Rk Mellon Family Foundation
The RK Mellon Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, established in 1979. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a small dedicated staff and board of trustees focused on philanthropic grantmaking.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$37.2M
+4.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.7M
-2.5% YoY
Grant Count
211
-1.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$13K
-1.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rk Mellon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary grantmaking focuses on:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation primarily directs funding toward organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas.
Grantmaking
The foundation accepts applications throughout the year. The foundation does not consider requests on behalf of individuals and typically does not consider requests for certain categories of support.
Grant Range
$500 to $450,000
Average Grant
amount: $14,000
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia, which account for 62% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 36 states, with particular concentration in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $37,163,864 (as of 2024)
- Annual Income: $6.8 million
- Total Giving (2024): $2,692,500
- Asset Growth: Assets have grown from $30 million in 2011 to $37.2 million in 2024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $37,163,864 | $35,706,514 | $35,721,466 |
| Revenue | $4,759,128 | $3,438,969 | $1,205,287 |
| Expenses | $3,536,432 | $3,201,786 | $3,572,080 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $3,092,545 | $3,145,387 | $3,006,416 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,179,088 | $2,434,981 | $1,425,251 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,090,484 | $2,861,791 | $2,934,376 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Loyalhanna Association ($130,000), Skidmore College ($30,000), Passion Works ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MIDVALE FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT MIDVALE, ID | AMBULANCE REFIT | $15,000 |
| LIGONIER VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT LIGONIER, PA | BUILDING IMPROVEMENTS | $7,000 |
| LOYALHANNA ASSOCIATION LIGONIER, PA | OPERATIONS | $10,000 |
| LOYALHANNA ASSOCIATION LIGONIER, PA | OPERATIONS | $130,000 |
| LOYALHANNA ASSOCIATION LIGONIER, PA | BIENNIAL CAMPAIGN | $1,000 |
| 4 PAWS FOR ABILITY INC XENIA, OH | OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| PROJECT K9 HERO MERRIFIELD, VA | OPERATIONS | $3,000 |
| PROJECT K9 HERO MERRIFIELD, VA | OPERATIONS | $2,500 |
| PURDUE RESEARCH FOUNDATION WEST LAFAYETTE, IN | STUDY IMPACT OF SERVICE DOGS F | $25,000 |
| QUALITAS OF LIFE FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | OPERATIONS | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Board & Staff:
- Richard A Mellon — Trustee/Chairman/CEO
- Catharine Mellon Cathey — Trustee/President
- Douglas L Sisson — Trustee/VP/Treasurer
- Sam Reiman — Trustee/Director
- Edward J Morgan — Trustee/Assistant Treasurer
- Paul A Hannah — Trustee/Controller
- Brian J Hill — Secretary
- Alison M Byers PsyD — Trustee
- W Russell G Byers Jr — Trustee
- Bruce King Mellon Henderson — Trustee
- Constance Elizabeth Mellon Kapp — Trustee
- Armour N Mellon — Trustee
- Brook S Noel — Executive Assistant
The foundation employs 3 staff members and is governed by 13 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| RICHARD A MELLON | TRUSTEE/CHAIRMAN/CEO | 1 | — |
| CATHARINE MELLON CATHEY | TRUSTEE/PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SAM REIMAN | TRUSTEE/DIRECTOR | 2 | $45,358 |
| DOUGLAS L SISSON | TRUSTEE/VP/TREASURER | 2 | $71,161 |
| EDWARD J MORGAN | TRUSTEE/ASSISTANT TREASURER | 1 | — |
| PAUL A HANNAH | TRUSTEE/CONTROLLER | 2 | $42,372 |
| BRIAN J HILL | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| ALISON M BYERS PSYD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| W RUSSELL G BYERS JR | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BRUCE KING MELLON HENDERSON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CONSTANCE ELIZABETH MELLON KAPP | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| ARMOUR N MELLON | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has been active in supporting Pittsburgh's cultural and economic development initiatives:
Foundation Awards More Than $2.5 Million in Special Funding to Help Pittsburgh'sAwarded more than $2.5 million in special funding to help Pittsburgh's downtown performing-arts organizations address operational challenges
Foundation Awards More Than $2.5 Million in Special Funding to Help Pittsburgh'sInvested $2.6 million to help create broader access to new-economy jobs
Richard King Mellon Foundation Invests $2.6 Million to Help Create BroaderSupported doctoral student research projects, including funding for research conducted in Tanzania through Long Island University
R. K. Mellon Foundation Funds Doctoral Student Research ...Frequently Asked Questions
What does Rk Mellon Family Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary grantmaking focuses on: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation primarily directs funding toward organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Texas.
How do I apply for a grant from Rk Mellon Family Foundation?
**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical grant awards range from $500 to $130,000 • Median grant amount: $10,000 • Average grant amount: $14,000 • Historical grant range: $500 to $450,000 **Recent Activity:** • Total giving in 2024: $2,692,500 • 211 grants awarded in the most recent filing period • Historical grantmaking has ranged from $2.1 million (2020) to $7.5 million (2021, the highest year) • The foundation has made 1,047 grants totaling $15 million across its history • Has supported 272 uniq…
Where does Rk Mellon Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia, which account for 62% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 36 states, with particular concentration in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic regions.
What size grants does Rk Mellon Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Rk Mellon Family Foundation awarded 211 grants totaling $2.7M — an average of about $13K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rk Mellon Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rk Mellon Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rk Mellon Family Foundation's EIN?
Rk Mellon Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1356145. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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