McKay Family Foundation (Oregon)

The McKay Family Foundation, established in 1985 and based in Eugene, Oregon, is a private family foundation that directs grants toward human services in Lane County, Oregon, with a focus on support for children, youth, economically disadvantaged individuals, homeless people, education, family services, child welfare, special populations, and homeless services. ^{1  2  3}

Background

The McKay Family Foundation traces its origins to founders Miles and Eleanor McKay. Miles McKay, a World War II veteran, entered the grocery business after the war. In 1949, he co-founded McKay’s Markets with his brothers, growing the chain to 19 stores by 1959, primarily in the Eugene/Springfield, Oregon area. In 1953, he launched the McKay Investment Company with Eleanor and their children Doug and Linda, initially managing residential properties before focusing on commercial real estate. After dissolving the grocery partnership in 1960, Miles McKay directed the investment company toward commercial development, eventually operating as McKay Commercial Properties and MetroCom Development, with holdings that included the Oakway Center and the Slocum Center. In 1986, Miles and Eleanor established the McKay Family Foundation with an initial contribution of $100,000. Following Miles’s death in 1989 and Eleanor’s in 1990, the foundation’s assets grew to $3 million, and it began grantmaking to local charities. Their son Doug later expanded the foundation’s giving until his death in 2019. The foundation is now governed by grandchildren and their spouses. ⁴

Financials

In 2024, the McKay Family Foundation reported revenues of $650,409, expenses of $417,346, and a net income of $233,063, with net assets of $6,213,676. Charitable disbursements totaled $349,700, representing 83.8 percent of expenses. Revenues consisted of dividends at $237,212 (36.5 percent of total revenue), sales of assets at $410,957 (63.2 percent), and interest revenue of $2,240. ⁵

Grantmaking

The McKay Foundation is a grantmaking organization that funds groups in areas including education, homelessness, disability assistance, youth services, poverty outreach, and medical and mental health services. ⁶ Typically, grants range in size from $1,500 to $20,000 each. ²

In 2024, the McKay Foundation gave a $40,000 grant to Every Child Lane County, a nonprofit based in Eugene, Oregon serving children in crisis. ⁷

In 2024, the McKay Foundation gave a $20,000 grant to Square One Villages. ⁷ Based in Eugene, Oregon, the group develops resident-owned co-ops using limited-equity models to provide housing for low-income households, using a communal ownership model while pushing “equity” initiatives and anti-capitalist structures. ⁸

In 2024, the McKay Foundation gave a $10,000 grant to the Assistance League of Eugene, a volunteer organization that operates a food pantry and provides services such as clothing and books for school-aged children. ^{7  9}

People

Trustees of the McKay Family Foundation include Kelly L Thakkar, Tracie M Shojai, and Dale Williams. ³