The McConnell Foundation is an independent foundation located in Redding, California and funding primarily in rural Northern California. We are a broad-based funder and have awarded grants to nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations, public education, and government entities. We do not fund individuals.
Since the Foundation began actively making grants in 1989, it has awarded more than $125 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; Scholarships; and our long-standing Yosemite Institute program. We began funding internationally in 1999, and now fund in the countries of Nepal and Laos.
We are rarely the sole funder of any project and consider our partnerships and collaborations to be at the heart of our philanthropic mission.
Increased Funding of Rural Areas
The Foundation is also increasing its commitment to the rural areas outside of Shasta County – Modoc, Tehama, and Trinity Counties. Our first inroad into these counties is expansion of our funding of the Yosemite Institute Program and scholarships. As we get to know the communities and their needs, we plan to increase the scope of our funding in other ways.