Andrew W Mellon Foundation
Andrew W Mellon Foundation maintains substantial assets but shows recent years of expenses exceeding revenue.
EIN: 131879954 · New York, NY · NTEE: B82 · Updated: 2026-03-28
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Revenue | $2.2B |
| Total Expenses | $654.0M |
| Program Spending | 90% |
| Net Assets | $7.3B |
| Transparency Score | 85/100 |
Is Andrew W Mellon Foundation Legit?
Some Concerns
Assessment based on IRS 990 filings, spending patterns, and AI analysis. Not a guarantee of legitimacy. Full charity check →
Andrew W Mellon Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs. This exceeds the industry benchmark of 65%, indicating strong mission focus.
About Andrew W Mellon Foundation
Andrew W Mellon Foundation (EIN: 131879954) is a nonprofit organization based in New York, NY, classified under NTEE code B82. The organization reported total revenue of $2.2B and total assets of $7.8B according to its most recent IRS 990 filing. This transparency report provides an AI-powered analysis of Andrew W Mellon Foundation's financial health, spending patterns, executive compensation, and overall mission effectiveness based on publicly available IRS data.
Organization Overview
Andrew W Mellon Foundation is a major nonprofit that has been operating for 70 years, with 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record (2011–2023). Revenue has grown at a compound annual rate of 2.3%.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
| Total Revenue | $450.4M |
| Total Expenses | $654.0M |
| Surplus / Deficit | $-203,612,544 |
| Total Assets | $8.0B |
| Total Liabilities | $719.8M |
| Net Assets | $7.3B |
| Operating Margin | -45.2% |
| Debt-to-Asset Ratio | 9.0% |
| Months of Reserves | 147.3 months |
Financial Health Grade: B
In 2023, Andrew W Mellon Foundation reported a deficit of $203.6M with expenses exceeding revenue, holds 147.3 months of operating reserves (strong position), has a debt-to-asset ratio of 9.0% (very low leverage).
Financial Trends
Over 10 years of filings (2011–2023), Andrew W Mellon Foundation's revenue has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 2.3%.
| Year | Revenue Change | Expense Change | Asset Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | +40.5% | -5.0% | -2.0% |
| 2022 | -72.0% | +23.4% | -14.2% |
| 2021 | +126.7% | +5.7% | +16.2% |
| 2020 | +13.2% | +40.4% | +17.5% |
| 2019 | +17.5% | +13.5% | +13.2% |
IRS Tax-Exempt Classification
| IRS Classification Codes | 1000 |
| IRS Ruling Date | 1956 |
Classification data from ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. Additional BMF data may be available after enrichment.
AI Transparency Report
Mission Effectiveness Score
NonprofitSpending's AI analysis rates Andrew W Mellon Foundation with a Mission Score of 85 out of 100 (Excellent). This score reflects the organization's overall financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance indicators derived from IRS 990 public filings.
Spending Breakdown
- admin: 8%
- programs: 90%
- fundraising: 2%
According to IRS 990 filings, Andrew W Mellon Foundation allocates its expenses as follows: admin: 8%, programs: 90%, fundraising: 2%. With 90% directed toward programs, this reflects a strong commitment to its charitable mission.
Key Financial Metrics (2023)
From the most recent IRS 990 filing on record:
- The organization reported a deficit of $203.6M, with expenses exceeding revenue.
- Debt-to-asset ratio: 9.0%.
Executive Compensation Analysis
The IRS 990 filings consistently report 0% officer compensation, which is unusual for an organization of this size and suggests that executive compensation may be reported in a different section of the 990 or is structured in a way that doesn't appear in this specific data point.
Executive compensation data is sourced from IRS 990 filings, which require nonprofits to disclose the compensation of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees. NonprofitSpending analyzes this data relative to the organization's total revenue and sector benchmarks to assess whether executive pay is reasonable.
Red Flags
The following concerns were identified during AI analysis of Andrew W Mellon Foundation's IRS 990 filings:
- Expenses exceeding revenue in recent fiscal years (2022: $688.7M expenses vs $320.7M revenue; 2023: $654.0M expenses vs $450.4M revenue).
- Consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation, which may obscure actual executive remuneration.
Strengths
The following positive indicators were identified for Andrew W Mellon Foundation:
- Substantial and growing asset base, reaching over $8 billion in 2023, indicating strong financial stability.
- Long-term history of significant grant-making and programmatic activity, aligning with its mission.
- Consistent financial reporting over a decade, demonstrating transparency in filing.
Frequently Asked Questions about Andrew W Mellon Foundation
Is Andrew W Mellon Foundation a legitimate charity?
Based on AI analysis of IRS 990 filings, Andrew W Mellon Foundation (EIN: 131879954) some concerns. Mission Score: 85/100. 2 red flags identified, 3 strengths noted.
How does Andrew W Mellon Foundation spend its money?
Andrew W Mellon Foundation directs 90% of its spending to programs and services. The remaining budget covers administration and fundraising costs.
Are donations to Andrew W Mellon Foundation tax-deductible?
Andrew W Mellon Foundation is registered as a tax-exempt nonprofit (EIN: 131879954). Donations to most 501(c)(3) organizations are tax-deductible. Consult a tax professional for your specific situation.
What percentage of Andrew W Mellon Foundation's spending goes to programs?
