The McConnell Foundation

"Helping to Build Better Communities through Philanthropy"  

The McConnell Foundation is an independent foundation located in Redding, California. As a broad-based funder, we have awarded grants to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public education, and government entities located primarily in Modoc, Shasta, Siskiyou, Tehama, and Trinity Counties in rural Northern California, and the countries of Nepal and Laos.

Since the Foundation began making grants in 1989, it has awarded more than $202 million in the areas of Arts & Culture, Community Vitality, Recreation, Social Services, and the Environment. Current areas of emphasis are Children, Youth & Education; Sustainable/Livable Communities; Community Vitality; Scholarships; and our long-standing Nature Bridge program in Yosemite. We began funding internationally in 1999, and now fund targeted projects in the countries of Nepal and Laos.

Equity Statement:

The mission of The McConnell Foundation is helping build better communities through philanthropy. Our vision for a better community is one that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive. The history of the areas we serve includes periods of systemic genocidal practices, colonization, displacement, forced labor, and oppression. Awareness and acknowledgment of these shared histories and how their legacies persist are critical to understanding how to move forward.

The Foundation board and staff are engaged in an inward‐looking process to ensure that our philanthropy avoids perpetrating harm by putting equity at the center of our work. We strive to reach out with humility and respect to those who have been impacted by systemic racism and inequity, to practice inclusive listening and learning, and to identify opportunities for reparative action. We are grateful to work together to help build better communities for everyone.

Full Equity Statement