Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation seeks to strengthen, promote, and defend the centrality of the humanities and the arts to human flourishing and to the wellbeing of diverse, fair, and democratic societies.

Mellon makes most of its grants to organisations in the United States that have been determined by the IRS to be section 501(c)(3) charities, as well as organisations outside the United States that are equivalent to US public charities. As a rule, the Foundation does not fund tuition, K-12 education and programming, fundraising events, or provide direct unrestricted funding for individuals. The Foundation makes grants designated for charitable and/or educational purposes and grant applications and other communications should always be in alignment with those purposes.

The Foundation focuses on awarding grants in the following four areas :

• Arts and Culture
• Higher Learning
• Humanities in Place
• Public Knowledge

Our staff seek out and get to know innovative organisations, scholars, and creators before inviting them to submit a proposal for funding. Most Mellon grants are made through these invitations. Occasionally, we issue open calls for proposals. Sign up for our emails to be notified when we issue an open call or share information about other funding opportunities.