Private foundation · New York, NY (gives in Tennessee from out of state)
The Andrew W Mellon Foundation
In 2024 it gave 6 grants worth $3.8 million to Tennessee groups, 3 of them in Davidson County. A typical grant was $500,000 to $950,000.
Takes applications. See how to apply below.
Key facts
- Grants in Tennessee
- 6 totaling $3.8 million · 3 in Davidson County
- Typical grant How we figure this
- $500,000 to $950,000 (the middle half of its Tennessee grants)
- A realistic first ask How we figure this
- About $600,000: the middle grant to the 4 Tennessee groups it funded for the first time in 2024.
- 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? How we figure this
- 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 |
All grants paid To Tennessee
How to apply
- Contact
- The Andrew W Mellon Foundation · New york · (212) 838-8400 · 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 (1 grant)
- To support conservation, digitization, research, engagement, and planning related to the hooks brothers... (1 grant)
- To support the Tennessee arts & humanities initiative (1 grant)
- To support organizational development, capacity building, and planning and design work for the adaptive... (1 grant)
- To support capacity building and producing partnerships for artists (1 grant)
- To support capacity and programming at the engine for art, democracy, and justice (1 grant)
How big its Tennessee grants are
| Grant size | Grants |
|---|---|
| Under $1,000 | 0 |
| $1,000 to $4,999 | 0 |
| $5,000 to $9,999 | 0 |
| $10,000 to $24,999 | 0 |
| $25,000 to $99,999 | 0 |
| $100,000 or more | 6 |
From its 2024 IRS filing. Small groups: look at how many grants sit in the bands you'd ask for.
Tennessee organizations it funded
Davidson County grants are listed first, then the largest. 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 |
| Vanderbilt University | Nashville, Davidson County | To support capacity and programming at the engine for art, democracy, and justice | $600K |
| Unmanageable | Nashville, Davidson County | To support capacity building and producing partnerships for artists | $250K |
| Collage Dance Collective Inc. | Memphis, Shelby County | To support capacity building and general operations | $950K |
| 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 |
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