Colcom Foundation
{{Infobox organization
|name = Colcom Foundation
|image = Colcom Foundation logo.png
|size =
|abbreviation =
|formation = 1996
|type = private foundation
|headquarters = Pittsburgh, PA, United States
|leader_title = President
|leader_name = John S. Barsotti
|key_people =
| revenue_year = 2014
| expenses_year = 2014
|website = [http://www.colcomfdn.org colcomfdn.org]
}}
Colcom Foundation is an anti-immigration private foundation established in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May, a Mellon family heiress.{{cite news|first1=Nicholas|last1=Kulish|first2=Mike|last2=McIntire|accessdate=2019-08-18|title=Why an Heiress Spent Her Fortune Trying to Keep Immigrants Out|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/14/us/anti-immigration-cordelia-scaife-may.html|newspaper=The New York Times|date=14 August 2019|issn=0362-4331|via=NYTimes.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/abrambrown/2014/07/08/175-years-later-the-mellons-have-never-been-richer-howd-they-do-it/#f5ed1c374893|title=175 Years Later, The Mellons Have Never Been Richer. How'd They Do It?|last=Brown|first=Abram|date=July 21, 2014|website=Forbes|access-date=}}{{cite web|accessdate=2019-07-18|title=Colcom Foundation, rooted in environmentalism, increasingly focuses on anti-immigration groups|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2019/06/24/colcom-foundation-anti-immigration-grants-scaife-pittsburgh-trump-SPLC-hate-group/stories/201906230015|website=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette}} It is a major funding source for the anti-immigration movement in the United States, supporting several organizations designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).{{cite news| url=https://www.latimes.com/nation/la-xpm-2013-jul-25-la-na-immigration-birdlady-20130725-story.html
| work=Los Angeles Times | first=Joseph | last=Tanfani
| title=Late heiress' anti-immigration efforts live on
| date=July 25, 2013}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2009/07/14/pittsburgh-foundation-funded-hate-groups|title=Pittsburgh Foundation Funded Hate Groups|last=Beirich|first=Heidi|date=July 14, 2009}}
The foundation also focuses on population control, environmental conservation, and civic and environmental projects, especially in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area where it is based.{{cite web |title=Funding Interests |url=https://colcomfdn.org/grants/funding-interests/ |website=Colcom Foundation |accessdate=13 September 2020}}{{Cite web |title=Impact |url=https://www.colcomfdn.org/impact/ |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Colcom Foundation |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Extinction Crisis |url=https://www.colcomfdn.org/extinction-crisis/ |access-date=2023-05-15 |website=Colcom Foundation |language=en-US}}
History
The Colcom Foundation was founded in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May, an heiress to the Mellon family. The foundation has stated that their mission is "to promote sustainable immigration that won’t overwhelm the environment or the economy". When May died in 2005, she left close to half of her fortune to the Colcom Foundation, which totaled over $400 million. The foundation is one of the main financial supporters of the anti-immigration movement in the United States.{{Cite news|url=http://www.post-gazette.com/news/environment/2015/02/15/Pittsburgh-s-Colcom-Foundation-plays-major-role-in-immigration-control-debate/stories/201502150072
|title=Pittsburgh's Colcom Foundation plays major role in immigration-control debate
|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|access-date=2018-11-20|language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Deto |first1=Ryan
|title=Anti-immigrant group Colcom Foundation's sponsorship of Holiday Market draws criticism
|url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/anti-immigrant-group-colcom-foundations-sponsorship-of-holiday-market-draws-criticism/Content?oid=12412328 |accessdate=29 November 2018
|work=Pittsburgh City Paper |date=29 November 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news |last1=Deto |first1=Ryan |title=How Pittsburgh's Colcom Foundation is 'greenwashing' its anti-immigrant message |url=https://www.pghcitypaper.com/pittsburgh/how-pittsburghs-colcom-foundation-is-greenwashing-its-anti-immigrant-message/Content?oid=16919993 |accessdate=13 September 2020 |work=Pittsburgh City Paper |date=11 March 2020}} Several of the groups funded by the Colcom Foundation have been designated as hate groups by the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), including the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and Californians for Population Stabilization.{{cite web |last1=Elk |first1=Mike
|title=Anti-Immigrant Group Sponsors Pittsburgh's Official Holiday Celebration
|url=http://paydayreport.com/anti-immigrant-group-sponsors-pittsburghs-official-holiday-celebration/
|website=Payday Report |accessdate=29 November 2018 |date=27 November 2018}}{{cite news |title=After donations to anti-immigrant groups, Colcom signs removed from Downtown holiday market
|url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2018/12/12/After-donations-to-anti-immigrant-groups-Colcom-signs-removed-from-Downtown-holiday-market/stories/201812120183 |accessdate=28 February 2019
|work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=12 December 2018 |language=en}}{{cite web |last1=Beirich |first1=Heidi
|title=Pittsburgh Foundation Funded Hate Groups |url=https://www.splcenter.org/hatewatch/2009/07/14/pittsburgh-foundation-funded-hate-groups |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |accessdate=29 November 2018 |date=14 July 2009}}{{cite web |title=Dustin Inman Society |url=https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/dustin-inman-society/ |website=Southern Poverty Law Center |access-date=29 August 2024 |language=en}}
In 2020, immigrant rights activists launched a campaign to discourage Pittsburgh-area civic and environmental groups from accepting money from the Colcom Foundation.{{cite news |last1=Wimbley |first1=Lacretia |title=Activists launch campaign against Colcom Foundation |url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2020/03/05/immigrant-rights-activists-protest-Colcom-Foundation/stories/202003050139 |accessdate=13 September 2020 |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=5 March 2020}} Several organizations subsequently severed their ties to the foundation.
