Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established on June 30, 1969, through the merger of the Old Dominion Foundation and the Avalon Foundation. Its primary mission is to enhance, promote, and defend the roles of the humanities and the arts in fostering human flourishing and contributing to the well-being of diverse and democratic societies. The Foundation manages a diverse investment portfolio, allocating its assets across various categories, including private equity, public equities, real assets, diversified strategies, and fixed income and cash. Through its initiatives and funding, the foundation aims to support cultural institutions, education, and scholarly research, thereby reinforcing the importance of the arts and humanities in contemporary society.

Kevin Graham

Director of Investment Operations

Scott Taylor

Chief Investment Officer

Laura Washington

Director of Communications

19 past transactions

A state school that is nationally respected for its top-ranking undergraduate and graduate academics, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) is a thriving educational and research institution that employs faculty members who are some of the top scholars in their field. One of UCLA's particularly reputable schools is the School of Medicine. Attracting students from all over the world, UCLA's medical school is located at one of the most respected hospitals in the country and employs medical professionals and faculty who are among the top in their field. At the UCLA film school, students study with some of the most revered filmmakers in the industry. The Film and Theatre department also has a history of graduating some of the most successful directors, filmmakers and actors in history. UCLA also offers the full range of academic programs in the liberal arts, sciences and humanities, and professional fields such as Education, Architecture, Engineering, Public Affairs and Law, another of UCLA's more exceptional programs. Continuing education courses, like most things at UCLA, offer the highest caliber courses and faculty, with many continuing education instructors being published writers and scholars in their field. Not surprisingly, the student life is vibrant. There are plenty of organizations and activities on campus, both within and beyond academic departments. In the Westwood area of Los Angeles, where UCLA is located, there are also loads of museums, theatres, trendy coffee shops and restaurants. Fellowships are available for certain qualifying graduate students, and undergraduates who qualify may get financial assistance through loans, grants and scholarships. A highly selective university, UCLA admissions to some programs and schools are more competitive than others, with requirements also differing for each one.

Library of Congress

Grant in 2021
Library of Congress is a school in Washington.

Rutgers University

Grant in 2020
Rutgers University, established in 1766, is the largest higher education institution in New Jersey and the eighth-oldest college in the United States. It operates as a non-profit organization and is the principal university within New Jersey's state university system. Rutgers offers a diverse array of academic programs, including over 100 undergraduate and master's degrees, as well as 80 doctoral and professional degree programs, spread across 175 academic departments and 29 degree-granting schools and colleges, of which 16 provide graduate study options. The university is recognized for its academic excellence, having been ranked 54th globally in a 2008 survey by the Institute of Higher Education at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In addition to its extensive educational offerings, Rutgers is also home to the Rutgers University School of Law, further enhancing its commitment to providing comprehensive legal education.

McNay Art Museum

Grant in 2020
The McNay Art Museum is a modern art museum in San Antonio that specializes in 19th- and 20th-century European and American art.
The Academy of American Poets is a nonprofit organization that promotes poets and the art of poetry.
The Community College of Baltimore County (CCBC) is ranked among the number one providers of undergraduate education, workforce development, technology training, and lifelong learning/life enrichment in the Baltimore Metropolitan area. Rooted in the community since 1957, CCBC offers a unique approach to learning that empowers people to transform their lives. Nationally recognized as a leader in innovative learning strategies, CCBC educates nearly 65,000 people each year, including more than half of all Baltimore County residents attending undergraduate college. Our division of Continuing Education and Economic Development is the preferred training partner for Maryland businesses, serving more than 100 employers annually with customized employee development training. Our price is right and our opportunities endless. We like to say, start here and then go anywhere! Our campuses are diverse, vibrant and alive with activity, and we invite you to become a part of the CCBC community.

Hampshire College

Grant in 2020
Full investment portfolio US Equity: 8.39% Non-US Equity: 27.85% Fixed Income: 7.45% Hedge Funds: 13.00% Real Assets: 8.12% Private Equity: 33.74% Private partnerships: 0.94% Pooled Life Income: 0.19% Cash and cash equivalence: 0.32% Founded in 1965, Hampshire College is a non-profit organisation based in the United States. The foundation is a residential, coeducational liberal arts college that offers a degree in the Bachelor of Arts.
University of Massachusetts Amherst is a public research and land-grant university that offers academic, master's, and doctoral programs. It is the flagship campus of the University of Massachusetts system. University of Massachusetts Amherst has an annual enrollment of approximately 1,300 faculty members and more than 30,000 students.

Amherst College

Grant in 2020
The Trustees of Amherst College manages the activities of Amherst College and Folger Shakespeare Memorial Library. Its managing Amherst College is a residential, full-time, private, and nonsectarian institution of higher education for young men and women; and Folger Shakespeare Memorial Library is a center for research in Shakespeare and the early modern period. The company was founded in 1821 and is based in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Yale University

Grant in 2020
Yale University, founded in 1701 and located in New Haven, Connecticut, is a prestigious institution of higher education that encompasses three primary academic divisions: Yale College, the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and ten professional schools. The university serves approximately 11,250 students and offers a diverse array of programs, centers, libraries, and museums. Yale's extensive academic offerings are supported by a robust administrative framework. The institution is also known for its significant investment portfolio, which includes various asset classes such as absolute return, domestic equity, foreign equity, and real estate, among others. Yale's enduring legacy and commitment to education have established it as a leading university in both research and teaching.

