The McLean Contributionship Grant

The McLean Contributionship Grant, established in 1951, supports charitable projects in the Greater Philadelphia area, focusing on Arts, Education, Environment, and Health. The Trustees prioritize long-term benefits through capital projects rather than ongoing operational expenses. They favor initiatives that enhance community understanding of the environment, promote inclusivity, and improve care for the aging, all while fostering education and cultural developments. The foundation seeks to empower young talent and enhance service delivery in the region.

Welcome
Originally established in 1951 as The Bulletin Contributionship for charitable, educational and scientific purposes, the Contributionship became The McLean Contributionship on May 1, 1980 as the association of the McLean family with the Bulletin ended.
The McLean Contributionship currently focuses its grant-making activities in the greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area in the Arts, Culture and Humanities, Education, Environment and Animal Welfare, Health and Human Services.
Operating Philosophy
Most grants by the Contributionship have been made in the Greater Philadelphia area because of the 100 year business and personal associations of the McLean family.
The Trustees believe the resources of The Contributionship can be used most effectively by making a relatively limited number of grants for projects of long-term benefit–rather than by underwriting continuing operating expenses. The Trustees focus on capital projects: bricks and mortar, endowment for purposes outlined below. Capital is considered to be a physical item with at least a three to five year life span. The Trustees may make grants in ways to encourage the successful funding of projects.
Purposes
The Contributionship favors projects in the Greater Philadelphia area when they enhance the lives of those living there. The Trustees consider the Greater Philadelphia area to be Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and Lower Bucks Counties. The Trustees are most likely to respond positively when the project:
stimulates a better understanding of the natural environment, and encourages the preservation of its important features;promotes strategies and actions that help create more diverse and inclusive communities and that seek to close disparities in racial equity and justice where they exist;encourages more compassionate, inclusive and cost-effective care for the ill and aging, in an atmosphere of dignity and self-respect; orpromotes education, or medical, scientific, or on occasion, cultural developments enhancing the quality of life.
In addition, the Trustees from time to time support projects which:
motivate promising young people to assess and develop their talents despite social and economic obstacles; orbuild infrastructure to promote enhanced delivery of services and community engagement, partnerships or collaboration;orencourage those in newspaper and related fields to become more effective and responsible in helping people understand better how, events in their communities and around the world affect them.

Ineligibility

The Contributionship does not fund the costs or expenses of existing staff allocated to a project it is asked to support.The Trustees do not consider unsolicited operating proposals or operating seed money requests.