Funding search · EIN 251127705 · Ligonier, PA

Richard King Mellon Foundation

Name: Richard King Mellon Foundation grants, 2021–2024
Creator: PaperOrbit
License: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/exempt-organization-public-disclosure-and-availability-requirements

A private foundation (files IRS Form 990-PF). Most private foundations do not take unsolicited applications; the route in is usually a program officer.

1,140
grants reported: $467.4M
total given: 2021–2024
filing years: $226,070
median grant

Based on grants this organization reported to the IRS for tax years 2021–2024. This is what they filed, not a complete record of their giving, and recent years may be incomplete because filings lag.

What they fund

develop pittsburgh community youth conservation pennsylvania students improve

Funder website ↗Full IRS filings ↗How this is built Report an error

Funding pattern

What this funder pays for, at what size, and how to position adjacent work. Read from their filings, with every number checked against the record.

Where the money goes

Pittsburgh university research and capital projects, especially Hazelwood Green
Land, habitat and watershed conservation in Appalachia and the West
Workforce training in advanced manufacturing, robotics and digital skills
Operating support for Pittsburgh arts, culture and youth organizations
Housing, human services and health access in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties
K-12 attendance, literacy and STEM pilots in southwestern Pennsylvania

Typical grant

The median is $226,070 and the middle half runs $100,000 to $312,546, so a request in the $250,000 to $500,000 range sits comfortably in their normal rhythm. The seven and eight figure checks go almost entirely to Pitt and Carnegie Mellon for buildings and institutes, often framed as ten-year commitments; the smaller ones go to operations, equipment and single pilots. With 1,140 grants to 533 recipients over four years, most grantees are funded more than once, and organizations like Carnegie Mellon, Allegheny College and African American Cultural Center appear multiple times in a single year.

Their words

Phrases from their own grant descriptions, worth speaking back to them.

“toward support of operations”
“toward ten-year support”
“Hazelwood Green”
“to improve water quality”
“the Mon Valley”
“habitat”

Positioning adjacent work

Tie research to Pittsburgh economic outcomes: jobs, manufacturing capacity, talent retention, not discovery for its own sake.
Ask $250,000 to $500,000 for a defined pilot; reserve multimillion asks for buildings with ten-year framing.
Conservation work travels outside PA if it covers watersheds, habitat connectivity or Appalachian communities.
Name the county. Allegheny and Westmoreland show up constantly; so do Ligonier and the Mon Valley.

Worth knowing: This is a southwestern Pennsylvania funder first: 933 of 1,140 grants went to PA recipients, and the out-of-state grants are either land conservation or national groups running a project inside the Pittsburgh region. Pitt and Carnegie Mellon absorb a large share of total dollars through repeated capital commitments, and the Ligonier area gets steady hometown giving for fire companies, schools and the borough itself.

0 grants matching “physical activity and exercise”

No grants to show here.

Top recipients

Repeat recipients are the strongest signal of whether a funder has an open door or quietly re-funds the same organizations.

Carnegie Mellon University26 grants · $72.2M
University of Pittsburgh29 grants · $51.3M
Carnegie Institute8 grants · $11.2M
Highmark Health4 grants · $10.5M
Steelers Charities1 grant · $10.0M
African American Cultural Center10 grants · $7.3M
Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources9 grants · $6.9M
American Prairie Foundation2 grants · $6.0M
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy22 grants · $5.7M
Valley School of Ligonier6 grants · $4.4M

Giving over time

$115.6M

2021

$98.5M

2022

$136.9M

2023

$116.4M

2024

Grant history

The 100 largest of 1,140 grants.

