The Bank Of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $3.4 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: $166,000 - $900,000 (based on 2024 awards)
Grant Median: $625,000
Geographic Focus: National (United States), with emphasis on areas of company operations
Assets: $52 million (2024)

Contact Details

Primary Contact:

Name: Kendra Wotkyns
Title: Director, Global Impact Citizenship at BNY
Address: BNY Mellon Center, 1 Boston Place, Boston, MA 02108
Phone: (617) 722-7377

Foundation Leadership:

Cynthia Danes, President
Shannon Hobbs, Chairman
J Kevin McCarthy, Director
Jayee Koffey, Director
Erica Williams, Vice President, Assistant Treasurer

Pittsburgh Office:

Phone: 412-234-0023

Overview

The Bank Of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation (EIN 31-1605320) was established in 1998 as the corporate foundation of BNY Mellon, one of the world's leading investment management and investment services companies. Based in Pittsburgh, PA, with operations in Boston, MA, the foundation manages assets of $52 million and distributes approximately $3.4 million annually in grants. The foundation operates as part of BNY Mellon's broader "Powering Potential" corporate philanthropy program, which emphasizes workforce development and basic needs provision. The foundation makes a small number of substantial grants each year—just 6 grants in 2024—with a median grant size of $625,000, indicating a preference for significant, strategic partnerships rather than numerous small grants. BNY Mellon's broader corporate giving ecosystem includes employee matching programs, volunteer time off, and company-wide giving campaigns that have collectively contributed over $200 million to nonprofits globally since 2008.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation makes grants primarily for general operating support rather than project-specific funding. Based on 2024 giving patterns:

Major Strategic Grants: $550,000 - $900,000 (for significant institutional partnerships)
Mid-Range Grants: $300,000 - $550,000 (for established organizations)
Employee Matching Grants: $700,056 allocated in 2024 for employee donation matches

All grants appear to be awarded through an invitation or relationship-based process rather than open application cycles.

Priority Areas

Workforce Development:

Job training and skills development programs
Youth workforce development initiatives
Employment access improvement

Basic Needs Provision:

Food assistance programs
Housing and energy assistance
Clothing and immediate relief services

Strategic Sectors (based on 2024 grants):

Arts and culture (performing arts centers)
Economic development and innovation (policy institutes)
Higher education and research institutions
International humanitarian aid and microfinance
Civic commemorations and national initiatives

Geographic Focus

The foundation supports organizations across the United States, with particular emphasis on areas of BNY Mellon's company operations, including:

Connecticut
Massachusetts (especially Boston)
New York
Pennsylvania (especially Pittsburgh)
Virginia
Maryland
Michigan
California (Los Angeles area)
Washington, DC

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented. However, the grant history suggests the foundation focuses on established institutions rather than grassroots organizations or startup nonprofits.

Governance and Leadership

Chairman: Shannon Hobbs oversees the foundation's strategic direction.

President: Cynthia Danes serves as President of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation and also leads the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, demonstrating the interconnected nature of BNY Mellon's philanthropic entities.

Key Contact: Kendra Wotkyns, Director of Global Impact Citizenship at BNY, serves as the foundation's primary contact. Wotkyns also holds the role of Vice President for the BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania, indicating she manages relationships across BNY Mellon's philanthropic operations.

The foundation's board includes directors from BNY Mellon's corporate leadership, ensuring alignment between the foundation's grant making and the company's strategic priorities.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to foundation records, application guidelines are "provided upon initial contact," indicating that the foundation operates through:

Direct invitation from foundation leadership
Pre-existing relationships with BNY Mellon
Strategic partnerships identified by the board and leadership
Referrals from corporate executives and board members

The foundation makes a small number of grants annually (6 grants in 2024, 2 in 2023, 6 in 2022, 1 in 2021), suggesting highly selective, strategic grant making focused on institutional partnerships rather than broad community funding.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the foundation's relationship-based approach and small number of annual grants, the timeline likely varies significantly based on individual circumstances and board meeting schedules.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. However, the extremely small number of annual grants (averaging 2-6 per year) indicates a highly selective process with very low acceptance rates for any inquiries.

Reapplication Policy

No public information available on reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach and limited public information, the following factors appear most critical based on grant patterns:

1. Institutional Scale and Reputation: Recent grant recipients include major national organizations (Milken Institute, Research Foundation of CUNY, WTC Performing Arts Center, America 250 Foundation, Kiva). The foundation appears to favor established institutions with strong track records and national or regional significance.

2. Alignment with Corporate Focus Areas: The foundation's parent company emphasizes workforce development and basic needs provision in its broader corporate giving. Organizations addressing these areas, particularly through innovative or scalable approaches, may align well with foundation priorities.

3. Geographic Connection to BNY Mellon Operations: While the foundation makes national grants, organizations in cities where BNY Mellon has significant operations (Boston, Pittsburgh, New York) may have advantages through existing corporate relationships.

4. Strategic Partnership Potential: With large median grant sizes ($625,000) and few annual awards, the foundation appears to seek strategic partnerships rather than transactional grant relationships. Organizations offering opportunities for employee engagement, matching programs, or multi-year impact may be preferred.

5. Connection to BNY Mellon Leadership or Employees: Given the relationship-based nature of grant making, connections to BNY Mellon board members, executives, or employees (through volunteer work, board service, or other engagement) may be critical to getting on the foundation's radar.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is not an open-application foundation. Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation operates through invitations and pre-existing relationships.
Focus on relationship building with BNY Mellon. The most viable path to funding involves connecting with BNY Mellon employees, executives, or leadership through board service, volunteer programs, or other professional networks.
Think large and strategic. With a median grant size of $625,000 and only 6 grants awarded in 2024, the foundation seeks significant institutional partnerships, not small community grants.
Emphasize workforce development or basic needs. These are the foundation's stated priority areas and align with BNY Mellon's broader corporate philanthropy mission.
Be prepared for general operating support conversations. The foundation's 2024 grants were primarily for general operating support, suggesting openness to unrestricted funding for the right partners.
Target geographic regions with BNY Mellon presence. Organizations in Boston, Pittsburgh, New York, and other cities with significant BNY Mellon operations may have advantages.
Leverage employee matching programs. BNY Mellon allocated over $700,000 for employee donation matches in 2024. Building a base of BNY Mellon employee donors could lead to both matching funds and increased visibility with foundation leadership.

References

Grantmakers.io Profile - The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation. Retrieved from: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/311605320-the-bank-of-new-york-mellon-corporation-foundation/ (Accessed January 12, 2026)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Bank Of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation. Retrieved from: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/311605320 (Accessed January 12, 2026)
BNY Empowers Communities Through Philanthropic Giving. Retrieved from: https://www.bny.com/corporate/global/en/about-us/corporate-giving-and-community-champions.html (Accessed January 12, 2026)
Candid Foundation Directory - The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation Foundation. Retrieved from: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=BANK075 (Accessed January 12, 2026)
LinkedIn Profile - Kendra Wotkyns, Director, Global Impact Citizenship at BNY. Retrieved from: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-wotkyns/ (Accessed January 12, 2026)
Cause IQ - Bny Mellon Foundation Profile. Retrieved from: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-bank-of-new-york-mellon-corporation-foundation,311605320/ (Accessed January 12, 2026)
Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania - BNY Mellon Foundation of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Retrieved from: https://gwpa.org/redhen/org/342 (Accessed January 12, 2026)