The Colcom Foundation was founded in 1969 by Margaret M. Mellon and her late husband, Paul F. Mellon. The Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to the causes of population, conservation, and the environment.
The Foundation has awarded over $600 million in grants to organizations working on these issues in the United States and worldwide. The Foundation’s grantmaking focuses on four main areas: population and reproductive health; biodiversity conservation; environmental education; and Pittsburgh-area initiatives.
The Colcom Foundation is one of the world’s largest private funders of population and reproductive health programs. The Foundation has awarded over $200 million in grants to organizations working on these issues, including family planning and reproductive health organizations, research institutes, and policy organizations.
The Foundation is also a major funder of biodiversity conservation efforts worldwide. The Foundation has awarded over $100 million in grants to organizations that protect threatened species and habitats, restore ecosystems, and promote sustainable use of natural resources.
The Colcom Foundation is committed to environmental education. It has awarded over $25 million in grants to organizations working to educate people about the environment and inspire them to take action to protect it. The Foundation’s environmental education grantmaking supports programs for K-12 students, teachers, and adults in the United States and internationally. The foundation has partnered with the National Audubon Society, Carnegie Mellon University, the Pennsylvania Environmental Council, and many other organizations to develop innovative solutions to environmental issues.
The Colcom Foundation’s funding interests include the environment, community, and education.
The environment is a major focus of The Colcom Foundation. They support organizations working to protect and improve the quality of air, water, and land, conserve natural resources; promote environmental education; and reduce pollution and waste. The Foundation also funds groups working on regional planning and development issues in southwestern Pennsylvania.
In the area of the community, The Foundation supports organizations that work to improve the quality of life in southwestern Pennsylvania through arts and culture, economic development, civic engagement, community development, health care, human services, and housing.
The Foundation also has a strong interest in education. They support programs that provide educational opportunities for all learners, with a special focus on those from underserved populations. The Foundation also funds initiatives that improve teaching and learning in K-12 schools and higher education institutions in southwestern Pennsylvania. Click here for more.
More about Colcom Foundation on: https://www.colcomfdn.org/democratic-values/