Presidential Initiatives
The Mellon Foundation’s Presidential Initiatives fund major arts and humanities projects that elevate diverse voices, foster creative expression, and address pressing social and cultural issues.
Funder: The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Open call / full application deadline for Presidential Initiatives, projected)
Funding Amounts: No set maximum; recent initiatives have ranged from multi-year $50M–$500M commitments. Typical awards support significant projects in arts and humanities.
Summary: Supports creative, cultural, and knowledge projects in the arts and humanities that elevate diverse voices, foster expression, and have broad community impact.
Key Information: Most proposals are accepted by invitation; occasional open calls—check program page for updates.
Description
The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation’s Presidential Initiatives fund visionary projects that advance creativity, culture, and knowledge production and dissemination within the arts and humanities. The program is designed to elevate multivocal perspectives, foster creative expression, and nurture human potential by partnering with organizations, governments, and community-based groups. Signature initiatives include:
- Imagining Freedom: Supports artistic, cultural, and humanistic work centered on the voices and knowledge of those impacted by the US criminal legal system.
- Puerto Rico Initiative: Strengthens Puerto Rico’s artistic, cultural, and memory ecosystems, supporting infrastructure and opportunities for local and diasporic communities.
- The Monuments Project: Expands and diversifies the nation’s commemorative landscape, funding public projects that reflect the complexity and breadth of American stories.
Projects funded under these initiatives typically address pressing social and cultural issues, seek to broaden participation in the arts and humanities, and contribute to a more just and inclusive society.
