Mellon Foundation

Charity Profile

Mellon Foundation

🇺🇸Donor
Donations
$1,062,150,000
All time
Reach
Mostly North America
Verified footprint
Entries
1,608
Logged on Charity Journal

Giving over time

Monthly giving from the ledger

Cause breakdown

Arts$674,818,000 · 63.5%
Education$217,337,000 · 20.5%
Human Rights$91,914,000 · 8.7%
Innovation$22,052,000 · 2.1%
Science$21,005,000 · 2%
Animals$15,548,000 · 1.5%
Climate$8,461,000 · 0.8%
Relief$5,687,000 · 0.5%
Health$4,753,000 · 0.4%
Welfare$575,000 · 0.1%
Mellon FoundationVerified
DonorUnited StatesEst. 1969Elizabeth Alexander
Visit Official WebsiteDonate Now

About

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a private foundation dedicated to strengthening the arts and humanities as essential parts of a healthy and democratic society. Established in 1969 by Ailsa Mellon Bruce and Paul Mellon, the foundation supports work in arts and culture, higher learning, humanities in place and public knowledge, while placing social justice at the center of its grantmaking.

Based in New York, Mellon provides grants to nonprofits, educational institutions, artists, scholars and other organizations across the United States and internationally. Its funding supports efforts that expand access to knowledge, preserve cultural heritage, encourage creative expression and address historical inequities, with $555 million awarded to 699 grantees in 2024.

