Three-quarters of a century of philanthropy
2022: The Foundation’s 75th Anniversary year
2022 marked the 75th Anniversary of the Richard King Mellon Foundation. Since its founding in 1947, the Foundation so far has awarded more than 8,000 grants and more than $3 billion in funding, significantly advancing the prosperity of Southwestern Pennsylvania, and the conservation of environmentally precious lands and habitats across the United States.
The Foundation advanced its work significantly in 2022, awarding more than 300 grants and program-related investments and disbursing more than $150 million in funding. The 2022 Annual Report details that work and highlights 15 of the visionaries whose work the Foundation supported in 2022.
Read the missive from Foundation Chairman Richard A. Mellon, reflecting on 75 years of philanthropy and summarizing the Foundation’s work in 2022.
Meet Some of our Visionaries
Conservation
The Foundation awarded 102 Conservation grants and PRIs in 2022, totaling more than $56 million. Read about some of the Foundation’s visionary conservation partners, including a story on Larry Selzer of The Conservation Fund.
Economic Development
The Foundation awarded 55 Economic Development grants and PRIs in 2022, totaling more than $38 million. Read about some of the Foundation’s visionary economic-development partners, including a story on Carole Zawatsky, the Chief Executive Officer of Tree of Life.
Economic Mobility
The Foundation awarded 79 Economic Mobility grants in 2022, totaling nearly $21 million. Read about some of the Foundation’s visionary economic-mobility partners, including a story on Walter Lewis, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Homewood Children’s Village.
Health & Well-Being
The Foundation awarded 34 Health and Well-Being grants in 2022, totaling more than $14 million. Read about some of the Foundation’s visionary economic-mobility partners, including a story on Jerrel Gilliam, Executive Director of Light of Life Rescue Mission.
Organizational Effectiveness
The Foundation awarded 18 Organizational Effectiveness grants in 2022, totaling more than $2.2 million. Read the story of one of the Foundation’s Organizational Effectiveness funding recipients, the Rev. Brenda Gregg of Destiny of Faith Church on the North Side.
Social-Impact Investment
The Foundation invested nearly $5 million in 15 for-profit companies with a social mission in 2022. Read about some of the Foundations visionary social-impact partners, including Resilient Lifescience, and the other winners of the Foundation’s 2022 Social-Impact Investment Pitch Competition.