Colcom Foundation
 | |
| Formation | 1996 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Cordelia Scaife May |
| Type | Private foundation |
| Headquarters | Pittsburgh, PA, United States |
President | John S. Barsotti |
| Revenue | $36,529,725[1] (2014) |
| Expenses | $30,016,575[1] (2014) |
| Website | colcomfdn.org |
Colcom Foundation is a private foundation established in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May, a Mellon family heiress.[2][3][4] The foundation is a major funding source for organizations in opposition to immigration located within the United States,[5][6] while also focusing on population control, environmental conservation, and civic and environmental projects, especially in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where it is based.[7][8][9]
History
[edit]The Colcom Foundation was founded in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May, an heiress to the Mellon family.[2][4] The foundation has stated that their mission is "to promote sustainable immigration that won’t overwhelm the environment or the economy".[5] May served as the foundation's chairman until her death in 2005,[10] and upon her death, she left close to half of her fortune to the Colcom Foundation, which totaled over $400 million.[5]
In 2009, the foundation provided grant money in support of the G20 summit in Pittsburgh, planting trees around the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.[11]
In 2018, Colcom's sponsorship of Pittsburgh's Holiday Market drew criticism from immigrant rights advocates,[12][13] causing signage mentioning the Colcom Foundation to be removed from the market.[14]
In 2020, immigrant rights activists launched a campaign to discourage Pittsburgh-area civic and environmental groups from accepting money from the Colcom Foundation.[15] Several organizations subsequently severed their ties to the foundation.[16]
Activities
[edit]The Colcom Foundation has played a significant role in shaping immigration policy in the United States through its extensive funding of organizations that advocate for reduced immigration levels.[17][12][16][18] Since the early 2000s, the foundation has provided tens of millions of dollars to groups such as the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and NumbersUSA—organizations that were originally part of a network established by the anti-immigration activist and white nationalist John Tanton.[4][17][19][2][20] Some organizations funded by the Colcom Foundation have been designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), including CIS, FAIR, and Californians for Population Stabilization.[1][13][14][20] According to a 2019 report by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Colcom contributed $33.8 million to immigration-focused organizations between June 30, 2017, and June 30, 2018.[4]
The Colcom Foundation has also supplied grants for environmental projects, including the conservation of Sycamore Island in the Allegheny River,[21] funding for water quality studies in the Monongahela River,[22] the creation of a revolving loan fund enabling land trusts to undertake conservancy projects,[23][24] and the establishment of the Marcellus Environmental Fund to assess and address risks of shale drilling,[25][26] It has also supported the conservation of land around Mount Washington.[27] In addition, the foundation has funded civic projects within Pennsylvania, including the Tribute to Children monument honoring Mister Rogers,[28] the completion of a bridge for bicyclists on the Great Allegheny Passage,[29] matching funds to renovate the fountain at historic Point State Park,[30] and support for converting the Brilliant Line into a dedicated bike and pedestrian trail.[31] Critics have described these environmental and civic projects as greenwashing, intended to offset the funding of immigration restrictions.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Colcom Foundation" (PDF). Foundation Center. 19 May 2016. Retrieved 11 July 2017.
- ^ a b c Kulish, Nicholas; McIntire, Mike (14 August 2019). "Why an Heiress Spent Her Fortune Trying to Keep Immigrants Out". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-08-18 – via NYTimes.com.
- ^ Brown, Abram (July 21, 2014). "175 Years Later, The Mellons Have Never Been Richer. How'd They Do It?". Forbes.
- ^ a b c d Routh, Julian; Lord, Rich (24 June 2019). "Colcom Foundation, rooted in environmentalism, increasingly focuses on anti-immigration groups". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2019-07-18.
- ^ a b c Tanfani, Joseph (July 25, 2013). "Late heiress' anti-immigration efforts live on". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Beirich, Heidi (14 July 2009). "Pittsburgh Foundation Funded Hate Groups". Southern Poverty Law Center.
- ^ "Funding Interests". Colcom Foundation. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ "Impact". Colcom Foundation. Retrieved 2023-05-08.
- ^ "Extinction Crisis". Colcom Foundation. Retrieved 2023-05-15.
- ^ "Colcom Foundation". Colcom Foundation. Retrieved September 6, 2018.
- ^ "Cleaning Up. Greening Up. And New Web Sites". Archived from the original on October 8, 2009. Retrieved June 27, 2011.
- ^ a b Deto, Ryan (29 November 2018). "Anti-immigrant group Colcom Foundation's sponsorship of Holiday Market draws criticism". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ a b Elk, Mike (27 November 2018). "Anti-Immigrant Group Sponsors Pittsburgh's Official Holiday Celebration". Payday Report. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ a b "After donations to anti-immigrant groups, Colcom signs removed from Downtown holiday market". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 12 December 2018. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
- ^ Wimbley, Lacretia (5 March 2020). "Activists launch campaign against Colcom Foundation". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b c Deto, Ryan (11 March 2020). "How Pittsburgh's Colcom Foundation is 'greenwashing' its anti-immigrant message". Pittsburgh City Paper. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
- ^ a b Potter, Chris; Roth, Mark (15 February 2015). "Pittsburgh's Colcom Foundation plays major role in immigration-control debate". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 2018-11-20.
- ^ Rendon, Jim (11 February 2020). "Bankrolling a Force on Immigration". The Chronicle of Philanthropy.
- ^ Ellis, Emma Grey (24 January 2017). "Fake Think Tanks Fuel Fake News—And the President's Tweets". Wired. Retrieved 11 June 2025.
- ^ a b Beirich, Heidi (14 July 2009). "Pittsburgh Foundation Funded Hate Groups". Southern Poverty Law Center. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
- ^ "Sycamore Island". Allegheny Land Trust. January 28, 2008. Archived from the original on December 31, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ "Carnegie Mellon's Jean VanBriesen leads research team on Monongahela River". Eurekalert.org. August 6, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ "Colcom Revolving Fund for Local Land Trusts". Western Pennsylvania Conservancy. Retrieved April 24, 2019.
- ^ "Colcom Foundation fund to provide loans for land conservation". Postgazette.com. December 30, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ Litvak, Anya (December 20, 2010). "Colcom Foundation launches Marcellus fund". Pittsburgh Business Times. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ "Grant to educate public on Marcellus Shale issues". Postgazette.com. December 22, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ "Mount Washington park continues expansion". Postgazette.com. November 29, 2010. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ Sostek, Anya (5 November 2009). "Sculpture of Fred Rogers unveiled on North Side". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Walsh, Lawrence (26 September 2008). "Bridge over Mon fills bike trail's missing link". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Turnbull, Jessica (October 15, 2009). "Pittsburgh News, Sports, and Events – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review". Pittsburghlive.com. Archived from the original on October 18, 2009. Retrieved January 4, 2012.
- ^ "Partnership Announced for Acquisition of Rail Lines Known as the Brilliant Line". Allegheny County News. August 17, 2023.