Activity feed

Mellon Foundation gave $400,000 to Z SMITH REYNOLDS FOUNDATION INC for Advanced Z SMITH REYNOLDS FOUNDATION's work through grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and improved lasting impact on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ Z SMITH REYNOLDS FOUNDATION INC$Restricted
ArtsAdvanced Z SMITH REYNOLDS FOUNDATION's work through grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and improved lasting impact.
Source
$400,000$400K
Mellon Foundation gave $300,000 to YUCCA VALLEY MATERIAL LAB for Supported YUCCA VALLEY MATERIAL LAB with grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened long-term outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ YUCCA VALLEY MATERIAL LAB$Unrestricted
ArtsSupported YUCCA VALLEY MATERIAL LAB with grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened long-term outcomes.
Source
$300,000$300K
Mellon Foundation gave $550,000 to YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MUSEUM for Helped YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MUSEUM advance arts, culture, and creative programs through grant funding and strengthened broader outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MUSEUM$Restricted
ArtsHelped YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD MUSEUM advance arts, culture, and creative programs through grant funding and strengthened broader outcomes.
Source
$550,000$550K
Mellon Foundation gave $200,000 to YESTERMORROW INC for Invested in YESTERMORROW INC's work to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and advanced long-term progress on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ YESTERMORROW INC$Restricted
ArtsInvested in YESTERMORROW INC's work to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and advanced long-term progress.
Source
$200,000$200K
Mellon Foundation gave $150,000 to YANCEY CONSULTING LLC for Expanded support for YANCEY CONSULTING LLC through funding for human rights and equity and broadened community impact on 2024-12-01. Cause: Human Rights.
Mellon Foundation→ YANCEY CONSULTING LLC$Restricted
Human RightsExpanded support for YANCEY CONSULTING LLC through funding for human rights and equity and broadened community impact.
Source
$150,000$150K
Mellon Foundation gave $127,000 to YALE UNIVERSITY for Backed YALE UNIVERSITY's work through grant funding for education access and student opportunity and strengthened sustainable outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Education.
Mellon Foundation→ YALE UNIVERSITY$Restricted
EducationBacked YALE UNIVERSITY's work through grant funding for education access and student opportunity and strengthened sustainable outcomes.
Source
$127,000$127K
Mellon Foundation gave $300,000 to YALE UNIVERSITY for Provided YALE UNIVERSITY with grant funding supporting education access and student opportunity and supported continued progress on 2024-12-01. Cause: Education.
Mellon Foundation→ YALE UNIVERSITY$Restricted
EducationProvided YALE UNIVERSITY with grant funding supporting education access and student opportunity and supported continued progress.
Source
$300,000$300K
Mellon Foundation gave $150,000 to YALE TYP ARCHIVAL STUDY COHORT OF 1966 INC for Enabled YALE TYP ARCHIVAL STUDY to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and improved practical outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ YALE TYP ARCHIVAL STUDY COHORT OF 1966 INC$Restricted
ArtsEnabled YALE TYP ARCHIVAL STUDY to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and improved practical outcomes.
Source
$150,000$150K
Mellon Foundation gave $750,000 to XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA for Strengthened XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA through grant funding supporting arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened community benefits on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA$Restricted
ArtsStrengthened XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA through grant funding supporting arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened community benefits.
Source
$750,000$750K
Mellon Foundation gave $100,000 to WORTHLESS FOUNDATION INC for Funded WORTHLESS FOUNDATION INC to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and expanded effective program access on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WORTHLESS FOUNDATION INC$Restricted
ArtsFunded WORTHLESS FOUNDATION INC to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and expanded effective program access.
Source
$100,000$100K
Mellon Foundation gave $150,000 to WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS INC for Advanced WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS INC's work through grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and improved lasting impact on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS INC$Unrestricted
ArtsAdvanced WORDS WITHOUT BORDERS INC's work through grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and improved lasting impact.
Source
$150,000$150K
Mellon Foundation gave $500,000 to WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY for Supported WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY with grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened long-term outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY$Restricted
ArtsSupported WOOLLY MAMMOTH THEATRE COMPANY with grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened long-term outcomes.
Source
$500,000$500K
Mellon Foundation gave $750,000 to WOMEN'S CENTER FOR CREATIVE WORK for Helped WOMEN'S CENTER FOR CREATIVE advance human rights and equity through grant funding and strengthened broader outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Human Rights.
Mellon Foundation→ WOMEN'S CENTER FOR CREATIVE WORK$Restricted
Human RightsHelped WOMEN'S CENTER FOR CREATIVE advance human rights and equity through grant funding and strengthened broader outcomes.
Source
$750,000$750K
Mellon Foundation gave $400,000 to WOMENS HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION for Invested in WOMENS HOUSING AND ECONOMIC's work to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and advanced long-term progress on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WOMENS HOUSING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION$Restricted
ArtsInvested in WOMENS HOUSING AND ECONOMIC's work to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and advanced long-term progress.
Source
$400,000$400K
Mellon Foundation gave $150,000 to WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVE INC for Expanded support for WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVE through funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and broadened community impact on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVE INC$Restricted
ArtsExpanded support for WOMEN PHOTOGRAPHERS INTERNATIONAL ARCHIVE through funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and broadened community impact.
Source
$150,000$150K
Mellon Foundation gave $400,000 to WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC for Backed WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC's work through grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened sustainable outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC$Restricted
ArtsBacked WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC's work through grant funding for arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened sustainable outcomes.
Source
$400,000$400K
Mellon Foundation gave $250,000 to WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC for Provided WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC with grant funding supporting arts, culture, and creative programs and supported continued progress on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC$Restricted
ArtsProvided WOMEN MAKE MOVIES INC with grant funding supporting arts, culture, and creative programs and supported continued progress.
Source
$250,000$250K
Mellon Foundation gave $400,000 to WOMEN IN DIALOGUE for Enabled WOMEN IN DIALOGUE to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and improved practical outcomes on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WOMEN IN DIALOGUE$Unrestricted
ArtsEnabled WOMEN IN DIALOGUE to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and improved practical outcomes.
Source
$400,000$400K
Mellon Foundation gave $100,000 to WITNESS INC for Strengthened WITNESS INC through grant funding supporting arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened community benefits on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WITNESS INC$Restricted
ArtsStrengthened WITNESS INC through grant funding supporting arts, culture, and creative programs and strengthened community benefits.
Source
$100,000$100K
Mellon Foundation gave $500,000 to WING LUKE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION for Funded WING LUKE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and expanded effective program access on 2024-12-01. Cause: Arts.
Mellon Foundation→ WING LUKE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION$Unrestricted
ArtsFunded WING LUKE MEMORIAL FOUNDATION to advance arts, culture, and creative programs and expanded effective program access.
Source
$500,000$500K

Board

Kathryn A. Hall
Board Chair

Founder of Hall Capital Partners and former chair of Princeton University's board, chairing Mellon's Board of Trustees.

Elizabeth Alexander
President

Award-winning poet and scholar leading the nation's largest funder of the arts and humanities.

Thelma Golden
Trustee

Director and chief curator of the Studio Museum in Harlem, a leading voice in contemporary art curation.

Joshua S. Friedman
Trustee

Investor and co-founder of Canyon Partners, bringing financial and philanthropic leadership to Mellon's board.

Melissa Gilliam
Trustee

Executive Vice President and Provost at Ohio State University, overseeing academics across the university's campuses.

Gaurav Kapadia
Trustee

Founder and CEO of the investment firm XN, bringing financial expertise to the foundation's governance.

Margaret Anadu
Trustee

Senior Partner at The Vistria Group and former Goldman Sachs impact-investing leader focused on sustainability.

Sherrilyn Ifill
Trustee

Civil rights lawyer and former president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.

Kelly Granat
Trustee

Member of Mellon's Board of Trustees contributing to the foundation's governance and strategy.

Rashid Johnson
Trustee

Acclaimed multidisciplinary artist whose work explores identity, history, and Black life.

Nabiha Syed
Trustee

Lawyer and media executive serving as Executive Director of the Mozilla Foundation, focused on public interest technology.