The Maclellan Foundation Inc
The Maclellan Foundation Inc is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Incorporated in Delaware in 1945 and reincorporated in Tennessee in 1992, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. The foundation is part of the Maclellan Family Foundations, a group of grantmakers that includes The Maclellan Foundation Inc (MFI), Christian Education Charitable Trust (CECT), and Robert L. and Kathrina H. Maclellan Foundation (RL).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$167.4M
-8.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$21.5M
-0.4% YoY
Grant Count
161
-53.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$133K
+112.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Maclellan Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $12.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Local Focus (Chattanooga Area): The foundation's purpose in the Chattanooga area is to provide financial and leadership resources to foster biblical Christian values in the community and meet practical and spiritual needs, primarily accomplished through faith-based ministries.
National Focus: The foundation's vision is to see strong families worshipping in healthy churches, influencing culture, and seeking to serve God above all else. The focus is on nationwide strategies that deliver faith-based solutions.
International Focus: The foundation's vision is to see a vibrant, disciplined, reproducing church. The focus is on establishing and strengthening the church, discipleship and leadership development, promoting community transformation, and increasing access to Scripture.
Program Areas:
- Faith-based grants and support for religious nonprofits and Christian nonprofits
- Grants for churches
- Literacy projects to support the education of children and youth
- Promoting generosity and philanthropy
- Building organizational capacity through technical assistance and training to nonprofits and grantees
- Governance, leadership, and general capacity building for nonprofits
- Strategic planning, impact measurement, and leadership coaching
Grantmaking
Typical awards range from $50 to $5,320,000.
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation funds primarily in Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia, with national and international grantmaking activities.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $167,332,508
- Total Revenue: $13,829,774
- Total Expenses: $29,774,320
- Net Income: -$15,944,546
- Total Liabilities: $34,700
Revenue Composition (2024):
- Contributions Received: 63.3% of total revenue
- Investment Income: 32.2% of total revenue
- Other sources: 4.6% of total revenue
Staffing: The foundation employs 7 staff members.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $167,367,179 | $183,339,323 | $207,028,871 |
| Revenue | $13,829,774 | $7,801,963 | $13,594,154 |
| Expenses | $29,774,320 | $31,235,363 | $32,010,638 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $27,012,336 | $27,420,467 | $26,933,346 |
| Net Investment Income | $9,438,081 | $4,711,590 | $9,214,722 |
| Distributable Amount | $12,486,247 | $13,643,668 | $14,485,098 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Mission Increase ($245,000), United Way of Greater Chattanooga ($175,000), Lee University ($175,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| SIGNAL CENTERS CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR OUTREACH TO FAMILIES. | $75,000 |
| MISSION INCREASE CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. | $245,000 |
| MISSION INCREASE CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR BUILDING ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY. | $50,000 |
| TEACH FOR AMERICA NASHVILLE-CHATTANOOGA ATLANTA, GA | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $45,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF GREATER CHATTANOOGA CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $175,000 |
| LEE UNIVERSITY CLEVELAND, TN | FOR EDUCATION OF YOUTH AND CHILDREN. | $175,000 |
| THE BROCK CENTER CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $50,000 |
| CHATTACADEMY COMMUNITY SCHOOLS INC CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR EDUCATION OF YOUTH AND CHILDREN. | $75,000 |
| CHATTANOOGA PREP INC CHATTANOOGA, TN | FOR GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT. | $150,000 |
| CARE FOR CHILDREN LEAWOOD, KS | FOR HOLISTIC COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND DEVELOPMENT. | $40,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Hugh Maclellan Jr. serves as the foundation's president. Along with his wife Nancy, Maclellan has set a personal goal of giving away a minimum of 70 percent of their personal income every year.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| W MILLER WELBORN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| BEN FISCHER | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LUCIEN BEHAR | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 38 | $256,713 |
| MORGAN MACLELLAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| MICHAEL TREMAIN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| FRANCES HEALD SHEFFIELD | TRUSTEE | — | — |
| DAVID G DENMARK | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 38 | $367,861 |
| HUGH O MACLELLAN JR | CHAIRMAN EMERITUS | 1 | — |
| ROBERT H MACLELLAN | VICE CHAIRMAN, SECRETARY AND TREASURER | 2 | — |
| RONALD W BLUE | TRUSTEE EMERITUS) | 1 | — |
| CHRISTOPHER H MACLELLAN | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD | 35 | — |
| ELIZABETH LINDQUIST | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| CATHERINE M HEALD | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| LAURENCE POWELL | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DARYL J HEALD | ASSOCIATE TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| DR REID MACLELLAN | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 820 Broad Street, Suite 300 Chattanooga, TN 37402-2604
Phone: 423-755-8142
Website: www.maclellan.net
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Maclellan Foundation Inc fund?
**Local Focus (Chattanooga Area):** The foundation's purpose in the Chattanooga area is to provide financial and leadership resources to foster biblical Christian values in the community and meet practical and spiritual needs, primarily accomplished through faith-based ministries. **National Focus:** The foundation's vision is to see strong families worshipping in healthy churches, influencing culture, and seeking to serve God above all else. The focus is on nationwide strategies that deliver f…
How do I apply for a grant from The Maclellan Foundation Inc?
**Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $50 to $5,320,000. **Total Giving:** The foundation distributed $21,453,335 in grants in 2024. **Recent Activity:** The foundation actively engages in grantmaking across its focus areas. It partners with consultants to provide training and consulting on strategic planning, impact measurement, and leadership coaching to nonprofit organizations and grantees. The foundation has invested in platforms that pair pro bono professionals with nonprofits to prov…
Where does The Maclellan Foundation Inc make grants?
The foundation funds primarily in Tennessee, Florida, and Georgia, with national and international grantmaking activities.
What size grants does The Maclellan Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, The Maclellan Foundation Inc awarded 161 grants totaling $21.5M — an average of about $133K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Maclellan Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Maclellan Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $12.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Maclellan Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Maclellan Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 62-6041468. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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