Mellon Foundation Fellowships and Grants
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation provides grants and fellowships to support communities through the power of the arts, humanities, higher learning, public knowledge, and humanities in place.
Quick Facts
Status
Funding
Full / PartialDeadline
Varies - confirm on official site
Country
United StatesAbout the Mellon Foundation Fellowships and Grants
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation makes grants to support communities through the power of the arts and humanities. The foundation operates through core grantmaking areas including Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, and Public Knowledge, alongside signature Presidential Initiatives.
Since 1969, the foundation has awarded more than 20,000 grants, investing in grantees whose work fosters critical thinking, curiosity, and appreciation of shared culture and history. In 2024 alone, the foundation awarded $555 million across 699 grantees.
The foundation actively works with grantee partners and is deeply immersed in the fields in which it invests. Most grants are made to organizations in the United States determined by the IRS to be section 501(c)(3) public charities, as well as equivalent organizations outside the United States.
Staff members seek out and get to know innovative organizations, scholars, and creators before inviting them to submit a proposal for funding. While most grants are made through these targeted invitations, the foundation occasionally issues open calls for proposals, such as rolling applications for the Humanities in Place program area.
Eligible Levels
Eligible Fields
Why Choose This Scholarship?
One of the largest funders of the arts and humanities globally
Substantial financial support for individual artists, scholars, and cultural institutions
Focus on preserving shared history, civil liberties, and social justice
Long-standing history of grantmaking since 1969 with over 20,000 grants awarded
What the Scholarship Covers
Studying in United States
Grants are primarily directed to US-based 501(c)(3) organizations or international equivalents.
Eligibility Requirements
5 requirements
Documents Checklist
3 documents required
How to Apply - Step by Step
Foundation staff actively seek out and evaluate innovative organizations, scholars, and creators
Staff invite selected candidates or organizations to submit a formal proposal
Applicants submit proposals through the foundation guidelines or designated portals
Proposals are reviewed against core grantmaking strategies and charitable purposes
Grants or fellowships are awarded upon formal approval
Application Timeline
Varies
Call for Proposals / Identification
Rolling applications accepted for specific areas like Humanities in Place
Varies
Review and Invitation
Staff review and direct invitation of eligible organizations
Insider Tips & Pro Tips
Sign up for the foundation newsletter to stay informed about occasional open calls for proposals
Engage with foundation priorities in Arts and Culture, Higher Learning, Humanities in Place, and Public Knowledge
Build networks within designated partner institutions and nonprofit networks
Review past grant recipients in the public database to understand alignment with foundation strategies
Ensure all proposed activities strictly align with charitable and educational purposes
Important Links & Contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questions - click any to expand
The foundation funds arts, culture, higher learning, humanities in place, public knowledge, and Presidential Initiatives that support communities through arts and humanities.
Most grants are made to organizations, and staff actively seek out and invite innovative organizations, scholars, and creators before proposal submission.
Organizations in the United States determined by the IRS to be section 501(c)(3) public charities, as well as equivalent organizations outside the United States, are eligible.
No, the foundation does not fund tuition, K-12 education and programming, fundraising events, or provide direct unrestricted funding for individuals outside specific fellowship cohorts.
Check the Official Website
This scholarship typically opens around Varies. Confirm the current cycle and deadline on the official portal.
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