Private foundation · New York, NY (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
Takes applications. See how to apply below.
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 6 totaling $3.8 million
- Typical grant
- $500,000 to $950,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask
- About $550,000, its middle Tennessee grant. First-time winners usually get less than repeat ones.
- Where it gives
- Shelby County, Davidson County · plus 842 grants outside Tennessee
- Buildings & equipment
- None of its Tennessee grants in this filing were for buildings or equipment
- Funds new groups?
- 67% of the Tennessee groups it funded in 2024 were new (not funded in 2023): 4 of 6.
- Total giving that year
- $555 million
Giving by year
| Tax year | Total grants paid | To Tennessee | Tennessee grants |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $555M | $3.8M | 6 |
| 2023 | $524.7M | $3.8M | 5 |
How to apply
- Contact
- The andrew w mellon foundation · new york · 2128388400 · https://mellon.fluxx.io/
- What to send
- See statement 26
- Deadlines
- See statement 27
- Limits
- Activities supported by foundation grants must be charitable, educational or scientific under the provisions of the u.s. Internal revenue code and the treasury regulations.
As the foundation reported to the IRS for tax year 2024. Check its website or call before sending anything, because contacts and deadlines change.
Board and officers
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Checked in your browser only. The names are kept on this device for other foundation pages and are never sent to GrantMe.
- Elizabeth AlexanderPresident
- Scott TaylorChief investment officer
- Sheree Carter-GalvanChief legal officer
- Julie EhrlichEvp & coo
- Carter StewartEvp, programs & research
- Sepideh SepasiCfo & treasurer
- Kathryn HallTrustee, board chair
- Paul FarberTrustee (beg 03/2024)
- Joshua S FriedmanTrustee (end 03/2024)
- Heather GerkenTrustee
- Melissa GilliamTrustee
- Thelma GoldenTrustee
- Kelly Ann GranatTrustee
- Jonathan HollowayTrustee
- Sherrilyn IfillTrustee
- Maryana IskanderTrustee (beg 03/2024)
- Gaurav KapadiaTrustee
As listed in its 2024 IRS filing. Many foundations decide through their board, so a personal connection often matters more than a perfect application.
What it funds most often
- To support capacity building and general operations
- To support conservation, digitization, research, engagement, and planning related to the hooks brothers...
- To support the Tennessee arts & humanities initiative
- To support organizational development, capacity building, and planning and design work for the adaptive...
- To support capacity building and producing partnerships for artists
- To support capacity and programming at the engine for art, democracy, and justice
Tennessee organizations it funded
Largest first. Past winners are good people to ask what the foundation looks for. Select a group to see who else funds it.
| Past winner | Where | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tennessee Higher Education Initiative Inc. | Nashville, Davidson County | To support the Tennessee arts & humanities initiative | $1M |
| Collage Dance Collective Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | To support capacity building and general operations | $950K |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | To support capacity and programming at the engine for art, democracy, and justice | $600K |
| Memphis Brooks Museum of Art Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | To support conservation, digitization, research, engagement, and planning... | $500K |
| The Collective the Cltv Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | To support organizational development, capacity building, and planning and... | $500K |
| Unmanageable | Nashville, Davidson County | To support capacity building and producing partnerships for artists | $250K |
Grants approved for future years
In its tax-year 2024 IRS Form 990-PF the foundation listed grants it had approved but not yet paid: 3 to Tennessee groups totaling $5.9 million. These are multi-year commitments, so they show what it has promised to keep funding. Some may have been paid since.
| Recipient | Where | Purpose | Amount | Tax year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The University of Memphis | Memphis, Shelby County | To support internships for humanities majors | $5M | 2024 |
| Fisk University | Nashville, Davidson County | To continue support for fisk university galleries | $500K | 2024 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | To support capacity and programming at the engine for art, democracy, and justice | $400K | 2024 |
Data: GivingTuesday Data Commons, ODbL
Foundation website All its IRS filings (ProPublica) Sign in to save