$16.5M
University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze an economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody… read allToward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze an economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody-based therapies to treat human diseases less
$10.0M
University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody-ba… read allToward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody-based therapies to treat human diseases less
$10.0M
Steelers Charities · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
To create a pittsburgh steelers community field at hazelwood green
$10.0M
University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze an economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody… read allToward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze an economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody-based therapies to treat human diseases less
$9.5M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward ten-year support to construct a robotics innovation center at hazelwood green to accelerate robotics discovery and entrepreneurship and to strengthen pittsburgh's economic future
$8.8M
University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze an economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody… read allToward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at hazelwood green to catalyze an economic development strategy focused on building facilities for manufacturing cell, gene, and antibody-based therapies to treat human diseases less
$8.5M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward four-year support to establish a permanent manufacturing futures institute at hazelwood green
$7.5M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward ten-year support of construction of a new building for sciences in oakland
$7.5M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward four-year support to establish a permanent manufacturing futures institute at hazelwood green
$7.0M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward four-year support to establish a permanent manufacturing futures institute at hazelwood green
$7.0M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward four-year support to establish a permanent manufacturing futures institute at hazelwood green
$5.5M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward ten-year support to construct a robotics innovation center at hazelwood green to accelerate robotics discovery and entreprenuership and to strengthen pittsburgh's economic future
$5.0M
Carnegie Institute · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward four-year support of the warhol project, a programmatic and physical expansion of the andy warhol museum dedicated to creative placemaking, career pathways to creative economy opportunity, and museum sustainabili… read allToward four-year support of the warhol project, a programmatic and physical expansion of the andy warhol museum dedicated to creative placemaking, career pathways to creative economy opportunity, and museum sustainability less
$5.0M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward ten-year support of construction of a new building for sciences in oakland
$5.0M
Highmark Health · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward support to improve health and wellbeing and lower the cost of care for individuals with behavioral health conditions
$5.0M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward ten-year support of construction of a new building for sciences in oakland
$5.0M
Highmark Health · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
To improve health and well-being and lower the cost of care for individuals with behavioral health conditions
$4.5M
American Prairie Foundation · Bozeman, MT · 2024
To acquire multiple properties to assemble a short grass prairie ecosystem reserve in northcentral montana
$4.0M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward ten-year support of construction of a new building for sciences in oakland
$3.1M
Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward purchase of property
$3.0M
Trwib · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
To pilot a model to grow the pittsburgh region's film industry talent pipeline
$3.0M
Pittsburgh Trust for Cultural Resources · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward the revitalization of downtown
$3.0M
Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, PA · 2022
Toward three-year support to protect wildlife populations, the environment, and human health through enhanced capacity for disease surveillance, research, education, outreach, and habitat stewardship
$2.9M
Ridc Southwestern Pennsylvania Growth Fund · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To redevelop the former alcoa industrial facility in new kensington for re: build manufacturing
$2.5M
Carnegie Institute · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward four-year support of the warhol project, a programmatic and physical expansion of the andy warhol museum dedicated to creative placemaking, career pathways to creative economy opportunity, and museum sustainabili… read allToward four-year support of the warhol project, a programmatic and physical expansion of the andy warhol museum dedicated to creative placemaking, career pathways to creative economy opportunity, and museum sustainability less
$2.5M
American Forest Foundation · Washington, DC · 2021
To incentivize landowners to adopt improved forest-management practices to sequester carbon that is verified and sold as credits in the carbon markets, thereby providing new funding streams to private forestland owners
$2.5M
Carnegie Institute · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward four-year support of the warhol project, a programmatic and physical expansion of the andy warhol museum dedicated to creative placemaking, career pathways to creative economy opportunity, and museum sustainabili… read allToward four-year support of the warhol project, a programmatic and physical expansion of the andy warhol museum dedicated to creative placemaking, career pathways to creative economy opportunity, and museum sustainability less
$2.5M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward ten-year support to construct a robotics innovation center at hazelwood green to accelerate robotics discovery and entrepreneurship and to strengthen pittsburgh's economic future
$2.1M
Children'S Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
To conduct research in infection biology and childhood asthma at upmc childrens hospital and retain outstanding scientists in pittsburgh
$2.0M
Phoebe Foundation · Albany, GA · 2024
Toward construction of a new medical tower to house a level ii trauma center, neonatal intensive care unit, and intensive care facility
