Clark Associates Charitable Foundation
The Clark Associates Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Incorporated in 2001, it provides funding to nonprofit organizations serving people in need and those delivering positive experiences for youth.
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Clark Associates Charitable Foundation gave $6.8M across 296 grants in 2024 (avg $23K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 43% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,811,947
- -0.8% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 296
- +7.2% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,013
- -7.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $51,298,461
- +3.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (127 of 294, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Clark Associates Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
The filing lists an application requiring the organization’s name and contact details, mission and history, board and key staff information, financial statements, the purpose and amount of the request, and 501(c)(3)…
The filing lists an application requiring the organization’s name and contact details, mission and history, board and key staff information, financial statements, the purpose and amount of the request, and 501(c)(3) documentation. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and lists no restrictions on awards. Its website says applications are evaluated every month.
- Review Cycle
- November 1.
- Deadline
- November 1.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael Thornton
Mailing address: 2205 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 392-7550
Website: https://clarkassociatesinc.biz
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clark Associates Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Water Street Rescue Mission ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $3.6M.
Organizations only. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($249,267), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,156 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,049 grants of 1,156 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports nonprofits operating in and around its business locations and those where employees volunteer and contribute. In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; 4% went to Virginia, 1% each to Oklahoma and Kentucky, and less than 1% to Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 296 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Clark Associates Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 127 of 294 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $8K; repeat grants $33K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $3K repeat.
- 49% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 29% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 268% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.1M (2020) to $6.9M (2023). In 2024 it made 296 grants totaling $6.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Water Street Rescue Mission Lancaster, PA | Support Community Overcoming Poverty and Homelessness | $1,200,000 |
| Lancaster Conservancy Lancaster, PA | Support preservation of natural lands in lancaster and York counties, pa | $851,000 |
| Children Deserve a Chance Foundation Lancaster, PA | Support Youth Education | $250,000 |
| Lancaster County Christian School Lancaster, PA | Funding for the School Musical | $250,000 |
| Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center Lancaster, PA | Services for Children with Disabilities and Families | $250,000 |
| Stone Ridge Foundation Altavista, VA | Provide Funds for Building Kitchen and Community Center | $250,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $247,267 |
| Lancaster County Council of Churches Lancaster, PA | Provide support for needy and marginalized members of society | $215,000 |
| Columbia Education Foundation Columbia, PA | Provide Support for Creative and Innovative Education Strategies | $120,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club Lancaster, PA | Help Young People Reach Their Full Potential | $112,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Clark Associates Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $51,298,461 | $9,199,357 | $7,031,312 | $6,811,947 | 296 | $6,811,947 | $5,542,043 | $2,545,710 |
| 2023 | $49,416,119 | $12,632,815 | $7,161,337 | $6,868,526 | 276 | $6,868,526 | $3,000,390 | $2,097,416 |
| 2022 | $44,395,701 | $22,376,947 | $5,295,850 | $4,886,251 | 211 | $4,886,251 | $7,693,166 | $734,054 |
| 2021 | $30,057,953 | $28,734,613 | $5,506,429 | $5,281,052 | 203 | $5,281,052 | $3,434,749 | $449,791 |
| 2020 | $7,078,124 | $3,494,000 | $3,097,783 | $3,070,309 | 170 | — | $209,652 | $309,768 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clark Associates Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to give back and support the community through financial donations to nonprofits that provide for the health and welfare of people in need, support youth education programs, and support music and the arts. Its website identifies homelessness, food insecurity, disabilities, abuse, and recovery among the needs addressed in its people-in-need category. It also names veterans, senior citizens, at-risk youth, academic enrichment, mentorship, leadership development, and the performing and visual arts as examples of other areas represented among grant recipients.
The 2024 grants illustrate the variety of organizations supported. For example, Water Street Rescue Mission received support for work to help the community overcome poverty and homelessness, while the Lancaster Conservancy received support for natural-land preservation in Lancaster and York Counties. Among grantees’ own stated missions, Lancaster County Christian School describes itself as a private Christian school and community of faith and learning; the an individual recipient Education Foundation says it supports schools in its district; and Helping Harvest Food Bank says its mission is to feed the hungry.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 296 grants totaling $6,811,947. Grants ranged from $100 to $1,200,000, with a median award of $2,000. The largest grants included $1,200,000 to Water Street Rescue Mission, $851,000 to the Lancaster Conservancy, and $250,000 each to Children Deserve a Chance Foundation, Lancaster County Christian School, Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center, and Stone Ridge Foundation.
