Grant Resources
We make grants through our core program areas and signature Presidential Initiatives, including Imagining Freedom, our grantmaking in Puerto Rico, and The Monuments Project.
Our four grantmaking areas
Presidential Initiatives
How and what we fund
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation actively works with our grantee partners and we are deeply immersed in the fields in which we invest. Our grants are designed to activate the spirit of learning through the creation and sharing of bold new knowledge and the inspiration felt in art.
Mellon makes most of its grants to organizations in the United States that have been determined by the IRS to be section 501(c)(3) charities, as well as organizations 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.
Our staff seek out and get to know innovative organizations, scholars, and creators before inviting them to submit a proposal for funding. Most Mellon grants are made through these invitations. We also welcome inquiries from organizations whose work aligns with our current strategies—please submit an inquiry for more information. Occasionally, we issue open calls for proposals. Sign up for our emails to be notified when we issue an open call.
Carter Stewart: How We Make Our Grants
Since 1969, Mellon has awarded more than 19,000 grants.
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