Ailsa Mellon Bruce

Ailsa Mellon Bruce was a noted philanthropist and patron of the arts. In 1940, she established the Avalon Foundation, which made grants to cultural institutions, colleges and universities, hospitals, youth and community service organizations, churches, and conservation projects. A significant portion of the Foundation’s grantmaking supported organizations in New York City, including a grant for the creation of the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. From its creation until the formation of the Mellon Foundation, Avalon awarded more than $67 million in grants. Ailsa also made significant personal contributions to the Hampton National Historic Site in Maryland and the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

Born in Pittsburgh in 1901, Ailsa attended Miss Porter’s School in Farmington, Connecticut. She served as her father’s official hostess when he was Secretary of the Treasury and ambassador to the Court of St. James. She died on August 25, 1969, shortly after the Mellon Foundation was formed. Ailsa Mellon Bruce’s estate contributed additional funds to Mellon for years to come, and her interests in education, humanities, and the arts remain a principal focus of our work.