= Civic and environmental projects =
Grants have supported the following projects:
- Conservation of Sycamore Island in the Allegheny River{{cite web |url=http://www.alleghenylandtrust.org/properties/sycamore/overview/index.html |title=Sycamore Island |publisher=Allegheny Land Trust |date=January 28, 2008 |accessdate=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111231083839/http://www.alleghenylandtrust.org/properties/sycamore/overview/index.html |archive-date=December 31, 2011 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
- Water quality studies in the Monongahela River{{cite web|url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2009-08/cmu-cmj080609.php |title=Carnegie Mellon's Jean VanBriesen leads research team on Monongahela River |publisher=Eurekalert.org |date=August 6, 2009 |accessdate=January 4, 2012}}
- Revolving loan fund enabling land trusts to rapidly consummate land conservancy projects{{cite web|url=https://waterlandlife.org/land-conservation/colcom-revolving-fund-for-local-land-trusts/ |title=Colcom Revolving Fund for Local Land Trusts |publisher=Western Pennsylvania Conservancy |accessdate=April 24, 2019}}{{cite web|url=http://www.postgazette.com/pg/09364/1024431-454.stm |title=Colcom Foundation fund to provide loans for land conservation |publisher=Postgazette.com |date=December 30, 2009 |accessdate=January 4, 2012}}
- Marcellus Environmental Fund to assess and address risks of shale drilling{{cite news|first=Anya |last=Litvak |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/news/2010/12/20/colcom-foundation-marcellus-fund.html |title=Colcom Foundation launches Marcellus fund |work=Pittsburgh Business Times |date=December 20, 2010 |accessdate=January 4, 2012}}{{cite web|url=http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10356/1112434-455.stm |title=Grant to educate public on Marcellus Shale issues |publisher=Postgazette.com |date=December 22, 2010 |accessdate=January 4, 2012}}
- Mt. Washington land conservation{{cite web|url=http://www.postgazette.com/pg/10333/1106847-53.stm |title=Mount Washington park continues expansion |publisher=Postgazette.com |date=November 29, 2010 |accessdate=January 4, 2012}}
- Tribute to Children monument honoring Mister Rogers{{cite web |url=http://www.popcitymedia.com/devnews/colcom0326.aspx |title=$4M Colcom Foundation grant to support overlook on Pittsburgh's North Shore |publisher=Popcitymedia.com |date=March 26, 2008 |accessdate=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111207012426/http://popcitymedia.com/devnews/colcom0326.aspx |archive-date=December 7, 2011 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.fci.org/children/8-20-09-images |title=Fred Rogers – A Tribute to Children |publisher=Fci.org |accessdate=January 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329041233/http://www.fci.org/children/8-20-09-images/ |archivedate=March 29, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}{{cite news| url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2009/11/05/Sculpture-of-Fred-Rogers-unveiled-on-North-Side/stories/200911050371 | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | first=Anya | last=Sostek | title=Sculpture of Fred Rogers unveiled on North Side | date=5 November 2009}}
- Support for the 2009 G20 Pittsburgh summit{{cite web|url=https://www.pittsburghg20.org/Articles/081009.aspx|title=Cleaning Up. Greening Up. And New Web Sites. |accessdate=June 27, 2011 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091008171835/https://www.pittsburghg20.org/Articles/081009.aspx |archivedate=October 8, 2009 }}
- Completing a bridge for bicyclists on the Great Allegheny Passage near Pittsburgh{{cite news| url=https://www.post-gazette.com/local/south/2008/09/26/Bridge-over-Mon-fills-bike-trail-s-missing-link/stories/200809260232 | work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette | first=Lawrence | last=Walsh| title=Bridge over Mon fills bike trail's missing link | date=26 September 2008}}
- Matching funds to renovate the fountain at historic Point State Park{{cite web |last=Turnbull |first=Jessica |url=http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_648022.html |title=Pittsburgh News, Sports, and Events – Pittsburgh Tribune-Review |publisher=Pittsburghlive.com |date=October 15, 2009 |accessdate=January 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091018093927/http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/pittsburgh/s_648022.html |archive-date=October 18, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}
- Supporting the conversion of the Brilliant Line into a dedicated bike and pedestrian trail{{cite web |title=Partnership Announced for Acquisition of Rail Lines Known as the Brilliant Line |url=https://alleghenycounty25048.activehosted.com/index.php?action=social&c=734&m=828&fbclid=IwAR0smnxKQgnDLkSzMUSjfDlTpkv0HnfJZmD1fEsyrfTVt-0okMNrX9tj6-8 |website=Allegheny County News |date=August 17, 2023}}
References
{{Reflist|colwidth=30em}}
External links
- [http://www.colcomfdn.org Colcom Foundation]
{{Pittsburgh}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Conservation and environmental foundations based in the United States
Category:1996 establishments in Pennsylvania