns and leadership statements:

Long-term Systemic Solutions over emergency interventions
Racial Justice Lens: Explicit recognition that homelessness is a racial equity issue
Collaborative Approaches: Multi-sector partnerships and funder collaboratives
Narrative Change: Reshaping public perception of homelessness
Evidence-Based Innovation: Programs that can serve as replicable models
Advocacy and Policy Work: Efforts to change structural conditions

Examples of Funded Work

ULI Foundation: $75,000 for "10 Principles for Addressing Homelessness: A Guide for Real Estate & Finance" (2024)
Partnership for Equitable and Resilient Communities: $10 million over three years
Housing Narrative Lab: Multi-year support for communications and narrative change
National organizations: Corporation for Supportive Housing, National Alliance to End Homelessness, National Low Income Housing Coalition

Key Success Indicators

Organizations positioned to create systemic change at policy level
Explicit anti-racist framework and approach
Capacity to influence multiple communities or serve as national models
Connection to communities most impacted by homelessness
Track record or potential for advocacy and organizing

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

No public application process: The Trust identifies and approaches potential grantees proactively rather than accepting proposals
Racial equity is central: Any approach must explicitly address racial disparities and structural racism; this is non-negotiable
Think systemically: Emergency services alone won't align; focus on root causes, policy change, and structural solutions
Connecticut and major cities prioritized: Geographic focus matters, particularly for Connecticut-based organizations and those serving large urban populations
Long-term relationships matter: Multi-year commitments are common; the Trust values sustained partnerships over one-off grants
Narrative and advocacy welcomed: The Trust recognizes that changing systems requires changing narratives and policies
Transparency despite no public process: The Trust maintains a publicly accessible grants database and provides staff contact information, suggesting openness to sector engagement

References

Accessed: December 24, 2024