Mellon Foundation: Economic Mobility Grant
Funding Amount
Not stated
Deadline
Deadline not published
Grant Type
Foundation
Deadline history & next window
- Cycle
- Rolling — applications accepted year-round
- Tracked since
- April 2026
From the program guidelines: “Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis.”
Can we apply?
Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.
Eligible organizations
- Nonprofit organizations and public-sector agencies.
- Economic Mobility and Health & Well-Being exclusively fund efforts that serve Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
Geography
- Based in Allegheny or Westmoreland counties
Other requirements
- In your application, you should be clear about why and in what ways the project will serve economic development in these counties.
- The Foundation provides general operating support for organizations that are not postsecondary institutions or research institution.
Not eligible / not funded
- Not eligible: On behalf of individuals
- Not eligible: From outside of the United States
- Not eligible: Lobbying
- Not eligible: Advocacy
- Not eligible: Political causes
- Not eligible: Events
- Not eligible: We comply with all laws and regulations, including prohibitions on funding terrorist activities.
Overview
The Richard King Mellon Foundation's Economic Mobility program is currently accepting grant applications through its General Application. While specific RFPs are no longer available, proposals that align with the Foundation's strategic goals for 2021-2030 are encouraged. The Foundation, established by visionary Richard King Mellon, has a history of supporting initiatives that enhance economic development and environmental stewardship in Southwestern Pennsylvania, with a commitment to awarding over $1.2 billion in the coming years.
Note: Our application portal is open and accepting grant applications for funding through its Economic Mobility program. All applicants should apply using the General Application. Applications may be submitted on a rolling basis.
Our founder
Richard King Mellon was a visionary. The Foundation’s 2021 year-end net assets were $3.4 billion, and its Trustees in 2021 disbursed $152 million in grants and program-related investments.
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We welcome bold proposals that align with our 2021-2030 Strategic Plan.
Our Strategic Plan is a roadmap to award more than $1.2 billion from 2021-2030. It is a plan to focus the Foundation’s resources on the most powerful pathways to greater opportunity and prosperity for the people of southwestern Pennsylvania. And to do even more to protect, steward, and activate environmentally sensitive land in southwestern Pennsylvania and across the United States.
Your applications are the lifeblood of our Strategic Plan.
Eligibility
Nonprofit organizations and public-sector agencies.We consider applications from organizations that are not based in Allegheny or Westmoreland counties. In your application, you should be clear about why and in what ways the project will serve economic development in these counties.The Foundation provides general operating support for organizations that are not postsecondary institutions or research institution. Economic Mobility and Health & Well-Being exclusively fund efforts that serve Allegheny and Westmoreland counties.
Ineligibility
The Foundation does not consider requests on behalf of individuals or from outside of the United States.The Foundation does not fund lobbying, advocacy, or political causes or events.
We comply with all laws and regulations, including prohibitions on funding terrorist activities.
Past recipients of this program
Recent awards under this program (from Richard King Mellon Foundation's IRS filings)
Consortium for Public Education
Mckeesport, PA · 2021
$26K
1 grant in Richard King Mellon Foundation's 2021 filings reference “Economic Mobility Grant” in their stated purpose. Amounts and places as reported by the funder.
What Richard King Mellon Foundation actually gave
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, 2024
- Grants in 2024
- 296
- Total given
- $116.67M
- Median grant
- $220K
- Range
- $2,000–$10M
- By dollars: Pennsylvania 79%, Montana 5%, Virginia 3%. Top recipient cities: Pittsburgh, PA; Greensburg, PA; Ligonier, PA.
- 18% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
- 31% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.
Example grants
University of Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, PA
Toward ten-year support of the university's construction and launch of a facility at…
$10M
Carnegie Mellon University · Pittsburgh, PA
Toward ten-year support of construction of a new building for sciences in oakland
$7.5M
American Prairie Foundation · Bozeman, MT
To acquire multiple properties to assemble a short grass prairie ecosystem reserve in…
$4.5M
Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Foundation · Pittsburgh, PA
To conduct research in infection biology and childhood asthma at upmc childrens…
$2.1M
Phoebe Foundation Inc · Albany, GA
Toward construction of a new medical tower to house a level ii trauma center, neonatal…
$2M
Focus Areas & Funding Uses
Fields of Work
- Community development
- Economic services
- Poverty alleviation
Categories
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Listed date — confirm with the funder
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