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's grantmaking efforts concentrate on creating a more vibrant and sustainable East Side of St. Paul. While it prioritizes organizations within this geographical and demographic focus, it is open to funding innovative projects that can be integrated or replicated in the East Side. The grant program centers on four main areas: Youth Development Through Enrichment, Youth Development Through Employment Training, Environment, and Family & Neighborhood Stability. Specifically, the Youth Development Through Enrichment aims to support middle-grade youths living on the East Side in developing their abilities, acknowledging and pursuing their maximum potential, and transitioning successfully to adulthood. This is achieved by expanding access to community-based enrichment and life skills programming available during or outside school hours, with a preference for middle-grade youths but also considering high school-aged youths.