Philanthropy

Clan MacKinnon Society is a 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit in the United States and is proud to give financially to other organizations and projects when and where we can. Below are examples of projects that we have supported. Do you have an organization that you feel the Society should consider donating funds to? If so, submit your idea to us. Thank you!

MacKinnon Hall, West Lothian, Scotland (2015)

MacKinnon Hall, a Scout lodge located in West Lothian, Scotland, underwent a large renovation in 2015. We were happy to send a small check to support this project.

Caisteal Maol Access Path Project, Skye, Scotland (2021)

This historic Clan MacKinnon seat on Skye, Scotland was in need of improvements to the hiking path leading up to it, as well as new signage to inform visitors. In mid-July 2021 final approval was received by the Kyleakin & Kylerhea Community Council (KKCC) to begin construction. Heavy machinery and hard work carved a permanent, safe walking trail that is ready for visitors. Clan MacKinnon Society is proud to have contributed to this project. 

Mull Museum, Mull, Scotland (2021)

When it was brought to our attention by a current Society member that the Mull Museum in Tobermory, Mull, Scotland was in need of funds to help in their ongoing efforts to digitize their genealogy and historical records, the Society's Board of Directors unanimously voted to donate funds to help in their endeavor. Then in 2022, we also sent several Scottish historical books to add to the museum's research materials. These books were written by our former historian, Gerald McKinnon, who passed away in 2021.

Gerald McKinnon's Book Collection, Nova Scotia, Canada (2021)

Ross McKinnon signed the contract with the Genealogy Society of Nova Scotia (GANS) to receive over 350 books and research materials donated by his late father, Gerald McKinnon. Gerald was a former Representative of the Chief and Society Historian. Sadly, he passed away in June 2021. Clan MacKinnon Society helped to facilitate and fund the transport of this important historical collection to GANS. Valeria Greenwood, one of the Society's two Genealogy Consultants, donated countless hours helping to catalogue the collection at GANS as well. 

St. Martin's Church, Kent, England (2022)

This parish churchyard in Acrise is the final resting place for 33rd Clan MacKinnon Chief William Alexander Mackinnon and his son 34th Chief (also name) William Alexander Mackinnon. We donated £100 ​in appreciation for the care and conservation provided to the graves by local volunteer Mark Sheppard, and to offset any future expenses the church may incur in caring for these graves.

St. Brendan Cemetery Borve (Barra), Outer Hebrides, Scotland (2022)

This remote cemetery is one of the island's important heritage sites containing the remains of the first church built by missionaries and a number of war graves. Maintaining the cemetery is a marathon task requiring considerable manual labor by volunteers. The Society donated £350 to the Borve Cemetery Organization to support ongoing upkeep and grass mowing efforts.

Culloden Battlefield, Culloden, Scotland (2022)

The Society sent a financial contribution to the National Trust for Scotland to aid in their "Conserve Culloden" campaign against aggressive development in areas surrounding Culloden Battlefield. NTS hopes to prevent the sale of nearby lands for residential and commercial development in order to preserve the quiet dignity of this historic site that many consider holy ground.

John Muir Trust, Skye, Scotland (2022)

The Society donated $1200 to the John Muir Trust ​to support ongoing outreach initiatives they are engaged in on Skye. These projects include maintaining hiking trails and paths across the island, native woodland regeneration (replacing commercial spruce planting with native hazel, aspen, and ash trees), beach cleans, litter pick-up, and wildlife monitoring. Because of the proximity of these efforts to areas on Skye that were traditionally MacKinnon lands, we felt it important to donate to the John Muir Trust.