The Mellon Foundation aims to support and enrich the humanities and the arts, with a special focus on higher education and scholarship, by funding various programs that enhance the quality of education and the diversity of voices within academia. It seeks to ensure that a wide range of perspectives, especially those historically underrepresented, are included and valued in academic discourse and research.
The grant program focuses on supporting alumni of the Mellon Mays Undergraduate Fellowship (MMUF). It includes the MMUF Advancement Program and the MMUF Travel & Research Grants. The MMUF Advancement Program is designed to help fellows prepare for graduate school applications, fund additional research, and provide professional support through dissertation research. The Travel & Research Grants aim to provide financial support for MMUF alumni who are in the process of completing research prior to dissertation writing. This support includes funding for travel, research expenses, and access to necessary research databases, with grants up to $5,000 for one summer or one semester based on scholarly merit. The program underscores the importance of diverse perspectives in higher education and aims to increase young adults' access to a variety of viewpoints, thus deepening their understanding of people from all backgrounds.