Colcom Foundation operates from Pittsburgh with a focused mission: address the ecological consequences of human population growth and support conservation efforts that preserve the natural world for future generations. The foundation was created in 1996 by Cordelia S. May and received substantial endowment funding after her death in 2005.
Roots in a Personal Philosophy
Mrs. May’s environmental convictions developed early and ran deep. By age 23, in 1952, she had already begun channeling charitable resources toward family planning an early expression of her belief that population growth posed real and lasting risks to the planet’s natural systems. She saw the cumulative force of incremental growth as something that could overwhelm ecological balance, even if the changes were invisible from one day to the next.
That worldview shaped a quote attributed to her on Colcom Foundation‘s website that human activity has put such strain on the Earth that its ability to sustain future generations can no longer be taken for granted. It was a view she held long before environmental degradation became a fixture of public debate.
Regional and National Impact
Colcom Foundation pursues its mission on two levels. Nationally, the focus is on the causes and consequences of overpopulation and its adverse effects on natural resources. The organization views habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, aquatic ecosystem collapse, and pollution as direct consequences of a growth-oriented culture that rarely examines population as a root cause.
Through their grants, they have supported many organizations, such as the Center for Biological Diversity, which works towards protecting endangered species, and the Sierra Club Foundation, which advocates for clean energy and climate solutions. These grants have helped to advance important causes and support organizations that strive to make a difference.
Regionally, Colcom Foundation supports conservation projects, environmental initiatives, and cultural assets in western Pennsylvania. The grantmaking program is designed to honor Cordelia S. May’s humanitarian intentions and carry forward the work she devoted her life to advancing. Read this article for more information.
More about Colcom Foundation on https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2024/03/12/wvu-led-three-rivers-quest-expands-environmental-research-and-education-efforts-with-colcom-foundation-support