Colcom Foundation
Colcom Foundation is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, established in 1996 by Cordelia Scaife May. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization designated as a private independent foundation that provides funding to advocacy groups and organizations addressing environmental conservation, population sustainability, and related policy issues.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$450.8M
+3.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$22.1M
-4.2% YoY
Grant Count
117
-12.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$189K
+9.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Colcom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary mission is to foster a sustainable environment to ensure quality of life for all Americans by addressing major causes and consequences of overpopulation and its adverse effects on natural resources.
Secondary mission areas include:
- Regional conservation and environmental projects
- Cultural assets in southwestern Pennsylvania
- A meaningful national conversation on the optimal level of immigration in light of jobs, natural habitat, biodiversity, civic society, and economics
The foundation's funding interests include:
- Carrying Capacity — addressing population growth and its environmental impacts
- Local Environment — regional conservation efforts
- Local Community — southwestern Pennsylvania initiatives
- Extinction Crisis
- Access to Nature
- Limits, Tradeoffs, and Balance
- Rebound Effect
- Common Ground
The foundation has stated it has no tolerance for discrimination and operates under the principle that all must be treated with equal dignity.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates two distinct grant programs:
Grant Range
$250 to $2,870,000
How to Apply
**
Ready to take the next step with Colcom Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- National focus for Carrying Capacity program
- Southwestern Pennsylvania (fourteen-county region) for Local Environment & Community program
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (as of 2024):
- Total assets: $450,773,317
- Total revenues: $41,077,227
- Total expenses: $28,200,920
- Investment income and dividends: $10,968,247
Historical Financial Data:
- 2023 assets: $438,000,000
- 2023 revenues: $23,500,000
- 2023 expenses: $28,900,000
The foundation received substantial funding following Cordelia Scaife May's death in 2005, when she left approximately $400 million to the organization.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $450,773,317 | $437,794,022 | $443,401,783 |
| Revenue | $41,077,227 | $23,457,577 | $64,855,992 |
| Expenses | $28,200,920 | $28,944,155 | $28,077,271 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $24,261,513 | $25,387,041 | $23,701,089 |
| Net Investment Income | $37,579,445 | $20,546,361 | $59,483,740 |
| Distributable Amount | $24,357,852 | $22,754,686 | $26,193,266 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
200 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Colcom Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colcom Foundation - Numbersusa Education & Research Foundation ($2,870,000), Colcom Foundation - Federation for American Immigration Reform ($2,600,000), Colcom Foundation - Immigration Reform Law Institute ($2,300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY CONFERENCE AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS PITTSBURGH, PA | NEXT IS NOW PROJECT | $110,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | LAND CONSERVATION | $500,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | LAND CONSERVATION | $200,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | LAND CONSERVATION | $450,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | LAND CONSERVATION | $175,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ALLEGHENY LAND TRUST SEWICKLEY, PA | LAND CONSERVATION | $425,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - ARMSTRONG CONSERVANCY INC KITTANNING, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $66,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - CARNEGIE INSTITUTE PITTSBURGH, PA | POWDERMILL AVIAN RESEARCH CENTER | $130,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - CENTER FOR IMMIGRATION STUDIES WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,975,000 |
| COLCOM FOUNDATION - CITIZENS COAL COUNCIL WASHINGTON, PA | ENVIRONMENTAL AGENCY REFORM CAMPAIGN | $50,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Personnel:
- Ray Lombardi — Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
- A Phillips Colcom — Vice President Philanthropy
- D M Napolitano — Vice President Philanthropy / Program Director
- B A Rowan — Office Manager
- John Barsotti — President (as of 2020)
The foundation employs 9 staff members.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| J S BARSOTTI COLCOM | DIRECTOR/PRESIDENT/CIO | 40 | $441,000 |
| R P LOMBARDI COLCOM | VP & CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 40 | $271,750 |
| A PHILLIPS COLCOM | VP PHILANTHROPY | 40 | $201,750 |
| T M INGLIS COLCOM | DIRECTOR | 8 | $46,000 |
| M M STRUEBER COLCOM | DIRECTOR | 8 | $46,000 |
| D M PANAZZI COLCOM | DIRECTOR | 8 | $46,000 |
| D E BAKER COLCOM | DIRECTOR | 8 | $46,000 |
| J F ROHE COLCOM | DIRECTOR | 8 | $46,000 |
| T M SCHMIDT LAUREL | EMERITUS DIRECTOR | 2 | $600 |
| N C FALES LAUREL | EMERITUS DIRECTOR | 2 | $600 |
| T M INGLIS LAUREL | DIRECTOR | 2 | $16,500 |
| D M PANAZZI LAUREL | DIRECTOR | 3 | $16,500 |
| D E BAKER LAUREL | DIRECTOR | 3 | $16,500 |
| J F ROHE LAUREL | DIRECTOR | 3 | $16,500 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Recent grant announcements and initiatives include:
**Allegheny Riverfront Park** — Downtown Pittsburgh's Allegheny Riverfront Park received funding for a new chapter of development (March 2026)
Downtown Pittsburgh\u2019s Allegheny Riverfront Park Gets a Vibrant New\**Watershed Conservation** — The foundation awarded a $1 million grant to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy for Upper Allegheny Watershed Conservation
Colcom Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy**Cascading Conservation Impact** — A 2006 Colcom Foundation grant catalyzed decades of watershed conservation in western Pennsylvania
Colcom Foundation Awards $1 Million Grant to Western Pennsylvania Conservancy**Marcellus Environmental Fund** — The foundation awarded $900,000 in grants through its Marcellus Environmental Fund
Colcom Foundation Awards $900,000 in 'Marcellus Environmental ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Colcom Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary mission is to foster a sustainable environment to ensure quality of life for all Americans by addressing major causes and consequences of overpopulation and its adverse effects on natural resources. Secondary mission areas include: • Regional conservation and environmental projects • Cultural assets in southwestern Pennsylvania • A meaningful national conversation on the optimal level of immigration in light of jobs, natural habitat, biodiversity, civic society, and eco…
How do I apply for a grant from Colcom Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Annual giving: approximately $22-23 million (2024: $22,125,313) • Total grants distributed since founding: more than $500 million • Number of grants annually: 116-134 • Grant range: $250 to $2,870,000 • Median grant amount: $75,000 **Grant Programs:** The foundation operates two distinct grant programs: 1. **National Giving (Carrying Capacity)** — focusing on population and immigration issues at the national level 2. **Local Environment & Community** — focusing on southwes…
Where does Colcom Foundation make grants?
• **National focus** for Carrying Capacity program • **Southwestern Pennsylvania** (fourteen-county region) for Local Environment & Community program
What size grants does Colcom Foundation award?
In 2024, Colcom Foundation awarded 117 grants totaling $22.1M — an average of about $189K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Colcom Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Colcom Foundation reported a distributable amount of $24.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Colcom Foundation's EIN?
Colcom Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1479839. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Colcom Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.