Who We Are
About
Founded in 1968, the Claneil Foundation is a private family foundation located in the Philadelphia area. We seek to support and encourage effective individuals and organizations committed to improving the health of families and communities through advancements in health and human services, a sustainable food system, education and the protection of our environment. Our Core Values and Trust-Based Philanthropy principles guide our grantmaking practices. To learn more about the foundation’s grantmaking programs, please visit the Grant Programs section of this website.
Our History
The Claneil Foundation is a family foundation that works to create healthy communities by supporting organizations that make a difference in the lives of individuals and families. The Foundation is rooted in a history of core values which include a belief in volunteerism, a desire to provide access for underserved populations to quality education, nutrition and health services, and a commitment to sharing the experience and knowledge of effective philanthropy with multiple generations.
For over 50 years, the Claneil Foundation has grown and evolved in response to demonstrated needs in the community and interests of the family members. The Claneil Foundation’s leadership works closely to facilitate continued learning of the family and board around philanthropic and grantee partner issues. “We value our grantee partners, and see our relationship with each organization as a two-way street. We always try to learn from grantee partners in terms of what is happening in their everyday work and trends that they are seeing in the field,” explains Executive Director Mailee Walker. Making family engagement and community impact high priorities has allowed the Foundation to undergo significant growth over the past 50 years, while preserving and perpetuating the family’s philanthropic vision and values.
Our Team
Andrea Bretting | Senior Program Officer
Andrea joined the Claneil Foundation in 2008, bringing with her many years of experience with local, national and international nonprofits. She began her career in Philadelphia as a community social worker. While living in Berlin, Germany, she worked for the Amadeu Antonio Stiftung, a foundation that addresses anti-Semitism and furthers the development of a democratic civil society. Before joining the Claneil Foundation, she was an associate director at the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania. Andrea served on the Steering Committee of the Health and Environmental Funders Network, the membership committee of the Sustainable Agriculture and Food System’s Funders as well as Philanthropy Network. She also served on the advisory board of the American Friends of Action Reconciliation/Service for Peace. As a DAAD fellow of the German Academic Exchange Program, Andrea earned her BA/MA in Social Work in Cologne, Germany. She also holds a MA in International Development from American University in Washington, DC. She lives in Philadelphia with her wife, her good dog and naughty cat. Contact Andrea via email at abretting[at]claneil.org
Joy Chen | Summer Intern
Joy Chen is a rising sophomore at Temple University where she is studying Biology and minoring in Clinical Health and Psychology. She graduated from Central High School in Philadelphia with honors and completed coursework in Spanish, biology, and organic chemistry. She spent 6 years serving as Student President and Youth Environmental Leader for Community Fund grantee partner Discovery Pathways. During her time at Discovery Pathways, she also served as a Dragon Boat Team Captain, which helped propel her to international competitions as a member of the U18 Team USA Dragon Boat Team. Joy is on the pre-med track at school and loves baking birthday cakes for family members, friends, and her roommates. Joy hopes to gain new skills, expand her horizons, and learn more about the Claneil Foundation’s work during her internship this summer. She enjoys being active, participating in new and unique activities, and pushing herself academically. Contact Joy via email at jchen[at]claneil.org
Rebecca (Becky) Martinez | Grants Manager
Becky became the grants manager of the Claneil Foundation in 2021. Prior to joining the Claneil Foundation, she held various positions throughout her 27-year career at Wells Fargo and its predecessor banks as an accomplished executive assistant. She has extensive experience in administrative management and working in partnership with senior leadership in various banking divisions, including Commercial Banking, Human Resources, Finance, Community Relations, and Regional Foundation. Becky is a board member of the Philadelphia Prevention Partnership. She is also committed to community outreach projects in the Philadelphia area. Becky earned a certificate in Computer Programming from Emory College in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Contact Becky via email at rmartinez[at]claneil.org
Oliver Spurgeon | Communications Manager
Oliver brings years of communications, public affairs, public relations, social media experience to his work on behalf of the Foundation. In his consulting capacity, he supports the Foundation’s internal communications, website management, and grantee partner engagement efforts. His extensive experience working with government and non-profit organizations is demonstrated by his previous roles as strategic advisor to Members of Congress, and communications advisor for trade associations and non-profit organizations around the nation. Contact Oliver via email at ospurgeon[at]claneil.org
Mailee Walker | Executive Director
Mailee became executive director of the Claneil Foundation in 2007. Prior to joining the Claneil Foundation, she was vice president, communication and program officer of the Wells Fargo Regional Foundation. She previously served as executive director of the Stanford Medical Youth Science Program and project coordinator for the Neighborhood Improvement Initiative in California. Mailee is a member of the board of managers of the Regional Foundation and an advisory board member for the Center for Effective Philanthropy. She is co-founder of the Asian Mosaic Fund Giving Circle and a member of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy. Mailee earned a BA in urban studies from Stanford University and an MBA in change management from the Wharton Graduate School of Business. She is an alumna of the Coro Fellows Program, Indiana University School of Philanthropy’s Jane Addams Fellowship, and Leadership Philadelphia. Contact Mailee via email at mwalker[at]claneil.org