BNY Mellon Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- The filing describes the foundation's grants as general operating support across cultural, educational and research, financial-inclusion and humanitarian work, so a charity whose work fits one of these areas is worth considering.
- The filing records only 13 grants to organisations over three years, so the picture is thin, but about 8 in 10 of those grants fall between $150,000 and $1,000,000, the median is $300,000 and the largest was $2,000,000, so a request near $300,000 sits at the middle of its giving and the band is not a ceiling.
- The filing gives no deadlines and says the foundation accepts applications, and it makes its form and required information available on first contact, so reaching out early is the sensible first step.
- None of its grant dollars in the latest filing went to organisations it had funded in the two earlier filings, so a first approach is not at a disadvantage, though the filing says nothing about how applications are judged.
- No geographic focus or eligibility rules are stated, so the filing gives no basis for ruling any organisation out, and the grants recorded mainly in New York and California describe past giving rather than a limit.
Overview
BNY Mellon Foundation is a US private foundation based in Pittsburgh, PA.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings describe the foundation’s grants as general operating support. The recorded recipients include a performing arts centre, university research foundations, a microfinance organisation, a girls’ organisation, and international and humanitarian organisations. The record therefore spans cultural, educational and research, financial-inclusion, and humanitarian activity, rather than indicating one predominant field. The filings do not state a broader set of funding themes, eligibility rules for applicants, or a geographic policy. Grant recipients are recorded in several states, with New York and California accounting for the largest shares of the reported state totals.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New York and California.
How to apply
The foundation makes its form and required information available upon initial contact.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, none of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 13 grants to organisations were $300,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 30% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 0% of grant dollars went to organisations BNY Mellon Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 5 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $550k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- WTC Performing Arts Center · General operating$900,0002024 tax year
- Milken Institute · General operating$800,0002024 tax year
- Research Foundation Of Cuny · General operating$550,0002024 tax year
- Kiva · General operating$300,0002024 tax year
- America 250 Foundation · General operating$166,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Shannon Hobbs — Chairman
- Erica Williams — Vice President, Assistant Treasurer, Acting Secretary
- Jayee Kpffey — Director
- J Kevin Mccarthy — Director
- Cynthia Danes — President
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $3,882,649 | $3,500,000 | $40,856,102 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $780,748 | $466,000 | $49,958,219 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,774,822 | $3,416,056 | $51,507,338 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to BNY Mellon Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (617) 722-7377
- Pittsburgh, PA
Applying to BNY Mellon Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (617) 722-7377
- Pittsburgh, PA