Andrew W Mellon Foundation directs 90% to programs, 2% to fundraising. This exceeds the 65% industry benchmark for efficient nonprofits.
How does Andrew W Mellon Foundation compare to similar nonprofits?
With a transparency score of 85/100 (Excellent), Andrew W Mellon Foundation is above average for NTEE category B82 nonprofits. The score reflects financial transparency, program spending efficiency, and governance quality based on IRS 990 data.
Where is Andrew W Mellon Foundation located?
Andrew W Mellon Foundation is headquartered in New York, New York and files with the IRS under EIN 131879954. It is classified under NTEE code B82.
How many years of IRS 990 filings does Andrew W Mellon Foundation have?
Andrew W Mellon Foundation has 10 years of IRS 990 filings on record at NonprofitSpending. This extensive filing history provides a strong basis for evaluating long-term financial trends. The most recent filing shows $2.2B in total revenue.
What is the detailed breakdown of program, administrative, and fundraising expenses for the most recent fiscal years?
The provided data does not offer a detailed breakdown of these categories, only total expenses. Further analysis of the full IRS 990 forms would be required.
Why have expenses exceeded revenue in the 2022 and 2023 fiscal periods?
For 2022, expenses were $688.7 million against $320.7 million in revenue. For 2023, expenses were $654.0 million against $450.4 million in revenue. This could be due to strategic grantmaking, market fluctuations affecting investment income, or a planned draw from the endowment. A deeper dive into the financial statements would clarify the reasons.
How is executive compensation structured and reported, given the 0% officer compensation reported?
The consistent reporting of 0% officer compensation across all filings suggests that executive compensation is either not reported in this specific field, is covered under other expense categories, or is handled through a separate entity. This requires further investigation of the full 990 forms.
Filing History
IRS 990 filing history for Andrew W Mellon Foundation showing financial trends over 10 years of public records:
Over 10 years of IRS 990 filings (2011–2023), Andrew W Mellon Foundation's revenue has grown by 31.1%, moving from $343.5M to $450.4M. Total assets increased by 52.5% over the same period, from $5.3B to $8.0B. Total functional expenses rose by 122.1%, from $294.5M to $654.0M. In its most recent filing year (2023), Andrew W Mellon Foundation reported a deficit of $203.6M, with expenses exceeding revenue. The organization holds $719.8M in liabilities against $8.0B in assets (debt-to-asset ratio: 9.0%), resulting in net assets of $7.3B.
| Year | Revenue | Expenses | Assets | Liabilities | Officer Comp. % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $450.4M | $654.0M | $8.0B | $719.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2022 | $320.7M | $688.7M | $8.2B | $677.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2021 | $1.1B | $558.0M | $9.6B | $609.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2020 | $505.9M | $527.9M | $8.2B | $531.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2019 | $446.8M | $376.1M | $7.0B | $175.0M | — | — |
| 2015 | $380.2M | $331.4M | $6.2B | $316.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2014 | $438.1M | $292.0M | $6.4B | $370.7M | — | View 990 |
| 2013 | $568.9M | $293.9M | $6.2B | $345.8M | — | View 990 |
| 2012 | $332.0M | $310.7M | $5.6B | $377.9M | — | View 990 |
| 2011 | $343.5M | $294.5M | $5.3B | $373.5M | — | View 990 |
Year-by-Year Financial Summary
- 2023: Revenue of $450.4M, expenses of $654.0M, and assets of $8.0B (revenue +40.5% year-over-year).
- 2022: Revenue of $320.7M, expenses of $688.7M, and assets of $8.2B (revenue -72.0% year-over-year).
- 2021: Revenue of $1.1B, expenses of $558.0M, and assets of $9.6B (revenue +126.7% year-over-year).
- 2020: Revenue of $505.9M, expenses of $527.9M, and assets of $8.2B (revenue +13.2% year-over-year).
- 2019: Revenue of $446.8M, expenses of $376.1M, and assets of $7.0B (revenue +17.5% year-over-year).
- 2015: Revenue of $380.2M, expenses of $331.4M, and assets of $6.2B (revenue -13.2% year-over-year).
- 2014: Revenue of $438.1M, expenses of $292.0M, and assets of $6.4B (revenue -23.0% year-over-year).
- 2013: Revenue of $568.9M, expenses of $293.9M, and assets of $6.2B (revenue +71.4% year-over-year).
- 2012: Revenue of $332.0M, expenses of $310.7M, and assets of $5.6B (revenue -3.4% year-over-year).
- 2011: Revenue of $343.5M, expenses of $294.5M, and assets of $5.3B.
View Individual Filing Years
Explore detailed financial data from each IRS 990 filing year for Andrew W Mellon Foundation:
Data Sources and Methodology
This transparency report for Andrew W Mellon Foundation is generated by NonprofitSpending's AI analysis engine. The data is sourced from publicly available IRS 990 filings accessed through the ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer API and IRS electronic filing records. The Mission Score, spending breakdown, and other analytical insights are produced by artificial intelligence and should be used as one of multiple factors when evaluating a nonprofit organization.
IRS 990 forms are annual information returns that most tax-exempt organizations must file with the IRS. These forms provide detailed financial information including revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, and compensation of officers. NonprofitSpending processes this data to provide accessible transparency reports for donors, researchers, and the general public.
Disclaimer
AI-generated analysis based on IRS public records. Not financial or legal advice. Verify information directly with the organization.