The story of Colcom Foundation is, in many ways, the story of one woman’s decades-long commitment to ecological responsibility. Cordelia S. May founded the Pittsburgh-based organization in 1996, but the convictions behind it took shape much earlier as far back as 1952, when she was only 23 years old.
Established with a vision to enhance the quality of life for individuals and communities, the foundation actively supports initiatives that focus on population sustainability, wildlife conservation, and land preservation. Their grants to organizations such as the Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders have helped to build strong local food systems and promote sustainable agriculture practices.
Early Commitment to Environmental Causes
At an age when many people have barely begun their professional lives, Mrs. May was already directing charitable attention toward family planning a choice motivated by her understanding of how population growth stresses natural systems. She recognized that growth, though subtle from one day to the next, accumulates into a force that can compromise the ecological balance of the planet.
Her personal philosophy was captured in a quote the foundation attributes to her: “Human activity is putting such a strain on the natural functions of Earth that the ability of the planet’s ecosystems to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted.” That perspective shaped everything Colcom Foundation would eventually become.
Mission Carried Forward
Colcom Foundation was formally established in 1996, when Mrs. May was 68, and was substantially funded following her death in 2005. Its primary mission is to foster a sustainable environment that ensures quality of life for all Americans, with a focus on overpopulation’s adverse effects on natural resources.
Regionally, Colcom Foundation also supports conservation efforts, environmental projects, and cultural assets. Colcom Foundation’s grantmaking is explicitly designed to honor the humanitarian objectives, foresight, dignity, and compassion of Cordelia S. May carrying forward work she cared about long before it was widely understood. See related link for more information.
More about Colcom Foundation on https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/311479839