Richard King Mellon Foundation Dtd
Historical FunderLigonier, Pennsylvania · EIN 25-1127705 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$116.7M
Organizations funded296
Typical grant$220,000
Total assets$3.5B
Half of its grants to organizations were between $100,000 and $350,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | RICHARD KING MELLON FOUNDATION |
|---|---|
| Address | THE AUCTION HOUSE 42 21ST STREET, SUITE 201, PITTSBURGH PA 15222 |
| Phone | 4123922800 |
| Form and materials | THE FOUNDATION GIVES PRIORTY TO PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS THAT HAVE CLEARLY DEFINED OUTPUTS, OUTCOMES, AND AN EVALUATION COMPONENT. APPLICANTS MAY APPLY VIA ONLINE APPLICATION AT RKMF.ORG. |
| Deadlines | THE FOUNDATION ACCEPTS APPLICATIONS THROUGHTOUT THE YEAR. |
| Restrictions | THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT CONSIDER REQUESTS ON BEHALF OF INDIVIDUALS OR FROM OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES. THE FOUNDATION DOES NOT ENCOURAGE REQUESTS FROM OUTSIDE PENNSYLVANIA. APPLICANTS MUST BE A CHARITABLE, TAX-EXEMPT ORGANIZATION WITH A VALID IRS TAX ID NUMBER OR BE A GOVERNMENT ENTITY TO QUALIFY FOR FUNDING. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
23% of grants went outside Pennsylvania.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze economic development… | $10,000,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward ten-year support of construction of a new building for sciences in oakland | $7,500,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward four-year support to establish a permanent manufacturing futures institute at hazelwood green | $7,000,000 |
| Carnegie Mellon University | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward ten-year support to construct a robotics innovation center at hazelwood green to accelerate robotics discovery and entreprenuership… | $5,500,000 |
| American Prairie Foundation | Bozeman, MT | To acquire multiple properties to assemble a short grass prairie ecosystem reserve in northcentral montana | $4,500,000 |
| Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | To conduct research in infection biology and childhood asthma at upmc childrens hospital and retain outstanding scientists in pittsburgh | $2,100,000 |
| Phoebe Foundation Inc | Albany, GA | Toward construction of a new medical tower to house a level II trauma center, neonatal intensive care unit, and intensive care facility | $2,000,000 |
| The Citizen Science Lab | Pittsburgh, PA | To expand operations with the creation of the state-of-the-art center for scientific excellence at the historic mlk reading and cultural… | $2,000,000 |
| African American Cultural Center | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations | $1,550,000 |
| Three Rivers Communities Inc | Mckees Rocks, PA | To build affordable housing | $1,250,000 |
| Rodale Institute | Kutztown, PA | To advance regenerative organic agriculture research | $1,029,000 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville, PA | To launch start-up and redevelopment activities of the meadville community revitalization corporation | $1,000,000 |
| County of Allegheny Department of Human Services | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of programs and services designed to help people move to more permanent housing | $1,000,000 |
| Homewood Children's Village | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations | $1,000,000 |
| Max Mcgraw Wildlife Foundation | Dundee, IL | To support the production of an imax film and educational outreach to instill conservation values among children and adults with emphasis… | $1,000,000 |
| Mutual Aid Ambulance Service Inc | Greensburg, PA | Toward the purchase of ambulances to enhance quality of care | $1,000,000 |
| Pittsburgh Glass Center Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations and to expand apprentice housing | $1,000,000 |
| Valley School of Ligonier | Rector, PA | To provide financial aid, employ expert faculty, and maintain the schools buildings and grounds | $1,000,000 |
| Community Foundation of Greater Johnstown | Johnstown, PA | To support the economic revitalization of downtown johnstown | $977,000 |
| Franklin & Marshall College | Lancaster, PA | To improve water quality and ecosystem health in the chesapeake bay watershed | $937,500 |
| Allegheny College | Meadville, PA | To engage in strategic conservation initiatives to conserve and sustain the land, water and cultural resources of the upper allegheny river… | $934,877 |
| Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania | California, PA | To protect habitats, restore populations of species of concern and improve water quality | $750,000 |
| Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds | Alexandria, PA | To accelerate watershed restoration and remediate the impacts of abandoned mine lands | $750,000 |
| The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research | Pittsburgh, PA | To help support research on brain injuries and toward the brain injury research symposium | $750,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington | New Kensington, PA | Toward support of operations for the digital foundry | $750,000 |
| Wonderseed Foundation | Los Angeles, CA | To partner with freedom house 2.0 to develop four ai coaching scenarios for practicing conflict resolution and job interviewing skills… | $745,200 |
