Population growth and ecological health are not often discussed together in mainstream environmental circles. Colcom Foundation has built its entire identity around making exactly that connection, drawing on the philosophy of its founder, Cordelia S. May, who began sounding the alarm more than 70 years ago.

A History Rooted in Concern

Mrs. May was 23 years old when, in 1952, she began channeling resources toward family planning. The motivation was clear and consistent throughout her life: she believed that the natural world’s capacity to support future generations was being eroded by human population growth. She recognized that this erosion was slow and easy to overlook imperceptible from day to day but cumulative and eventually overwhelming.

She created Colcom Foundation in 1996, at age 68. After her passing in 2005, the organization received substantial funding that enabled it to pursue her vision at scale. Its grantmaking is designed to reflect her values: humanitarian concern, long-range thinking, and a belief that addressing overpopulation is inseparable from serious conservation work. Colcom Foundation’s work has also facilitated proactive environmental advocacy and protection by groups, including the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy, WeConservePA, Westmoreland Land Trust, Protect PT, and Fair Shake Environmental Legal Services.

The Foundation’s Stated Mission

Colcom Foundation’s primary mission is to foster a sustainable environment that protects quality of life for all Americans. It pursues this goal by addressing the major causes and consequences of overpopulation and its harmful effects on natural resources. The foundation also provides regional support for conservation projects, environmental initiatives, and cultural assets.

The organization connects population growth to some of the most pressing ecological problems of the present: habitat destruction on land and in water, pollution, biodiversity loss, and ecosystem collapse. These are problems that Mrs. May identified as inevitable outcomes of a growth-centered culture decades before they became widespread concerns.

Context and Legacy

Colcom Foundation draws a parallel between its founder and other reformers throughout history who faced resistance before being recognized as visionaries. Mrs. May’s humanitarian perspective, the foundation argues, brought these environmental dynamics into focus before they reached public discourse.

That perspective now guides every grant the foundation makes and every initiative it supports. Refer to this article for related information.

Learn more about Colcom Foundation on https://waterlandlife.org/land-conservation/colcom-revolving-fund-for-local-land-trusts/