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Colcom Foundation

Annual Giving
$22.1M
Grant Range
$0K - $2.9M
Decision Time
3mo

Colcom Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22-23 million (2024: $22,125,313)
  • Total Assets: ~$450 million
  • Number of Grants: 116-134 annually
  • Grant Range: $250 - $2,870,000
  • Median Grant: $75,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (Carrying Capacity) + Southwestern Pennsylvania (Local Environment & Community)
  • Decision Timeline: Quarterly review meetings (February, May, August, November)

Contact Details

Overview

Colcom Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May, an heiress to the Mellon banking fortune. Since its founding, the foundation has distributed more than $500 million in grants. Upon May's death in 2005, she left approximately $400 million to the foundation, making it one of the most significant philanthropic organizations in western Pennsylvania.

The foundation's primary mission is to foster a sustainable environment to ensure quality of life for all Americans by addressing major causes and consequences of overpopulation and its adverse effects on natural resources. Secondarily, the foundation supports regional conservation, environmental projects, and cultural assets in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The foundation operates two distinct grant programs: National Giving (Carrying Capacity) focusing on population and immigration issues, and Local Environment & Community focusing on southwestern Pennsylvania's fourteen-county region. The foundation has been a driving force behind numerous successful environmental and conservation projects, including major water quality initiatives, land conservation, and urban revitalization efforts in Pittsburgh.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

National Giving (Carrying Capacity)

  • Grants typically range from $250,000 to $2.87 million
  • Focuses on population studies, immigration policy research, and environmental sustainability
  • Supports organizations advocating for responsible family planning and sustainable immigration
  • Public education on environmental consequences of population expansion

Local Environment & Community (Southwestern Pennsylvania)

  • Grants vary widely; median grant is $75,000
  • Geographic scope: Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Bedford, Blair, Butler, Cambria, Fayette, Greene, Indiana, Lawrence, Somerset, Washington, and Westmoreland counties
  • Rolling basis with quarterly review cycles

Priority Areas

Local Environment:

  • Watershed remediation and water quality monitoring
  • Land conservation and stewardship
  • Trail development and connectivity
  • Waste cleanup and diversion programs
  • Environmental education and youth programs
  • Conservation research
  • Urban forestry and community greening

Local Community:

  • Arts and culture
  • Community and economic development
  • Historic preservation
  • Parks and trails enhancement
  • Public gardens and streetscapes
  • Health and human services
  • Leisure and recreation

National (Carrying Capacity):

  • Population studies and research
  • Immigration policy research and advocacy
  • Environmental sustainability education
  • Biodiversity protection and extinction crisis awareness

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has stated it has "no tolerance for discrimination" and that "all must be treated with equal dignity." While specific exclusions are not published, based on their focus areas, they are unlikely to fund:

  • Projects outside their geographic or thematic priorities
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status
  • Individuals (foundation makes grants to organizations)
  • Projects that conflict with their population-environment mission

Governance and Leadership

President & Chief Investment Officer: John S. Barsotti

  • Succeeded Timothy M. Inglis in 2019 after 15 years as Vice President of Investments
  • Graduate of Duquesne University (1988)
  • Former portfolio manager at Mellon Private Wealth Management

Treasurer & Board Member: Timothy M. Inglis

  • Retired as President effective June 30, 2019 after 23 years with the foundation
  • Continues in part-time capacity

Vice President of Philanthropy: Position held (name varies in records)

  • Oversees grantmaking priorities and relationships

Founder: Cordelia Scaife May (1928-2005)

  • Mellon family heiress
  • Founded the foundation in 1996
  • Also founded the Laurel Foundation (1951), which became a division of Colcom in 2012

