Richard King Mellon Foundation Makes Grant to TMP in Memory of Bob Teeter

Respected Fundraising Strategist and Mentoring Champion Leaves a Lasting Legacy on TMP and Many Other Local Nonprofits

PITTSBURGH / June 15, 2022 --  As our community mourns the passing of Bob Teeter, the Richard King Mellon Foundation is honoring his legacy by making a grant to The Mentoring Partnership, an organization Teeter supported for 15 years.  This $50,000 memorial grant will support TMP’s efforts to ensure that all young people have access to caring adults who can help them feel safe, supported and empowered to dream big.

“Bob was a true champion of mentoring,” said Colleen Fedor, TMP Executive Director.  “We felt so fortunate to be on the receiving end of his brilliance and the legacy he’s left our organization and so many others will build on the work he did to make Pittsburgh a better place for all of us.”

As founder and CEO of Teeter Associates, a management consulting firm specializing in resource development and strategic planning for nonprofits, Teeter was a well-known and respected figure in Western Pennsylvania, assisting hundreds of organizations and making critical connections within the philanthropic community.  Teeter served as a TMP Board Member from 2007 to 2016 and then as an Honor Board Member until his passing in February. 

“It was difficult to choose one nonprofit to receive Richard King Mellon Foundation’s generous grant because Bob was involved with so many great organizations and firmly believed in their missions to make our community a wonderful place to live and work,” said Natalie Rega Nichols, Teeter’s colleague and successor.  “After talking with Bob’s family, we chose The Mentoring Partnership because Bob was a mentor and counselor to all of us at Teeter Associates and many other people throughout the years.  He really understood the value of mentoring and paid it forward.”

For more than 70 years, Richard King Mellon Foundation has invested in the competitive future and quality of life of Southwestern Pennsylvania.  The largest foundation in our region, it channels its resources into six funding pillars, including Economic Mobility, which works to ensure children and youth living in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties will be able to access their most promising future. 

“Bob Teeter facilitated many meaningful connections for local organizations and left a lasting legacy of growth for our community,” said Sam Reiman, Director of the Richard King Mellon Foundation.  “Relationships were important to him and we’re excited that we were able to make a grant in his memory to fuel stronger relationships for young people in our region.” 

Mentoring relationships are not only critical to young people, they are also essential to the health and well-being of our families and our communities.  Everyone benefits when kids have positive, prepared additional adult supports in their lives.  Since 1995, TMP has provided training and resources at no cost, ensuring that all programs and their volunteers have access and that there are no barriers for participation.  This grant will be used to help the organization increase its capacity to continue to deliver services that center quality and intentionality within relationship-rich environments for all young people.