News & Views

Dear friends, In April, as the COVID-19 virus was radically transforming our lives and world, we shared details about the Trust’s response, which included immediately redirecting funds toward emergency COVID-19 relief in Connecticut, streamlining our grant processes and offering flexible support to our grantee partners. At that point the impact of COVID-19 was just beginning […]

The Trust has always invested in addressing the underlying systems that cause homelessness, and in times of unprecedented challenge we believe it’s important for us to stay the course and remain focused.

Funders are increasingly recognizing that safe, decent, affordable housing as a cornerstone for progress in a variety of other areas. Funders for Housing and Opportunity (FHO) is a compelling example of a collaborative cross-sector funder approach to addressing the affordable housing crisis across the country. In this episode, Susan Thomas, Program Director at the Melville […]

As the leader of a private foundation, I don’t often opine on the operations of federal agencies.  But as the federal government shutdown begins its fifth week, I, like many Americans, feel like screaming out a window à la Peter Finch in the movie “Network.” This shutdown is not just the longest. This one seems squarely aimed […]

The Trust is profiled in this article examining how small foundations can make an outsized impact. 

Jeff Bezos is investing $2 billion to help families experiencing homelessness. But will it actually help in the long run?

The Trust joined forces with eight national foundations to create Funders for Housing and Opportunity, a funding collaborative dedicated to ensuring ensure individuals and families across America can afford safe, stable rentals in thriving communities.

We know housing is at the core of ending homelessness. We also know we can’t stop there.

How we used a simple tool to enhance collaboration among our grantee partners.

Our latest grants to end homelessness.

Inside Philanthropy talks to Funders Together to End Homelessness and says “the signs are promising that the fight against homelessness is entering a new and more successful phase.”

Inside Philanthropy examines the Trust’s long-term commitment to ending homelessness and highlights elements that have helped get us closer to our ultimate goal.

The four big things we learned from surveying our grantees.

The Melville Trust is one of the few family foundations that devote a large portion of grantmaking to social justice.

A note from the Trust’s new Executive Director, Janice Elliott.