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Richard King Mellon Foundation

Annual Giving
$175.0M
Grant Range
$10K - $16.0M

Richard King Mellon Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $175+ million (2023, including grants and program-related investments)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: No specific timeline; Board meets in Spring, Summer, and Winter
  • Grant Range: $10,000 - $16+ million (majority $50,000 - $500,000)
  • Geographic Focus: Conservation: National; Economic Development, Economic Mobility, Health & Well-Being: Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, PA
  • Total Grants (2023): 279 awards

Contact Details

Address: The Auction House, 42 21st Street – Suite 201, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Phone: (412) 392-2800
Email: rkmf@rkmf.org (general inquiries); grantmaking@rkmf.org (declined application inquiries)
Website: www.rkmf.org
Application Portal: www.rkmf.org/apply (open year-round)

Overview

Established in 1947, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is one of the largest private foundations in the United States, with approximately $2.6 billion in assets. The foundation has awarded over 8,500 grants to more than 2,000 organizations since its founding, contributing over $1 billion to conservation efforts alone. Its 2021-2030 Strategic Plan commits to distributing more than $1.2 billion in grants and program-related investments. The foundation's mission emphasizes funding "visionaries with bold ideas" to advance prosperity in Southwestern Pennsylvania and environmental conservation across the United States. In 2023, the foundation marked its 76th year and disbursed over $175 million in grants and program-related investments—eclipsing its 2022 record by more than $23 million.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates six mutually reinforcing funding programs:

1. Conservation (National scope)

  • 2024: 104 grants/investments totaling $55.8 million
  • Focus: Habitat conservation, stewardship, activation, and sustainable communities
  • Over 4.5 million acres protected nationwide
  • Developing $150 million PRI revolving fund for land acquisition
  • Typical project types: Large-scale working lands protection (1,000+ acres), stream restoration, invasive species management, renewable energy, outdoor recreation expansion

2. Economic Development (Allegheny and Westmoreland counties)

  • Three investment areas: Talent Development, Employment Opportunities, Community Building
  • Focus: Workforce development for "new economy" jobs, adult education (18+), entrepreneurship, arts/culture as economic drivers
  • Emphasis on sector-based partnerships with employers
  • 2021: 16 grants totaling $2.6+ million for job training initiatives

3. Economic Mobility (Allegheny and Westmoreland counties)

  • 2024: 67 grants totaling $20,350,125
  • Target population: Children and young adults ages birth to 24 from low-income households
  • Four investment areas: Educational Attainment (K-readiness through postsecondary), Future of Work (career readiness and internships), Supportive Living Environments (housing, food security), Places of Opportunity (safe communities, justice system prevention)

4. Health & Well-Being (Allegheny and Westmoreland counties)

  • 2024: 37 grants totaling $13.2+ million
  • Three priority areas: Chronic Conditions, Mental & Behavioral Health, Maternal & Child Health
  • Focus on social determinants of health
  • Investment areas: Healthy People, Healthy Communities (nutrition, green spaces, housing, pollution reduction), Advancing Science (research and dissemination)

5. Organizational Effectiveness (Current or recent grantees only)

  • Reserved for organizations with active grants or funding within past three years
  • Four investment areas: Leadership & Governance, Human Capital Management, Strategy & Learning, Communications
  • Supports capacity building, including sabbatical programs for nonprofit executives

6. Social-Impact Investments (Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, except Conservation which is national)

  • Annual pitch competition for for-profit social enterprises
  • 2022: $5 million across 15 companies
  • 2025 competition deadline: December 19 at noon
  • Focus: Conservation, Economic Development, Economic Mobility, Health & Well-Being

Application Methods

  • Rolling basis: Nonprofit general applications accepted year-round through online portal
  • Annual deadline: Social-Impact Investment Pitch Competition (December 19, 2025)
  • Invitation-only: Organizational Effectiveness (for current/recent grantees)

Priority Areas

The foundation prioritizes:

  • Strategic land protection and wildlife habitat conservation
  • Workforce development for emerging industries
  • Educational access and achievement for vulnerable youth
  • Mental health, maternal health, and chronic disease management
  • Community-level health equity and environmental quality
  • Nonprofit organizational capacity and leadership development

What They Don't Fund

  • Lobbying, advocacy, or political causes
  • Regranting to individuals
  • Terrorist activities
  • Generally does not provide multi-year grants (12-18 months is typical)
  • Postsecondary institutions and research institutions restricted for certain funding types

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

  • Richard A. Mellon – Chairperson & Chief Executive Officer
  • Catharine Mellon Cathey – President
  • Sam Reiman – Director & Trustee
  • Douglas L. Sisson – Vice President & Treasurer
  • Alison M. Byers, Psy.D. – Trustee
  • W. Russell G. Byers, Jr. – Trustee
  • Bruce King Mellon Henderson – Trustee
  • Constance Elizabeth Mellon Kapp – Trustee
  • Armour N. Mellon – Trustee
  • Paul A. Hannah – Trustee & Controller
  • Edward J. Morgan – Trustee & Assistant Treasurer
  • Lynne Ventress – Secretary

Trustee Emeritus

  • Seward Prosser Mellon

Program Staff

Sam Reiman serves as Director, overseeing grantmaking at the foundation. He was appointed to the top staff leadership position on January 1, 2019, and also serves on the boards of Carnegie Mellon University, Sixup, the Allegheny Conference on Community Development, and Pittsburgh Cultural Trust. Additional program staff includes program officers Curan Bonham, Gabriella Gonzalez, Lynne Ventress, and Bobby Zappala, along with senior communications officer Tim Reeves.

