RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION
Annual Giving
$116.7M-15% YoY
Grants
296
Median Grant
$220K
Organizations Funded
440
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Foundation Overview
Mission
Since 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation has funded visionaries with bold ideas to advance prosperity in Southwestern Pennsylvania, and environmental conservation across the United States. The Foundation focuses resources on the most powerful pathways to greater opportunity and prosperity for the people of southwestern Pennsylvania while protecting, stewarding, and activating environmentally sensitive land across the United States.
Focus Areas
Grant Types
Funded Initiatives
$1.2B committed 2021-2030 Strategic Plan, $1B+ environmental conservation funding, 4.5M+ acres protected, 7700+ grants since 1947 to 1800+ organizations, 2023 Economic Mobility $20.1M (64 grants), 2023 Organizational Effectiveness $3.4M (28 grants), six funding programs across conservation and regional development
How to Apply
General Application through online portal with no deadlines - rolling basis applications accepted year-round. Program officers not available for discussion until after proposal submitted. Review process generally takes 90 days. Contact: rkmf@rkmf.org or (412) 392-2800.
Does Not Fund
No indirect costs for postsecondary or research institutions, focus limited to Allegheny and Westmoreland counties for Economic Mobility and Health & Well-Being programs, no regranting to individuals, must be US-based 501(c)(3) or public agency, no applications from outside United States
Based on publicly available information from the foundation's 990 filings and website.
Giving History
$116.7M
Grants
296
Median
$220K
States
23
$136.9M
Grants
279
Median
$250K
States
25
$98.5M
Grants
289
Median
$220K
States
21
Grant Size Distribution
$220K
Typical Grant (Median)
$2K
Smallest
$100K
25th Pctile
$354K
75th Pctile
$10.0M
Largest
Excludes grants ≤ $5K. Half fall between $100K and $354K.
Largest Recent Grants
$10.0M
2024
UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
PA · TOWARD TEN-YEAR SUPPORT OF THE UNIVERSITY'S CONSTRUCTION AND LAUNCH OF A FACILITY AT HAZELWOOD GREEN TO CATALYZE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY FOCUSED ON BUILDING FACILITIES FOR MANUFACTURING CELL, GENE, AND ANTIBODY-BASED THERAPIES TO TREAT HUMAN DISEASES
$7.5M
2024
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
PA · TOWARD TEN-YEAR SUPPORT OF CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW BUILDING FOR SCIENCES IN OAKLAND
$7.0M
2024
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
PA · TOWARD FOUR-YEAR SUPPORT TO ESTABLISH A PERMANENT MANUFACTURING FUTURES INSTITUTE AT HAZELWOOD GREEN
$5.5M
2024
CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY
PA · TOWARD TEN-YEAR SUPPORT TO CONSTRUCT A ROBOTICS INNOVATION CENTER AT HAZELWOOD GREEN TO ACCELERATE ROBOTICS DISCOVERY AND ENTREPRENUERSHIP AND TO STRENGTHEN PITTSBURGH'S ECONOMIC FUTURE
$4.5M
2024
AMERICAN PRAIRIE FOUNDATION
MT · TO ACQUIRE MULTIPLE PROPERTIES TO ASSEMBLE A SHORT GRASS PRAIRIE ECOSYSTEM RESERVE IN NORTHCENTRAL MONTANA
Geographic Focus
Top states by total grant dollars. Based on IRS filing data.
Financial Overview
Grants paid shown as percentage of total assets
Data sourced from IRS 990 and 990-PF filings and publicly available foundation websites. Grant data, financial figures, and organizational details reflect historical filings and may not represent current operations or funding priorities. Verify directly with the foundation before applying. See an issue? Let us know.