McCance Foundation Tr

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $5,439,878 (2023)
Total Assets: $81.6 million (2023)
Grant Range: $200 - $1,001,435
Number of Grants: 165 awards (2023)
Geographic Focus: National, with special focus on Fishers Island, NY
Application Method: Invitation only / Pre-selected organizations

Contact Details

Executive Director: Katie Cutler

Address: 53 State Street, Boston, MA 02109 (also listed as North Scituate, MA)

EIN: 046772532

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a public website. Contact information is available through nonprofit databases.

Overview

The McCance Foundation Tr was established in 1994 (tax-exempt since March 1995) by Henry McCance, Chairman Emeritus of Greylock Partners, one of the oldest and most successful venture capital firms. With total assets of $81.6 million and annual giving of approximately $5.4 million in 2023, the foundation follows a distinctive venture philanthropy approach. The foundation is run by Henry McCance alongside his two daughters, a son-in-law, and an executive director, focusing on both giving grants that will substantially better the world and promoting a culture of philanthropy. The foundation supports results-oriented, innovative programs that are well researched and evaluated across five priority areas: Education, the Environment and Conservation, Medical Research, Social Entrepreneurship and Venture Philanthropy, and Fishers Island, NY. Henry McCance received the National Venture Capital Association's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004 and was recognized as one of the country's 10 Best Venture Capitalists by Forbes in 2000, bringing this same strategic approach to his philanthropic work.

Funding Priorities

Priority Areas

Education The foundation focuses on alleviating poverty for the most disadvantaged children in the US, mainly through the lever of education reform. Henry McCance seeks to find and scale innovative K-12 programs, particularly supporting charter schools and education reform initiatives. Known grant recipients include:

Lake Wales Charter Schools, Florida (over $5 million since 2012, primarily to Lake Wales High School and Bok Academy South)
Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC)
New Profit partnership supporting 8-10 grantee-partners including Management Leadership for Tomorrow

Environment and Conservation The foundation supports environmental initiatives with a focus on Long Island Sound region and climate solutions. Known grants include:

Project Drawdown ($100,000 in 2024 for climate change solutions)
Long Island Sound Funders Collaborative member
Environmental programs aligned with Fishers Island, NY preservation

Medical Research While Henry McCance co-founded Cure Alzheimer's Fund separately in 2004, the McCance Foundation also supports medical research initiatives, including:

Henry and Allison McCance Center for Brain Health at Massachusetts General Hospital (established 2018)
Research into diseases affecting families

Social Entrepreneurship and Venture Philanthropy The foundation supports innovative social entrepreneurs and programs that demonstrate measurable impact and scalability, consistent with venture capital principles.

Fishers Island, NY One of five priority areas with dedicated focus on supporting the Fishers Island community and its organizations. The foundation has demonstrated commitment to Fishers Island grantees, including offering accelerated funding during challenging times.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Henry F. McCance - Founder, Chairman Emeritus of Greylock Partners (unpaid)
Elizabeth McCance - Daughter (unpaid)
Ellen McCance Pinschmidt - Daughter (unpaid)
Patrick Pinschmidt - Son-in-law (unpaid)
Charles Thomas Foley II - (unpaid)

Staff

Katie Cutler - Executive Director ($132,000 compensation in 2023)

Leadership Philosophy

Henry McCance applies venture capital principles to philanthropy. Key quotes illustrate his approach:

On Leadership Priority: "The competitive landscape is going to change in the course of a 20-year nonprofit or for-profit history, but if you have the right leadership, that's the first thing."

On Selecting Leaders: "If you give me an A founder with a B minus business plan or an A business plan with a B founder, you take the first one every time because the conditions, the competitive conditions, are always going to change. And if you have world-class leadership in your organization, they can make these necessary adjustments to the strategy."

On Proactive Approach: "In my experience, the really great venture capitalists are not reacting to a series of funding requests that come over the transom. Instead they proactively identify and network with the very best technologists in their fields of interest and initiate the formation and funding of new companies."

On Active Engagement: "Venture capitalists are active investors; we're not passive investors. We go on the boards; we work with the CEO, so it was natural for me to want to be involved in this activity more than just financially supporting it."