Leadership Quote: President John Barsotti on the Three Rivers Quest program: "Colcom Foundation applauds the transformative impact of Three Rivers Quest in empowering communities and watershed organizations to monitor and preserve water quality in the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio River watersheds. Through facilitating collaboration between academic researchers and citizen scientists, this initiative has generated invaluable data, fostering deeper understanding and proactive conservation efforts."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Required for all projects not previously funded by Colcom Foundation
  • Submit through online grants portal: apply.yourcausegrants.com
  • LOIs are accepted on a rolling basis
  • Organizations with national Carrying Capacity project LOIs should contact the foundation via email rather than using the standard portal

Step 2: Full Grant Application (by invitation)

  • If LOI is approved, applicants are invited to submit a full application
  • Submit through online grants portal

Required Materials for Full Application:

  1. Most recent Form 990
  2. Most recent audited financial statements (or equivalent)
  3. Itemized project budget
  4. Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Table (template provided by foundation)
  5. Optional: Most recent annual report or newsletter

Decision Timeline

Application DeadlineBoard Review Meeting
November 30February
February 28May
May 31August
August 31November

Success Rates

Based on available data:

  • 2024: 116 awards made
  • 2023: 133 awards made
  • 2022: 130 awards made
  • 2021: 154 awards made

The foundation receives more applications than it can fund, but maintains consistent grantmaking levels. With a median grant of $75,000 and total giving of $22-23 million annually, competition is moderate to significant depending on the program area.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may submit new LOIs for different projects. Previously funded organizations may apply directly for continued or new funding without submitting an LOI first.

Application Success Factors

Mission Alignment is Critical

  • The foundation explicitly connects environmental degradation to population growth—understand and respect this philosophical framework
  • For Carrying Capacity grants, demonstrate clear alignment with population-environment nexus
  • For local grants, show direct benefit to southwestern Pennsylvania's environmental or community assets

Examples of Successfully Funded Projects:

  • Three Rivers Quest: $3.3 million+ for water quality monitoring; received additional $3.5 million endowment in 2023
  • Western Pennsylvania Conservancy: Ongoing support since 2004 for watershed conservation, urban forestry, and land conservation
  • Tree Pittsburgh: Funding for tree distribution, land conservation, and capital improvements
  • Grow Pittsburgh: Community food-growing programs supporting food security and community development
  • Paris to Pittsburgh Program: $3.3 million since 2006 for historic preservation projects downtown
  • National Aviary: $3 million for Ivory-billed Woodpecker search program (Project Principalis)
  • Mellon Square Restoration: $1.5 million toward $10 million restoration project
  • Colcom Revolving Fund: $1 million enabling rapid land conservation responses

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

  • The foundation requires a KPI table as part of applications—be prepared to articulate measurable outcomes
  • Demonstrate data-driven approaches, as reflected in their support for citizen science and research programs

Collaborative Approaches Valued

  • Projects that "facilitate collaboration between academic researchers and citizen scientists" receive positive attention
  • Multi-stakeholder initiatives demonstrating broad community impact are favored

Long-term Impact

  • The foundation values enduring impact—note their support for endowments and revolving funds
  • Projects showing sustainability beyond the grant period are attractive

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  1. Two distinct programs: Clearly identify whether you're applying for National Giving (Carrying Capacity) or Local Environment & Community—these have very different focuses and requirements.

  2. Start with an LOI: All new applicants must submit a Letter of Inquiry first through the online portal. Don't attempt to submit a full application without prior approval.

  3. Quarterly review cycle: Plan your application timeline around the four annual deadlines (Nov 30, Feb 28, May 31, Aug 31) and corresponding board meetings.

  4. Southwestern PA focus for local grants: Local grants are restricted to 14 specific counties in southwestern Pennsylvania—organizations outside this region should focus on the national program if eligible.

  5. Prepare strong KPIs: The foundation requires Key Performance Indicators—quantifiable outcomes are essential to your application.

  6. Understand their philosophy: The foundation explicitly connects population growth with environmental degradation. For Carrying Capacity grants especially, this framing matters.

  7. Significant funding potential: With grants ranging up to $2.87 million and multi-year relationships common, successful applicants can secure substantial, ongoing support.

References

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