Grant Programs

Business Profile

Core Value Proposition

[Grant Programs] Grantmaking provides grants to nonprofit organizations aligned with The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation's grantmaking areas (Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, Public Knowledge) and Presidential Initiatives to advance the arts, humanities, and knowledge accessibility.

Target Customer

Nonprofit organizations and institutional partners in arts and culture, higher education, libraries/archives, humanities, public knowledge initiatives, and Indigenous/cultural heritage projects.

Key Differentiator

Strategic, area-based grantmaking across five core areas plus Presidential Initiatives, with emphasis on expanding public knowledge, ethical archiving, and support for underserved communities; public-facing grant stories and a structured grants database/process.

Implementation Timeline

Grant activity and project milestones include: a grant of $650,000 to Big Bend Conservation Alliance in July 2023; completion/opening of the protected site in March 2024; land transfer in 2021 preceding the project; ongoing public programming and interpretation as part of the work.

Pain Points

1Need for funds to support arts, humanities, education, and knowledge-access initiatives
2Need to expand equitable access to cultural records and knowledge
3Need support for community-led, Indigenous-led, and culturally significant projects (including preservation, repatriation, and heritage protection)

Key Features

1Core grantmaking areas: Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, Public Knowledge, plus Presidential Initiatives
2Partnership model with nonprofit organizations whose work aligns with current strategies
3Public grant stories and case studies illustrating impact
4Newsletter/subscription for updates on supported work
5Grants database and ongoing news/events coverage

Target Customer Industries

Decision Makers

1Project leader
2Project architect
3Director
4Board member
5Program Officer
6Associate Professor

Client Results

1Grants enabling cultural preservation and community-led initiatives (example: Big Bend Conservation Alliance grant and project in Texas)
2Land transfer and protection of a sacred site (Cementerio Del Barrio de los Lipanes) to Lipan Apache Tribe of Texas
3Opening of a protected site for public education and ongoing Indigenous programming
4Repatriation of remains as part of the project and broader programming

Competitive Advantages

1Strategic alignment with clearly defined grantmaking areas and Presidential Initiatives
2Support for culturally significant, Indigenous-led, and community-driven projects
3Public-facing storytelling via grant stories and news updates to demonstrate impact
4In-house expertise and collaboration with mission-aligned organizations (e.g., MASS Design Group) for design and implementation

Key Benefits

1Strategic funding aligned with clearly defined grantmaking areas

2Support for large-scale, community-led cultural and knowledge projects

3Opportunities for public programming, repatriation, and heritage preservation

4Visibility through grant stories and news coverage to demonstrate impact

Case Studies & Success Stories

In Far West Texas, a Sacred Burial Site is Reclaimed Through Partnership and Perseverance

Case #1

Big Bend Conservation Alliance received a $650,000 Mellon Foundation grant in July 2023 to complete the protection project for a Lipan Apache sacred cemetery. The project led to the formal land transfer to the Lipan Apache Tribe, the establishment of a protected cemetery (Cementerio Del Barrio de los Lipanes), public programming, interpretation, and repatriation of remains. The site opened to the public in March 2024, with ongoing cultural programming and stewardship.

Additional Product Information

Product Description

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Grant Programs deliver strategic funding to nonprofit organizations working in arts and culture, higher education, humanities, and public knowledge, including Presidential Initiatives to advance justice for underserved communities.

Target Market

Nonprofit organizations and institutions in arts and culture, higher education, libraries/archives, humanities, public knowledge projects, and Indigenous/cultural heritage initiatives.

Unique Value Proposition

The Mellon Foundation uniquely combines area-focused grantmaking with Presidential Initiatives to drive justice and access in arts, humanities, and knowledge, backed by documented case studies and ongoing public-facing reporting.

Technical Requirements

N/A

Pricing Model

Grants (funding awards) rather than a commercial pricing model

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