On Values and Impact: "It's about the people and the value proposition."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The McCance Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation has indicated it only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through:

Trustee discretion and proactive identification of organizations
Existing relationships with grantees
Strategic partnerships (e.g., New Profit)
Direct outreach by foundation leadership to organizations demonstrating exceptional leadership and innovative approaches

Getting on Their Radar

The McCance Foundation follows a venture capital model of proactively identifying and cultivating relationships with high-impact organizations rather than responding to applications. Based on documented practices:

Specific Strategies:

Partnership Networks: The foundation works through intermediary organizations like New Profit to identify promising social entrepreneurs. At New Profit's Gathering of Leaders events, Henry McCance personally engages with social entrepreneurs whose work aligns with foundation priorities.
Sector Events: Henry McCance has been documented speaking at events like TEDMED and attending gatherings focused on education reform, Alzheimer's research, and social entrepreneurship where he meets potential grantees.
Long-term Relationships: The foundation describes itself as a "long-time supporter" of organizations like Project Drawdown, indicating they maintain ongoing relationships and make repeat grants to proven partners.
Community Connections: For Fishers Island, NY organizations, the foundation has demonstrated accessibility through direct communication with the community, including open letters assuring continued support during challenging times.

What They Look For: Based on documented grants and Henry McCance's statements, the foundation seeks:

"World-class leadership" - A-level founders/executives who can adapt strategy
Results-oriented programs that are "well researched and evaluated"
Innovative approaches to systemic problems
Capital efficiency and low overhead culture
Willingness to collaborate (McCance required collaboration as a condition of funding in Alzheimer's research)

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed, as grants are made proactively rather than through application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation proactively selects grantees rather than accepting applications.

Application Success Factors

Since the McCance Foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, these factors are drawn from documented grants and Henry McCance's stated philosophy:

1. Exceptional Leadership Over Perfect Plans McCance consistently emphasizes that "A founders" with "B minus business plans" outperform the reverse. Organizations with visionary, adaptable leaders who can navigate changing conditions are prioritized over those with elaborate strategies but weaker leadership.

2. Venture Capital Alignment The foundation seeks organizations that demonstrate:

Clear value proposition: Measurable impact and results
Capital efficiency: Low overhead, maximum impact per dollar
Scalability: Potential to grow and replicate successful models
Innovation: Disruptive approaches to entrenched problems

3. Demonstrated Results and Evaluation The foundation supports "results-oriented, innovative programs that are well researched and evaluated." Organizations must show evidence of impact, not just good intentions. The Lake Wales Charter Schools example demonstrates this - the school went from failing to A-rated within a year of implementing strict standards.

4. Willingness to Collaborate Based on McCance's work with Cure Alzheimer's Fund, he values and sometimes requires collaboration. Organizations working in silos are less attractive than those open to partnerships and knowledge-sharing.

5. Active Engagement Expectations McCance states: "We're not passive investors. We go on the boards; we work with the CEO." Organizations should expect and welcome active foundation involvement, strategic guidance, and ongoing engagement beyond the check.

6. Focus Area Alignment Grants cluster in specific areas: K-12 education reform (especially charter schools), environmental conservation (especially Long Island Sound/Fishers Island), medical research, and social entrepreneurship. Organizations outside these areas are unlikely to receive support.

7. Network Connections Many documented grants come through partnership networks (New Profit), events where McCance is engaged (TEDMED, Gathering of Leaders), or geographic connections (Fishers Island community). Being visible in these networks increases likelihood of foundation awareness.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This is not an application-based funder - The McCance Foundation proactively identifies and selects grantees. Traditional grant applications are not accepted.
Leadership is paramount - Henry McCance prioritizes "A-level founders" and world-class executive talent above all else. If your organization doesn't have exceptional leadership, this is not the right funder.
Think venture capital, not traditional philanthropy - The foundation seeks high-impact, scalable, innovative solutions with measurable results and capital efficiency. Your organization should be able to articulate a clear value proposition and demonstrate results.
Be visible in the right networks - Connections through New Profit, education reform circles, environmental collaboratives (like Long Island Sound Funders), or Fishers Island community increase visibility to foundation leadership.
Expect active partnership - If funded, expect the foundation to be actively involved, providing strategic guidance and potentially board participation. This is a partnership model, not transactional grantmaking.
Focus areas are specific - Unless your work directly addresses K-12 education reform, environmental conservation (especially coastal/Long Island Sound), medical research, social entrepreneurship, or Fishers Island community needs, this foundation is not a fit.
Build long-term relationships - The foundation describes itself as providing "long-time" support to organizations like Project Drawdown. This funder values sustained partnerships with proven organizations over one-time grants to new entities.

References

Accessed: December 2024

Mccance Foundation Tr