About Maclellan Foundation
The Maclellan Foundation concentrates its philanthropy on faith-based spiritual formation and philanthropic infrastructure, making very large, strategic gifts to a small set of charitable trusts and giving platforms. Grants are aimed at building organizational capacity and enabling generosity rather than funding front-line social services, and recipients include both local (Chattanooga) and national/international donor-advised or faith organizations. The foundation's giving emphasizes sustaining religious mission and amplifying charitable giving through intermediary organizations.
Focus Areas
Christian spiritual formation and ministry supportPhilanthropic infrastructure and donor-advised/generosity trustsCapacity building for faith-based organizations
Who They Fund
faith communities / congregationsnonprofit organizations (organizational capacity)community members benefiting from outreach programsyouth and childrenemerging and current charitable leaders
About Maclellan Foundation
The Maclellan Foundation Inc moves through large, strategic grants to a small circle of faith-based intermediary organizations, with the biggest recent awards going to Chattanooga Christian Community Foundation Dba the Generosity Trust and National Christian Charitable Foundation Inc. Those gifts point to a clear pattern: the foundation backs structures that channel generosity, strengthen Christian ministry, and support spiritual formation rather than broad front-line service delivery. In the recent grant record, the foundation repeatedly supports organizations that build ministry capacity, train leaders, and promote Christian discipleship. It also uses some of its funding to sustain giving platforms, including the International Generosity Foundation Trust, which appears multiple times across recent years. Grants are not limited to one city or one type of institution; they reach both local Chattanooga organizations and national faith-based nonprofits. Smaller awards in the recent list show the same orientation at a different scale. Chattanooga Prep Inc received general operating support in two separate years, while Awana Clubs International, Far East Broadcasting Company Inc, Vision Communications International, and Healing Grace International were funded for organizational capacity, spiritual formation, or education-related work. The foundation’s profile is defined by mission alignment, intermediary partnerships, and repeated support for organizations that extend Christian ministry and generosity.
What Maclellan Foundation Funds
Christian spiritual formation is a central theme in the foundation’s giving. For example, Far East Broadcasting Company Inc received $250,000 in 2024 for spiritual formation and education, while Vision Communications International received $250,000 in 2024 for the same purpose. Capacity building is another recurring use of funds. Awana Clubs International was awarded $300,000 in 2024 and $275,000 in 2023 for building organizational capacity, and Healing Grace International received $250,000 in 2023 for the same aim. The foundation also supports generosity-focused infrastructure. International Generosity Foundation Trust received $257,500 in 2023 for inspiring others in generosity, and the same recipient appears repeatedly in larger recent grants tied to spiritual formation and building capacity. A third strand is support for education and general ministry strengthening. Chattanooga Prep Inc received $300,000 in 2024 and $300,000 in 2023 for general operating support, showing that the foundation can also back mission-aligned institutions through unrestricted funding.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$21.5M
Total Assets
$167.4M
Total Revenue
$13.8M
Total Expenses
$29.8M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $3K and $50K, with a median of $15K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$15K
75th Percentile
$50K
Geographic Reach
Regional36 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Where Maclellan Foundation Funds
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Maclellan Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 1,131 | $86.6M | 99.8% |
| 2 | Canada | 2 |
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