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Deb Erdley    

The Richard King Mellon Foundation, the region’s largest philanthropic organization, plans to give away $1.2 billion over the next decade, its director announced Wednesday.

And it will continue a new practice in doling out the old money by soliciting public input on where it will do the most good.

The foundation aims to “increase opportunity and prosperity in Southwestern PA, and to advance environmental conservation and stewardship across the United States” through its new strategic plan, Director Sam Reiman said. Last year, the foundation awarded $130 million in grants.

He said the public — specifically people, organizations and businesses in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties — will play a major role in determining where and how the foundation’s assets are invested as it pursues efforts that promote economic development, economic mobility, health and well-being, and conservation.

Soliciting broad input from the public it serves is a new approach for the 74-year-old foundation and one that sets it apart from many organizations in the foundation community, said Peggy Outon, executive director of the Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management at Robert Morris University.

“In my experience, this is the first time I’ve heard of a foundation saying to the whole community, ‘Tell us what you think,’ ” Outon said.

In addition to being the region’s largest, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is one of the Top 50 in the world, according to ARCO. Foundation officials pegged its current assets at about $3.1 billion.

The foundation, launched by Richard King Mellon in 1947, has played a significant role in the region’s development. It has underwritten everything from Pittsburgh’s original emergence from its status as the Smokey City during Renaissance I in the 1950s to recent efforts to meet community needs during the pandemic shutdown.

And while about 80% of its grants have gone back into the Pittsburgh region, the foundation also owns more than 4 million acres of environmentally preserved lands across the U.S., acquired under its conservation initiatives.

Foundation leaders are looking to the future with an eye toward boosting health and economic mobility across the region. They said areas ripe for consideration include investments in private companies that want to accomplish a public good in health, technology, economic development or conservation. Such investments are considered both from the profits that flow to the community and the cash that the foundation can reinvest in its objectives.

Priorities for grant funding include improving educational outcomes, enhancing career readiness, creating supportive environments for children, advancing child and maternal health and advancing basic scientific research to meet historic health challenges.

“The foundation is looking for great ideas to bring the new strategy to life,” Reiman said, outlining the organization’s priorities during a 40-minute online presentation Wednesday.

Information about submitting ideas or proposals to the foundation is available on the Richard King Mellon Foundation website at rkmf.org.

Tim Reeves, communications director for the foundation, said officials were overwhelmed with an outpouring of excellent suggestions when they appealed to the public for help in shaping their response to the covid-19 pandemic.

“It demonstrated the positive power of public solicitations,” Reeves said.

Bobbie Watt-Geer, president and CEO of the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania, said the foundation’s new planning process has been comprehensive and inclusive.

“In the end, I think that means the community will be well-served,” she said.

She said the foundation partners with the United Way in a program to ensure youngsters are prepared for kindergarten. She said such efforts help underwrite opportunities for growth among those who participate.

While the foundation community has long been a significant player in civic life in Southwestern Pennsylvania, Outon said few realize just how blessed the region is.

“Pittsburgh is third or fourth in terms of foundation wealth in the nation. And the last time I checked, we were first in the nation in terms of foundation wealth invested here,” she said. “We have been able to innovate and try things because of the wealth of foundations.”

Jim Smith, president of the Economic Growth Connection of Westmoreland, said the guidance and investment of the foundation has been a key factor in the ongoing development of the Digital Foundry in New Kensington.

The Digital Foundry, scheduled for completion in 2022, is a joint project of the foundation, Penn State, the Economic Growth Connection and the Redevelopment Authority of New Kensington.

Smith said the facility in downtown New Kensington will provide a training center for cutting-edge technologies in manufacturing as well as a “maker space,” where manufacturers can create “digital twins” of their products, a practice that is in growing demand across a number of industries.

“It’s really a project that wouldn’t have happened without (the foundation’s) involvement. They provided more than just funding. They have provided hands-on leadership and consulting throughout it,” Smith said.

He said he is encouraged that the foundation remains committed to Southwestern Pennsylvania.

“Other foundations, when they reach a certain size, want to focus on national issues. I’m really happy that the Richard King Mellon Foundation came out and doubled down on their commitment to the region,” Smith said.

Deb Erdley is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Deb at 724-850-1209, derdley@triblive.com or via Twitter .
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