Governing Principles

•  A fundamental respect for all people and our environment.
•  Grantee and community relationships expand Foundation resources beyond grantmaking.
•  Community needs and Foundation Board of Director interests drive strategy directions.
•  Governance is based on fair process, active listening, and open discussion.
•  We practice transparency in our communications about priorities and decision making.
•  Our process is grounded in continual learning and knowledge sharing.

McNeely Foundation History

In the early years, grantmaking funded charitable interests from the United Way to a variety of educational institutions in St. Paul, Minnesota. Adelaide McNeely was the first Chair of the Foundation and family members and managers from the business sat on its board. After Adelaide retired, their son Harry G. McNeely Jr took leadership of the Foundation. Harry chaired the Foundation for over 20 years and is responsible for growing the corpus, bringing next generation family members onto the board, and increasing the grantmaking capacity and interests of the Foundation.

Currently the Foundation board is comprised of third and fourth generation family members and a non-family community representative. The board continues to direct the grantmaking focus of the Foundation assisted by a professional staff. The current focus of the Foundation is comprised of grants in the areas of family and neighborhood stability, youth development, and environmental programming, primarily funding programs in East Side St. Paul neighborhoods.