$2.0M
The Citizen Science Lab · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
To expand operations with the creation of the state-of-the-art center for scientific excellence at the historic mlk reading and cultural center in the hill district
$2.0M
Pittsburgh Promise Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward two-year support of a coaching program to increase students' rates of promise-eligibility and post-secondary enrollment at carrick, milliones, perry, and westinghouse high schools
$2.0M
Saint Vincent College · Latrobe, PA · 2023
To launch a bachelor of science in nursing program
$2.0M
Allegheny County Airport Authority · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To develop landscaped terraces, reflecting the unique appalachian ecology and providing a greenspace for respite for pittsburgh international airport guests
$2.0M
Light of Life Rescue Mission · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward renovations to ridge place
$2.0M
Riverlife · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward three-year support to link the cultural district, pop district, and north side attractions through riverfront trails
$2.0M
Duquesne University of the Holy Ghost · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward support of a new college of osteopathic medicine
$1.6M
Ligonier Valley School District · Ligonier, PA · 2023
To update the ligonier baseball complex and wrestling room to advance health and well-being
$1.6M
African American Cultural Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward support of operations
$1.5M
The Conservation Fund · Arlington, VA · 2021
Non-cash transfer of oil and gas rights on the 61,633-acre maurepas swamp property in louisiana. A description of the contributed property: oil/gas rights. The book value of the contributed property: $1,540,825. The met… read allNon-cash transfer of oil and gas rights on the 61,633-acre maurepas swamp property in louisiana. A description of the contributed property: oil/gas rights. The book value of the contributed property: $1,540,825. The method used to determine the book value: appraisal. The method used to determine the fair market value: appraisal. The date of the gift: 11/3/2021. less
$1.5M
Conservation Fund a Nonprofit Corporation the · Arlington, VA · 2023
To develop and implement regional strategies for investing in rural futures by activating the natural resource economy around working forests and conserved landscapes
$1.5M
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation · Washington, DC · 2023
To restore aquatic and forest habitat in appalachia with a focus in western pennsylvania, virginia, and west virginia
$1.5M
Braddock Carnegie Library Association · Braddock, PA · 2021
Toward support of a $15m capital campaign to renovate and restore the braddock carnegie library
$1.5M
American Prairie Foundation · Bozeman, MT · 2023
To acquire multiple properties to assemble a 3.2-million-acre short grass prairie ecosystem reserve in north-central montana
$1.5M
Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
To advance infant mortality interventions in high-risk communities
$1.4M
African American Cultural Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward support of operations
$1.4M
African American Cultural Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward support of operations
$1.4M
African American Cultural Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward support of operations
$1.3M
Three Rivers Communities · McKees Rocks, PA · 2024
To build affordable housing
$1.3M
Allegheny College · Meadville, PA · 2021
Toward three-year support to establish the center for watershed conservation, working with community partners to conserve and promote the ecological integrity of the french creek and upper allegheny watersheds
$1.3M
Franklin & Marshall College · Lancaster, PA · 2021
For region-wide mapping, research, and outreach tools to improve stream habitat and water quality, to reduce flooding, and enhance restoration activities in local streams and the chesapeake bay
$1.2M
University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward launch of a non-profit affiliate membership organization to develop and direct the region's life science strategy
$1.1M
Businesses United in Investing Lending and Development · Redwood City, CA · 2021
Toward five-year support to create an entrepreneurship education ecosystem in allegheny and westmoreland counties to strengthen the entrepreneurial, 21st-century, and career-readiness skills of students living in lower-… read allToward five-year support to create an entrepreneurship education ecosystem in allegheny and westmoreland counties to strengthen the entrepreneurial, 21st-century, and career-readiness skills of students living in lower-income communities less
$1.1M
Open Space Institute Land Trust · New York, NY · 2021
To support exemplary land transactions to accelerate conservation that facilitates wildlife adaptation to climate change in priority landscapes of the foundation
$1.0M
Rodale Institute · Kutztown, PA · 2024
To advance regenerative organic agriculture research
$1.0M
Allegheny College · Meadville, PA · 2024
To launch start-up and redevelopment activities of the meadville community revitalization corporation
$1.0M
County of Allegheny Department of Human Services · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward support of programs and services designed to help people move to more permanent housing
$1.0M
Homewood Children'S Village · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward support of operations
$1.0M
Max McGraw Wildlife Foundation · Dundee, IL · 2024
To support the production of an imax film and educational outreach to instill conservation values among children and adults with emphasis on the louisiana coastline, marshes, water, and birds
$1.0M
Mutual Aid Ambulance Service · Greensburg, PA · 2024
Toward the purchase of ambulances to enhance quality of care
$1.0M
Pittsburgh Glass Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
Toward support of operations and to expand apprentice housing
$1.0M
Valley School of Ligonier · Rector, PA · 2024
To provide financial aid, employ expert faculty, and maintain the schools buildings and grounds
$1.0M
Advanced Leadership Institute Inc the · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward support of operations
$1.0M
Appalachian Mountain Club · Boston, MA · 2023
To restore public access to and activate the barnard tract for broader public use in maine's 100-mile wilderness region
$1.0M
Appalachian Mountain Club · Boston, MA · 2023
To acquire, protect, manage, and restore public access to the barnard tract, an ecologically significant 28,800-acre land parcel in maines 100-mile wilderness region
$1.0M
Community Foundation of Greater Johnstown · Johnstown, PA · 2023
To support the economic revitalization of downtown johnstown through a partnership with university of pittsburgh at johnstown
