The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a New York–based private foundation that funds arts, humanities, higher education, and public knowledge initiatives. The official site presents grantmaking areas, a searchable grant database, resources for grantseekers, news, and organizational information.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Organizations working in the arts, humanities, cultural heritage, higher education, public knowledge infrastructure, or field-building activities with the capacity to manage multi-year or multi-partner projects.
Good Fit
- • Clear programmatic alignment with arts, humanities, museums, libraries, or higher-education initiatives.
- • Capacity to manage multi-year grants, fellowships, convenings, or regranting programs.
- • Organizational stability and track record of public-facing scholarship, preservation, or field-building work.
- • Willingness to participate in evaluation, partnerships, or networked initiatives.
Geography
Observed giving in the latest year reached recipients in 52 states and territories; although about 25% of dollars were concentrated in the foundation's home state, grants were distributed nationwide and beyond.
Recipient Variety
The most recent year shows hundreds of distinct recipients (688) across universities, museums, community organizations, regranting intermediaries and government partners, with modest top-recipient dollar shares (about 2% for the largest, 6% for the top five).
New Applicants
Direct evidence of openness includes public application information and a grants portal plus a large number of new recipients in the latest year (433); three years of data show a recurring pattern of both new and repeat grantees, so unfamiliar applicants appear plausibly able to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
