The McNeely Foundation aims to leverage human and financial resources to foster a thriving community in East Side St. Paul, Minnesota, the location where the McNeely business was developed. Established in the 1960s by Harry G. McNeely Sr. and Adelaide Frenzel McNeely with an initial stock gift from The St. Paul Terminal Warehouse Company, the Foundation focuses on enhancing the vibrancy and sustainability of this area.
The McNeely Foundation grants support organizations working towards a more dynamic and enduring East Side of St Paul. While it prioritizes efforts within this geographical area and demographic, it remains open to innovative initiatives from other regions that have potential for application or replication on the East Side. The Foundation's grantmaking concentrates on four main areas: Youth Development Through Enrichment, Youth Development Through Employment Training, Environment, and Family & Neighborhood Stability. The latter focuses on increasing the economic vitality of youth and low-income families by providing financial education, stable housing support, employment training, and fostering community leadership and development.
The McNeely Foundation evaluates various factors in our assessment process for the three targeted geographic focus areas. Applicants enhancing their likelihood of approval will align with the following guidelines: Implementing priorities, strategies, and evaluations based on empirical evidence; Possessing a strategy and the capability to track advancements towards both community and personal transformation; Projects that can create significant effects; The relevance and urgency of the initiative; The ability to spur additional initiatives; Valuing collaborations to achieve desired goals and results.