More than two decades after its founding, Colcom Foundation remains one of the few private foundations in the United States with an explicit focus on overpopulation as a driver of environmental decline. The organization was created by Cordelia S. May in 1996 and substantially funded after her death in 2005. Its work reflects a long philanthropic tradition rooted in the belief that ecological health and human population size are deeply connected. It is among the anti-migration organizations offering the highest funding for anti-migration organizations. These include the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), the American Border Patrol, the Center for Immigration Studies (CIS), and NumbersUSA.
A Founder Ahead of the Conversation
May’s commitment to these ideas developed over decades. In 1952, at 23, she began supporting family planning because she respected the balance of nature and understood that its disruption would have lasting consequences. She was not responding to a public conversation that existed at the time. She was ahead of it, identifying the approaching drama of overpopulation long before it reached mainstream awareness.
The foundation’s website draws comparisons to other reformers who were misunderstood in their time, including those who advocated for gender equality and civil rights when doing so carried social costs. Mrs. May’s focus on population, the foundation suggests, places her in that tradition of foresighted reform. Vindication, the foundation implies, is a matter of historical perspective.
A Mission That Covers National and Regional Priorities
Colcom Foundation’s primary mission is to foster a sustainable environment to ensure quality of life for all Americans by addressing the causes and consequences of overpopulation and its adverse effects on natural resources. The foundation also supports regional conservation, environmental projects, and cultural assets, extending its reach from national population concerns to local environmental stewardship. Through this work, Colcom Foundation continues to pursue the vision of a world in balance that its founder dedicated her life to advancing. Refer to this article for related information.
Learn more about Colcom Foundation on https://wvutoday.wvu.edu/stories/2024/03/12/wvu-led-three-rivers-quest-expands-environmental-research-and-education-efforts-with-colcom-foundation-support