| Community College of Allegheny County Education Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward the reinventing community approaches advanced manufacturing pilot program | $680,000 |
| Catalyst Connection | Pittsburgh, PA | To create a sector-based partnership with the manufacturing apprenticeship collaborative | $675,000 |
| Ligonier Borough | Ligonier, PA | To update and enhance the town hall | $651,000 |
| Susquehanna University | Selinsgrove, PA | Toward support of the freshwater research institute | $592,000 |
| Salem Township Volunteer Fire Company #2 | Forbes Road, PA | To improve training for volunteer fire fighters in westmoreland county | $582,000 |
| Harvard University | Boston, MA | Toward support of project argyle | $575,000 |
| One Mind | Rutherford, CA | To support an employer-led coalition in southwestern pennsylvania that will collaborate to improve the mental health of the local workforce… | $570,000 |
| Heart of the Rockies Initiative | Missoula, MT | To scale durable conservation of private lands in the central rocky mountain region while connecting habitat | $550,000 |
| National Fish and Wildlife Foundation | Washington, DC | To restore aquatic and forest habitat in central appalachia | $550,000 |
| Texas A&m University-Kingsville | Kingsville, TX | To create a wildlife health reporting pipeline to facilitate spatial epidemiological analyses of chronic wasting disease for better… | $540,000 |
| Allegheny Conference on Community Development | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward continued support for business investment and job creation | $506,000 |
| A Schools Pittsburgh's Community Alliance for Public Education | Pittsburgh, PA | To increase student attendance and improve students academic outcomes | $500,000 |
| Aspinwall Riverfront Park Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | To activate a new expanded park space and upgrade current park facilities | $500,000 |
| Better Block Foundation | Ewing, TX | To complete four creative placemaking projects in allegheny and westmoreland counties | $500,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Western Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations and programs | $500,000 |
| Brother's Brother Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | To assist those impacted by hurricanes helene and milton | $500,000 |
| Cafe Momentum Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations | $500,000 |
| Children's Museum of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | To redesign the museums backyard exhibit and to plan for a new outdoor campus experience | $500,000 |
| Creating Pittsburgh Tomorrow Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | To attract, retain and engage young leaders in pittsburgh | $500,000 |
| Frick Art & Historical Center Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | To expand audiences and forge and strengthen regional partnerships | $500,000 |
| Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc | Arlington, VA | Toward production of the documentary, ken burns presents hiding in plain sight: adult mental illness | $500,000 |
| Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association Inc | Arlington, VA | To support the caregivers documentary film | $500,000 |
| Headwaters Charitable Trust | Curwensville, PA | To complete 19 state highway road crossings in clarion, forest, elk and mckean counties | $500,000 |
| Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations | $500,000 |
| International League of Conservation Photographers Inc | Arlington, VA | Toward production of an imax film that inspires audiences to engage in conservation of the american south | $500,000 |
| Kidsvoice | Pittsburgh, PA | To remove roadblocks to employment, housing, and health for foster youth to transition successfully to independent living | $500,000 |
| Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | To develop and implement a variety of environmental education programs | $500,000 |
| The Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation | Arlington, VA | To develop and implement regional strategies for investing in conservation and the well-being of appalachian communities | $500,000 |
| Westmoreland Museum of Art | Greensburg, PA | Toward support of operations | $500,000 |
| Zoological Society of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | Toward support of operations | $500,000 |
| Ligonier Valley Young Men's Christian Association of Pennsylvania | Ligonier, PA | Toward roof repairs | $450,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust | Topsham, ME | To develop branding and content to increase public engagement | $410,000 |
| Bethlen Home of the Hungarian Reformed Federation of America | Ligonier, PA | To upgrade room furniture and flooring | $400,000 |
| Bible Center Church Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | For child and youth-serving programs | $400,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 296 grants to organizations.
Grants approved for future payment
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Scholar House Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | To build affordable housing in downtown pittsburgh | $1,000,000 |
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $116,670,323 | 297 |
| 2023 | $136,949,374 | 280 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 13, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202503179349103185
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 25-1127705
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.