Mount Holyoke College

Grant in 2020
Full investment portfolio: Fixed Income: 9.35% Equity Securities: 41.06% Hedge Funds: 21.90% Private Equity: -Buyout: 7.11% -Venture capital: 8.54% -Other strategies: 2.69% -Real Assets: 6.48% Faculty Mortgages: 0.39% Other Assets: -Short-term Investments - 0.01% -Funds held in trust by others - 1.88% -Funds held by bond trustee - 0.19% -Interest rate swap - 0.38% Founded in 1837, Mount Holyoke College is a non-profit organisation based in the United States. The foundation is an educational institution that provides degree programs in social sciences, literature, languages, sciences, arts and many other streams.

Smith College

Grant in 2020
Full Investment Portfolio: Global Equities: 34% Private Equity: 31% Alternative Equity: 27% Fixed Income: 6% Cash & Miscellaneous: 2% Founded in 1871, Smith College is a liberal arts college committed to providing undergraduate education for women. The Smith College endowment's investments are administered by the Investment Committee of the Smith College Board of Trustees.

Georgetown University

Grant in 2019
Georgetown University, established in 1789, is a prominent non-profit educational institution located in Washington, D.C. It is recognized as the nation’s oldest Catholic and Jesuit university, offering a comprehensive educational experience that emphasizes the development of the whole person through exposure to diverse faiths, cultures, and beliefs. The university provides a range of undergraduate and graduate programs, particularly in fields such as media, law, and business administration. Georgetown is also home to a vibrant community of students, faculty, and alumni dedicated to applying research and scholarship to real-world challenges. Additionally, the university maintains an endowment fund with $383 million in assets, primarily focusing on venture capital within its alternative investment strategy. The institution's athletic teams, known as the Georgetown Hoyas, are particularly noted for their successful men's basketball program.
The International African American Museum (IAAM) is a museum of African-American history being planned in Charleston, South Carolina, on the site where Gadsden's Wharf, the disembarkation point of up to 40% of all American slaves, once stood. The design architect is Harry Cobb, of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, working in collaboration with Moody Nolan architectural firm of Columbus, Ohio; the landscape designer is Walter Hood, of Oakland, California.

Carleton College

Grant in 2019
Full Investment Portfolio Cash and Cash Equivalents: 14.24% Fixed Income: 5.87% Public Equities: 26.49% Private Equity: 14.31% Hedge Funds: 21.39% Real Estate and Other Real Assets: 12.01% Planned Gift Agreements and Other: 5.69% Founded in 1866, Carleton College Endowment is a non-profit organisation based in Minnesota, United States. The endowment provides funding to the University.

Pitzer College

Grant in 2018
Pitzer College is a nationally recognized liberal arts and sciences institution located in Claremont, California. Established in 1963, it is a member of The Claremont Colleges and offers a unique educational approach that integrates intellectual inquiry with interdisciplinary studies, cultural immersion, social responsibility, and community engagement. Pitzer College provides a diverse range of undergraduate and graduate programs across various disciplines, including arts, mathematics, history, chemistry, and economics. The college manages an endowment fund that serves as a reliable long-term financial resource, supporting scholarships, professorships, research, and academic initiatives. The endowment is prudently invested to ensure its sustainability and effectiveness in fostering educational excellence.
Northeastern University, established in 1898 and based in Boston, Massachusetts, is a non-profit institution that offers a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs across nine colleges and schools. The university emphasizes experiential learning, integrating rigorous academic coursework with practical experience through its Cooperative Education Program. This unique approach allows students, particularly in the legal field at the Northeastern University School of Law, to alternate between traditional studies and full-time work placements in legal settings, enhancing their skills and professional networks. Northeastern's mission is to equip students with the knowledge, ethical values, and practical skills needed to serve clients and the public effectively. The university also maintains graduate campuses in Charlotte, North Carolina, and Seattle, further expanding its educational reach.

Hypothes.is

Grant in 2016
Hypothes.is is a non-profit organization founded in 2011 and based in San Francisco, California. It offers an open-source platform designed for collaborative evaluation of information, allowing users to engage in sentence-level critique, discussion, and note-taking across a variety of content, including news articles, scientific papers, and legislation. The platform aims to enhance the quality of information available on the Internet by fostering community interaction and promoting interoperability through software development and adherence to annotation standards set by the W3C Web Annotation Working Group. Hypothes.is is funded by various foundations, including the Knight, Mellon, Shuttleworth, Sloan, and Helmsley Foundations, as well as individual contributions. By partnering with developers, publishers, academic institutions, and researchers, Hypothes.is seeks to advance the next generation of read-write web applications, encouraging participation through its tools and community initiatives.