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
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
No grants recorded for .
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 ...Related Funders
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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