Leadership Philosophy

Director Sam Reiman emphasizes the foundation's openness to applicant innovation: "The first pillar of the Foundation's success is great ideas – yours, not ours." The foundation describes great ideas as their "lifeblood, the currency of our philanthropy," stating "We crave your great ideas – the bolder the better."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

  • Confirm your organization's tax status and IRS Tax ID
  • Ensure you can receive philanthropic funding
  • Review the 2021-2030 Strategic Plan and funding program pages at www.rkmf.org

Step 2: Assess Alignment

  • Evaluate whether your project aligns with one of the six funding programs
  • Confirm geographic eligibility (varies by program)
  • Ensure your organization is not a postsecondary or research institution (for certain programs)

Step 3: Submit Application

  • Complete application through online portal at www.rkmf.org/apply
  • Portal open year-round for most programs
  • Applications ONLY accepted through the online portal
  • No pre-submission meetings with program officers (generally not available until after proposal submission)

Required Materials:

  • Valid U.S. IRS Tax ID
  • Audited financial statements (preferred) or Pennsylvania-required alternatives based on gross contributions
  • Program/project description aligned with Strategic Plan
  • Budget and timeline (typically 12-18 months)

Special Application Tracks:

  • Social-Impact Investment Pitch Competition: Separate application for for-profit companies through SII portal; deadline December 19 at noon
  • Organizational Effectiveness: Application reserved for current or recent grantees (funded within past three years)

Decision Timeline

No specific review timeframe exists. Applicants receive immediate email confirmation upon submission, but the foundation states that "there are not specific timelines associated with the review of a funding application."

Board meetings occur in Spring, Summer, and Winter, which may influence decision timing. Every application is reviewed for its potential to advance the foundation's Strategic Plan.

Success Rates

The foundation does not publicly disclose success rates or the number of applications received versus awarded. In 2023, the foundation made 279 awards totaling $136,949,374 in grants (with total disbursements including program-related investments exceeding $175 million).

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not specify a mandatory waiting period for reapplication after a declined application. The application portal remains open year-round, suggesting organizations can reapply at any time.

Declined applicants may request feedback by emailing grantmaking@rkmf.org, though the foundation notes it "cannot commit to answering every such inquiry" due to application volume.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's published guidance and strategic priorities, successful applications demonstrate the following:

1. Bold, Innovative Ideas The foundation explicitly seeks "great ideas – yours, not ours" and encourages "the bolder the better." Applications should present innovative approaches rather than conventional solutions. The foundation values applicant-driven vision over prescriptive programs.

2. Clear Strategic Plan Alignment Every application is reviewed for its potential to advance the 2021-2030 Strategic Plan. Successful applicants clearly articulate how their project supports specific investment areas within one of the six funding programs. Generic applications that don't demonstrate this alignment are unlikely to succeed.

3. Geographic Appropriateness

  • Conservation projects can be national in scope
  • Economic Development, Economic Mobility, and Health & Well-Being must serve Allegheny and Westmoreland counties (with rare exceptions for Economic Development in western PA)
  • Applications from outside Pennsylvania are discouraged unless they clearly serve the foundation's geographic priorities

4. Systems-Level Thinking Particularly for Economic Development applications, the foundation seeks "proposals that employ a systems approach," requiring sector-based partnerships or employer collaboration for workforce development initiatives. Single-organization approaches are less competitive.

5. Employer/Community Partnerships Economic Development proposals must include sector-based partnerships with employers in new-economy industries. Community Building applications benefit from demonstrated cross-sector collaboration.

6. Focus on Vulnerable Populations Economic Mobility and Health & Well-Being programs prioritize vulnerable children, youth, and communities. Applications should clearly identify target populations and barriers to be addressed.

7. Indirect Expenses Permitted The foundation allows indirect expenses for eligible organizations (except research institutions), with no specific ratio recommendations. Applicants need not artificially minimize overhead.

8. General Operating Support Available For non-postsecondary organizations, general operating support is available. Applicants need not restrict requests to project-specific funding.

9. Measurable Outcomes Aligned with Investment Areas Applications should demonstrate how outcomes will be measured against the foundation's specific priorities (e.g., K-12 academic performance, career readiness skills, habitat protection acres, workforce system improvements).

10. Thoughtful Inquiry The foundation states it will be "responsive to all thoughtful inquiries." Questions submitted to rkmf@rkmf.org demonstrate due diligence and strategic thinking.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Lead with bold innovation: The foundation explicitly craves bold ideas over conventional approaches—don't undersell your vision or default to safe, incremental proposals.

  • Know your program and investment area: Applications must clearly align with one of six programs and specific investment areas within that program. Generic applications that span multiple programs are unlikely to succeed.

  • Geographic focus is non-negotiable: Conservation is national; all other programs serve Allegheny and Westmoreland counties almost exclusively. Applications from outside Pennsylvania face steep barriers unless Conservation-focused.

  • Typical grants are 12-18 months: Multi-year funding is generally unavailable. Structure proposals accordingly and be prepared to reapply for continued support.

  • No pre-submission meetings: Unlike many foundations, program officers are generally unavailable until after proposal submission. Your application must stand on its own without relationship-building meetings.

  • Decision timing is unpredictable: With no specific review timeline and board meetings only three times annually, plan for potential multi-month waits. Submit early if you have time-sensitive project needs.

  • Systems approaches win for workforce development: Economic Development applications must include sector-based partnerships with employers. Single-organization training programs are not competitive.

  • Organizational Effectiveness is restricted: Only organizations with active grants or funding within the past three years can apply to this program—it's a capacity-building benefit for current partners.

References

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