The foundation’s website says it makes grants to 501(c)(3) charities and evaluates applications throughout the year. It funds special projects and initiatives rather than operating expenses. Its stated application requirements include sound financial operations, non-government funding sources, active volunteerism, and a detailed rationale for the request.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Fred E. Clark and Elizabeth A. Clark as trustees and Michael Thornton as a director. The foundation’s website identifies Mike Thornton as its executive director.
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Elizabeth A. Clark
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Fred E. Clark
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Thornton
Director
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Randall McCarty (2020) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Clark Associates Charitable Foundation
How much does Clark Associates Charitable Foundation give each year?
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation gave $6.8M across 296 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $6.9M across 276 grants.
What is Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $23,013, across 296 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Clark Associates Charitable Foundation that year got $8K on average.
Where does Clark Associates Charitable Foundation give grants?
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Lancaster, PA (71 grants), Lititz, PA (9 grants), Bloomsburg, PA (8 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (6 grants).
Does Clark Associates Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Occasionally: 2% of Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 296) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Provide Support for Fire Services" (23 grants), "Support Youth Education" (12 grants) and "Support Church Missions" (9 grants).
Who are Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Water Street Rescue Mission ($1,200,000), Lancaster Conservancy ($851,000) and Children Deserve a Chance Foundation ($250,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 3 grants to individuals ($249,267), which are not listed by name. Together they received 34% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Clark Associates Charitable Foundation?
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation reported $51.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2.5M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Clark Associates Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to give back and support the community through financial donations to nonprofits that provide for the health and welfare of people in need, support youth education programs, and support music and the arts. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clark Associates Charitable Foundation?
The filing lists an application requiring the organization’s name and contact details, mission and history, board and key staff information, financial statements, the purpose and amount of the request, and 501(c)(3)… Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6773373. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Pennsylvania
Lancaster County Community Foundation
Lancaster, PA
The Lancaster County Community Foundation funds community-benefit organizations and programs across a range of areas that benefit Lancaster County residents, with some specific funds also serving Cumberland County or municipalities. In 2024, grants ranged from $5,020 to $1,050,000, with a median of $18,695. Its general grant applications are closed and expected to reopen in March 2027; the profile does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$184.6M
Grants
373
Total Given
$14.8M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA
The Pittsburgh Foundation funds nonprofits working in basic needs, equity and social justice, environmental action, arts and culture, and economic mobility, with most opportunities for organizations in Allegheny County or primarily serving its residents. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of about $18,600, though awards varied widely. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.5B
Grants
1,132
Total Given
$64.0M
The William Penn Foundation
Philadelphia, PA
The William Penn Foundation funds arts and culture, children and families, civic participation, the environment and public spaces, and workforce training, primarily in the Philadelphia region. Its 2024 median grant was $50,000, though awards varied widely. It accepts unsolicited requests through limited open applications and invites letters of inquiry from public charities.
Assets
$3.4B
Grants
1,027
Total Given
$148.8M
Dick's Sporting Goods Foundation
Coraopolis, PA
DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation primarily funds youth sports participation in under-resourced communities, including equipment, registration costs and facilities, and also supports outdoor access and education. Its 2025 grants ranged from $626 to $2.5 million, with a median of $5,000, and Sports Matter funding has reached all 50 states. Sports Matter opportunities are by invitation only; the foundation says 501(c)(3) grant requests should be submitted in writing.
Assets
$34.5M
Grants
964
Total Given
$18.0M
Hillman Family Foundations
Pittsburgh, PA
The 18 independently operated foundations support projects in areas such as arts and culture, health, education, economic development, and community improvement, with a preference for Pittsburgh and southwestern Pennsylvania; each foundation has its own geographic focus. In 2024, grants ranged from $75 to $5 million, with a median of $20,000. The 2024 filing says unsolicited requests are accepted, beginning with a brief letter of intent through the online portal.
Assets
$1.9B
Grants
814
Total Given
$88.8M
More similar funders
More Funders in Pennsylvania
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Clark Associates Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/clark-associates-charitable-foundation-morg_44c5193d18184c8b89bfc9bddea18501
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256773373_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Clark Associates Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/clark-associates-charitable-foundation-morg_44c5193d18184c8b89bfc9bddea18501},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Clark Associates Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Clark Associates Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?