# Mel & Grace McLean Foundation

Mel & Grace McLean Foundation is an Endowment / Foundation based in Fortuna, United States.

## Overview

- **Organization type:** Endowment / Foundation
- **Headquarters:** Fortuna, United States
- **Region:** North America
- **Address:** 3000 Newburg Road Ste. A, Fortuna, CA 95540, United States
- **Founded:** 2000
- **Assets under management:** Undisclosed
- **Website:** mcleanfoundation.org
- **LinkedIn:** https://linkedin.com/company/mel-and-grace-mclean-foundation

## Regulatory record

- **Reports private funds:** No

## About

The Mel & Grace McLean Foundation was established in 2000 by the eponymous couple, whose roots in the Eel River Valley ran through Eel River Sawmills and regional supermarkets. Unlike many philanthropies that expand geographically over time, the Foundation holds its geographic perimeter strictly to Humboldt County, reserving all grant awards for local nonprofits. Dennis Scott, a former Eel River Sawmills executive, now leads the Foundation as President and CEO. The Foundation directs capital across a broad set of program areas including children and youth programs, health and medical services, education, economic development, and environmental initiatives. Its deployment model combines direct grantmaking — which has totaled more than $14 million since inception — with direct ownership and development of community-serving real estate. The balance sheet includes the McLean Campus at 3000 Newburg Road in Fortuna, which houses the Gene Lucas Community Center, and the Eel River Valley Multi-Generational Center. The Foundation also acts as a major sponsor of the annual Fortuna Rodeo, linking its capital to local civic traditions. Although total assets are not publicly disclosed, the Foundation’s footprint is defined more by physical infrastructure than by investment portfolio breadth. Grant applications are accepted by mail or email, and funding decisions remain focused on a single-county mandate. The Foundation partners with organizations such as the Humboldt Area Foundation on regional philanthropic initiatives, maintaining a deliberately local network of co-investors and community relationships. The Foundation's structure is distinctive for its blend of grantmaking and direct real estate development within a hyperlocal footprint. By tying its balance sheet to named community assets — the Gene Lucas Community Center and a multi-generational facility — it functions as both a capital provider and a long-term civic landlord. This dual posture, managed by an operational executive from the founders' original sawmill business, makes it an unusual hybrid: part private foundation, part community developer, anchored to the specific geography that generated its wealth.

## Sectors

- Education
- Healthcare Services
- Real Estate
- Infrastructure

## People

- Dennis Scott — President and CEO
- Mel McLean — Founder
- Grace McLean — Founder
- Maile Feuerman — Grants Program Officer

## Questions

### What is the geographic scope of the McLean Foundation's grantmaking?

The foundation restricts all grants to nonprofit organizations in Humboldt County, California, with a stated emphasis on the Eel River Valley and Southern Humboldt. No funding goes outside the county. This hyperlocal structure reflects the founders' intent to reinvest in the communities where their businesses operated.

### Who makes the grant decisions at the McLean Foundation?

President and CEO Dennis Scott oversees operations, supported by Grants Program Officer Maile Feuerman. Scott previously served as President of Eel River Sawmills, the McLean family's flagship operating business, and has deep ties to regional civic leadership. The foundation does not disclose an investment committee beyond executive staff.

### How is the McLean Foundation's wealth connected to the McLean family's operating businesses?

The foundation draws on wealth generated from Eel River Sawmills, regional supermarket operations, and energy interests. The founders, Mel and Grace McLean, built those businesses in Humboldt County and created the foundation in 2000 to formalize their local philanthropy. The physical assets — including the McLean Campus, Gene Lucas Community Center, and Eel River Valley Multi-Generational Center sit in Fortuna and tie the grantmaking directly to real estate the family controls.

### What types of grants does the foundation make — project-specific, operating, or capital?

The foundation considers funding across program areas including education, health, civic projects, economic development, environmental conservation, and arts. Specific capital projects appear in local records — iPads for schools, the Vector Aquatic Center, and fire-department funding — but the foundation does not publish distinct categories for operating versus capital grants. Inquiries are directed to the Grants Program Officer.

## Related profiles

- [Melfa Wealth Management](https://altss.com/profile/melfa-wealth-management)
- [Meliora Capital](https://altss.com/profile/meliora-capital)

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Last updated: 2026-07-06T00:36:08.836Z

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