THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersFortuna, United States
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION
- Legal name
- The McLean Foundation
- Website
- https://mcleanfoundation.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Private Foundation Grantmaking
- NAICS
- Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Community Foundations (BPAGAKAB), Education Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAK)
Keywords
Where THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Fortuna
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Grant Disbursement: As a private foundation established by Mel and Grace McLean's trust, the foundation disburses grants to nonprofit organizations in Humboldt County, California. It does not generate commercial revenue but operates from an endowment established by its founders.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Small Grants - $4,000 or less |
| One time/ perpetual license | Multi-year contract | Large Grants - Over $4,000 |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The McLean Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation that disburses funds to nonprofit organizations in Humboldt County, California, with special emphasis on the Eel River Valley and Southern Humboldt. Its core offerings include Small Grants (≤$4,000, staff-reviewed), Large Grants (>$4,000, Board-reviewed with Letter of Interest), Safety Net/Capacity Support grants, and Nonprofit Technical Assistance grants. The Foundation operates exclusively from an endowment established by founders Mel and Grace McLean and does not generate commercial revenue.
Product overview
The McLean Foundation is a nonprofit grant-making organization that empowers communities in the Eel River Valley and Humboldt County through funding, leadership, and support. The Foundation's core offering consists of grant programs categorized as Small Grants (awards of $4,000 or less, staff-reviewed) and Large Grants (awards over $4,000, Board-reviewed), alongside capacity-building programs including Safety Net/Capacity Support and Nonprofit Technical Assistance. The Foundation has also undertaken significant special projects, most notably the Gene Lucas Community Center and McLean Campus (a 30-acre campus completed in 2020 with 23,000 and 16,000 square foot buildings), and the Fortuna Community Health Center ($5 million funded). An Online Grants Manager platform supports the application process for these grant programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Small Grants Program Grant awards of $4,000 or less, staff-reviewed for approval, supporting nonprofit organizations in Humboldt County.
- Large Grants Program Grant awards over $4,000, Board-reviewed for approval, requiring Letter of Interest (LOI) form approval prior to full application.
- Safety Net/Capacity Support Program Grants providing assistance to nonprofit organizations including support for health and medical programs, children, youth, adult and senior resources, and internal capacity building.
- Nonprofit Technical Assistance Grants Operational or management assistance to nonprofits including fundraising assistance, budgeting and financial planning, program planning, legal advice, and marketing.
- Online Grants Manager An online grant management system allowing nonprofits to apply for grants, track application status, access past grant history, and submit electronic grant reports.
- Gene Lucas Community Center and McLean Campus A 30-acre community campus completed in 2020, featuring a 23,000 square foot Community Center with office space for nonprofits, commercial kitchen, classrooms, and rental spaces, plus a 16,000 square foot building housing the Humboldt Senior Resource Center, surrounded by wetland ponds and walking trails.
- Fortuna Community Health Center (Open Door) A state-of-the-art health clinic serving the Eel River Valley, funded with a $2 million donation from the Foundation plus $3 million from the community.
- Fortuna Community Pool Project A community aquatic facility being built in Fortuna by the ERV Community Center Foundation, with construction funded by the McLean Foundation, to fill a critical gap in the Eel River Valley.
Quantifiable outcome
- Supported 378+ nonprofit organizations since 2000
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- ERV Community Center FoundationflagshipFormed in 2021, this foundation owns and operates the Gene Lucas Community Center (GLC). Lauren Correll transitioned to oversee operations through 2025, and as of 2026 serves as Vice President of both foundations. McLean Foundation funded the construction of this major community facility.
- North Coast Grantmaking PartnershipcoreA group of strategic co-funders that have created a collaboration allowing the collective use of knowledge to assist in addressing issues with greater impact for the community. McLean Foundation participates as a partner in this regional grantmaking collaboration.
- Holiday Funding PartnershipcoreA collaboration of funders started with the intent to reduce duplication of granting, creating one application and granting process to access resources for the multiple Holiday outreach programs. The partnership celebrates with 36 organizations receiving a total of $56,000 for Holiday programs.
- Summer Youth PartnershipcoreMultiple funders support this effort to create an easy application process for Summer Youth Programs within Humboldt County. Youth organizations can apply for this grant round annually.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION competitors and assessment
Company assessmentRegional players
- Sierra Health Foundation: California-based foundation supporting health and community resilience in Northern California. Comparable as a regionally focused private foundation with a similar grantmaking + capacity-building approach.
- Coastal Community Foundation: Regional grantmaker serving coastal Northern California communities. Comparable in mission and structure to McLean Foundation though operating in adjacent geography.
Others
- Open Door Community Health Centers: Federally qualified health center serving Humboldt and Del Norte counties. Comparable as a Humboldt County community organization receiving McLean Foundation funding ($2M) and exemplifies the Foundation's nonprofit grantee ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Ford Foundation: One of the largest U.S. private foundations with global grantmaking across social justice, education, and economic opportunity. Comparable as a private foundation structure though operating at vastly larger scale and broader thematic scope.
- Blue Shield of California Foundation: Large California-focused foundation funding health and domestic violence prevention. Comparable as a California private foundation with health and community grantmaking priorities that overlap with McLean's health facility investments.
- The California Wellness Foundation: Large California private foundation focused on health, equity, and community wellness. Comparable in its California footprint and grantmaking model, though operating at significantly greater scale than McLean.
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Major U.S. health-focused private foundation. Comparable as a private foundation with significant health-sector grantmaking, including community health infrastructure investments similar to McLean's Open Door Health Center funding.
- The San Francisco Foundation: One of the oldest community foundations in the U.S., serving the Bay Area with broad grantmaking programs. Comparable as an established California grantmaker, though at much larger scale and broader geography.
Direct peers
- North Coast Grantmaking Partnership: A coalition of regional funders (including McLean Foundation) coordinating grantmaking in Humboldt County. Direct peer as a fellow institutional grantmaker operating in the same geography with overlapping nonprofit grantees.
- Humboldt Area Foundation: The largest community foundation serving Humboldt County, with a similarly broad grantmaking mandate across the region. Direct geographic and functional peer to McLean Foundation, operating a shared regional funder ecosystem.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION social profiles
Digital presenceTHE MCLEAN FOUNDATION financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION
What does THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION do?
The McLean Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) grantmaking foundation that disburses funds to nonprofit organizations in Humboldt County, California, with special emphasis on the Eel River Valley and Southern Humboldt. Its core offerings include Small Grants (≤$4,000, staff-reviewed), Large Grants (>$4,000, Board-reviewed with Letter of Interest), Safety Net/Capacity Support grants, and Nonprofit Technical Assistance grants. The Foundation operates exclusively from an endowment established by founders Mel and Grace McLean and does not generate commercial revenue.
Is THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION a public or private company?
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION founded?
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION was founded in 2000.
Where is THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION based?
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION is headquartered in Fortuna, United States, in the North America region.
How does THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION make money?
One revenue line is on record: grant Disbursement.
Who are THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION's main competitors?
Regional players on record are Sierra Health Foundation and Coastal Community Foundation. Open Door Community Health Centers is listed as an others. Broad incumbents are Ford Foundation, Blue Shield of California Foundation, The California Wellness Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and The San Francisco Foundation. Direct peers are North Coast Grantmaking Partnership and Humboldt Area Foundation.
Does THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION.
What industry is THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION in?
THE MCLEAN FOUNDATION's product category is Private Foundation Grantmaking. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAGAKAA, Private Foundations, with a secondary code of BPAGAKAB, Community Foundations. Its NAICS code is 813211.