$1.0M
Primary Care Health Services · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
To build the new wilford a. Payne facility to expand patient services addressing social determinants of health
$1.0M
University of Idaho Foundation · Moscow, ID · 2023
To establish an endowed professorship in honor of dr. Maurice hornocker to lead a center for wildlife conservation science
$1.0M
Valley School of Ligonier · Rector, PA · 2023
To provide financial aid, employ expert faculty, and maintain the school's buildings and grounds
$1.0M
Conservation Fund the · Arlington, VA · 2022
Toward permanent conservation of property on iliamna lake to support salmon habitat protection, landscape connectivity, commercial and sporting fishing, and alaska natives
$1.0M
Hill Community Development Corporation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward development of the new granada square project
$1.0M
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation · Washington, DC · 2022
To restore habitat in appalachia and facilitate information sharing and networking
$1.0M
Pittsburgh Promise Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To acquire and deliver 10,000 backpacks to students in pittsburgh public schools, and related charters
$1.0M
Tree of Life Congregation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
Toward two-year support to rebuild the tree of life synagogue
$1.0M
Valley School of Ligonier · Rector, PA · 2022
To increase financial aid available to families in need and complete essential facility and equipment updates
$1.0M
Tall Timbers Research · Tallahassee, FL · 2021
To fund the albany quail project director position
$1.0M
Valley School of Ligonier · Rector, PA · 2021
Toward marketing, financial aid, and facilities upgrades as part of the 75th anniversary capital campaign
$977,000
Community Foundation of Greater Johnstown · Johnstown, PA · 2024
To support the economic revitalization of downtown johnstown
$950,000
Pittsburgh Glass Center · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To expand facilities and provide general operating support
$937,500
Franklin & Marshall College · Lancaster, PA · 2024
To improve water quality and ecosystem health in the chesapeake bay watershed
$934,877
Allegheny College · Meadville, PA · 2024
To engage in strategic conservation initiatives to conserve and sustain the land, water and cultural resources of the upper allegheny river basin
$800,000
Homewood Children'S Village · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
Toward support of operations and to provide direct services for children, youth, and families; convene strategic partners; and engage in research, analysis, and innovation
$800,000
Ligonier Valley Young Men'S Christian Association of Pa · Ligonier, PA · 2023
Toward two-year support of renovations to update systems, increase facility access, and increase security to the child care center
$800,000
Western Pennsylvania Conservancy · Pittsburgh, PA · 2023
To permanently protect property in westmoreland county to enhance the habitat and scenic views of the ligonier valley, with an emphasis on conservation easements
$800,000
Homewood Children'S Village · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To provide direct services for children, youth and families; convene strategic partners; and engage in research, analysis, and innovation
$800,000
Allegheny County Parks Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
Toward two-year support to survey park users to understand demographics, park uses, and barriers to plan improvements and to develop and implement a strategy to activate the hartwood sculpture garden and complete constr… read allToward two-year support to survey park users to understand demographics, park uses, and barriers to plan improvements and to develop and implement a strategy to activate the hartwood sculpture garden and complete construction less
$800,000
Homewood Children'S Village · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
To provide direct services to 750 youth; convene strategic partners; coordinate activity towards systems-level change; and engage in research, analysis, and innovation
$775,000
Communities in Schools of Pittsburgh-Allegheny County · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To implement district-wide attendance programming
$775,000
Magee-Womens Research Institute and Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA · 2022
To advance doula services as a method to reduce infant mortality in allegheny county
$758,450
Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania · California, PA · 2021
Toward 18-month support to develop plans, acquire permits, and initiate on-the-ground implementation to protect habitats to restore populations of species of concern identified in the foundations conservation business p… read allToward 18-month support to develop plans, acquire permits, and initiate on-the-ground implementation to protect habitats to restore populations of species of concern identified in the foundations conservation business plan less
$758,450
Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds · Alexandria, PA · 2021
To support alignment with rkmf's strategic plan for projects within the designated landscapes
$750,000
Foundation for California University of Pennsylvania · California, PA · 2024
To protect habitats, restore populations of species of concern and improve water quality
$750,000
Foundation for Pennsylvania Watersheds · Alexandria, PA · 2024
To accelerate watershed restoration and remediate the impacts of abandoned mine lands
$750,000
The Chuck Noll Foundation for Brain Injury Research · Pittsburgh, PA · 2024
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 · 2024
Toward support of operations for the digital foundry
$750,000
Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington the · New Kensington, PA · 2023
Toward support of operations at the digital foundry
$750,000
Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington the · New Kensington, PA · 2022
Toward operational costs for the digital foundry
$750,000
Pennsylvania State University - New Kensington the · New Kensington, PA · 2022
Toward support of the digital foundry
$750,000
Pittsburgh Bike Share · Pittsburgh, PA · 2021
To relaunch the healthy ride bikeshare system with a new mix of electric-assist and pedal bicycles to improve mobility options in pittsburgh
$745,200
Wonderseed Foundation · Los Angeles, CA · 2024
To partner with freedom house 2.0 to develop four ai coaching scenarios for practicing conflict resolution and job interviewing skills within virtual reality for the workplace

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Source: IRS Form 990-PF, Part XV, as filed by the foundation. These are grants already paid — a record of what this funder backs, not an open call.