Clayco Foundation
Clayco Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its grantmaking includes medical research, education, and community organizations, with examples ranging from research funds and scholarships to food assistance and youth mentorship.
Clayco Foundation at a glance
In short: Clayco Foundation gave $1.9M across 18 grants in 2024 (avg $105K), top state New York. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $1,890,706
- -10.2% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 18
- -5.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $105,039
- -5.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $87,500
- Total assets
- $1,036,578
- -6.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (8 of 16, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- New York (40% 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 Clayco Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations.
- Contact
Mailing address: 35 East Wacker Drive, Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (314) 552-6187
Website: https://claycorp.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clayco Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ($560K across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $1.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
81 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 33 grants of 81 (41%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in New York (40%), Illinois (22%), Missouri (16%), Pennsylvania (11%), and Michigan (8%). The Foundation’s Juneteenth Fund has also supported community-based organizations in Chicago and St. Louis, and its 2024 celebration recognized organizations serving communities in St. Louis, Chicago, and Atlanta.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 18 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Clayco Foundation open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 16 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 16 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $202K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $173K repeat.
- 44% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $1.7M (2020) to $2.4M (2022). In 2024 it made 18 grants totaling $1.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine New York, NY | Ellen S Clark RVCL Research Fund | $312,500 |
| Washington University St. Louis, MO | RVCL Anti-body | $260,625 |
| University of Chicago Chicago, IL | Discretion of Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine | $200,000 |
| Netherland America Foundation New York, NY | University of Leiden Medical Center, RVCL Research | $200,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | RVCL Research, Nourti Neamati, Ph.D. | $145,081 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine New York, NY | Ellen S Clark RVCL Research Fund | $137,500 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository Chicago, IL | Nourish Campaign | $125,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine New York, NY | Ellen S Clark RVCL Research Fund | $110,000 |
| The Pennsylvania State University University Park, PA | Clayco Diversity Scholarship in the Dept of Architectural Engineering | $100,000 |
| Ace Mentor Program of America Philadelphia, PA | Architecture, Construction & Engineering Mentorship | $75,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Clayco 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 | $1,036,578 | $1,837,043 | $1,910,810 | $1,890,706 | 18 | $1,910,119 | $291 | $43,689 |
| 2023 | $1,107,736 | $2,520,676 | $2,250,404 | $2,105,263 | 19 | $2,249,873 | $269 | $36,485 |
| 2022 | $837,156 | $2,521,765 | $2,526,069 | $2,433,600 | 16 | $2,526,069 | $38,185 | $32,200 |
| 2021 | $897,477 | $3,087,122 | $2,841,420 | $2,423,600 | 20 | $2,481,798 | — | $27,144 |
| 2020 | $2,308,986 | $1,928,673 | $1,759,451 | $1,712,472 | 8 | — | — | $25,052 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clayco Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K 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 website describes the Juneteenth Fund as supporting organizations that further equality and justice for the African American community, and says the fund seeks to elevate voices and increase awareness of injustices. The Foundation’s grants also show support for RVCL research, architectural engineering scholarships, food assistance, mentorship, and education.
Grantees describe a range of activities. The Greater Chicago Food Depository says its mission is to end hunger through work with community-based organizations and individuals. ACE Mentor Program of America says it introduces high school students to construction professions through industry mentors. Tools Up Foundation says it works to revitalize communities by helping participants pursue sustainable livelihoods through construction careers. Young Voices with Action describes youth mentoring in the Black community, including scholarships and promotion of education, health, and wellness.
Grantmaking
The Foundation reported 18 grants totaling $1,890,706 in 2024. The grants ranged from $25,000 to $312,500, with a median of $87,500. Recent large grants included $312,500 to the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine for the Ellen S Clark RVCL Research Fund, $260,625 to Washington University for RVCL Anti-body, and $200,000 to the University of Chicago for use at the discretion of the Dean of the Division of Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine.
Other 2024 grants included $125,000 to Greater Chicago Food Depository for its Nourish Campaign, $100,000 to The Pennsylvania State University for the Clayco Diversity Scholarship in the Department of Architectural Engineering, and $75,000 to ACE Mentor Program of America for architecture, construction, and engineering mentorship.
The Foundation’s website says seven organizations received $25,000 each at its 2024 Juneteenth Fund Celebration: Tools Up Foundation, TGI Movement, Servants For Hope, Beyond EDU, Living in Victory, Young Voices with Action, and Next Level Boys Academy. It also reports that, since the fund’s inception, the Juneteenth Fund had provided over $620,000 to 27 nonprofit organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Clayco Executive Chairman and Founder Bob Clark and Executive Vice President Tom Sieckhaus served as lead mentors for the Juneteenth initiative. Executive Vice President Otto Nichols, identified as a Clayco shareholder, served as lead trustee.
Clayco Foundation is led by Russel L. Burns, CEO & Trustee since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 16 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Russel L. Burns
CEO & Trustee
V.p. → CEO & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shawn H. Clark
President & Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert G. Clark
Executive Chairman & Trustee
President & Trustee → Executive Chairman & Trustee, 2022
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony J. Johnson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anthony S. Mezines
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffery D. Cannedy
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin J. McKenna
V.p. & Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Otto Nichols III
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick T. Moriarity
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Richard D. Moeckel
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Ryan M. McGuire
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas D. Sieckhaus
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven R. Sieckhaus
V.p. & Trustee
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James M. Havel
V.p.
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin J. Lienemann
CFO
On filings since 2022
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bret Litton
Secretary
New on the 2024 filing
0.2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Renee L Henningfeld (2021–2023) — Secretary
- Former: Anthony M. Schofield (2020–2021) — CFO
- Former: Carmen Hernandez (2020–2021) — Secretary
- Former: Stephen R. Sieckhaus (2020–2021) — V.p. & Trustee
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 Clayco Foundation
How much does Clayco Foundation give each year?
Clayco Foundation gave $1.9M across 18 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $2.1M across 19 grants.
What is Clayco Foundation's typical grant size?
Clayco Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $87,500, and its average grant was $105,039, across 18 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Clayco Foundation that year got $34K on average.
Where does Clayco Foundation give grants?
Clayco Foundation's top state is New York, with 40% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Illinois (22%) and Missouri (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (5 grants), New York, NY (4 grants), St. Louis, MO (2 grants) and Philadelphia, PA (2 grants).
Does Clayco Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 18 grants with a stated purpose on Clayco Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Ellen S Clark RVCL Research Fund" (3 grants).
Who are Clayco Foundation's largest grantees?
Clayco Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine ($560,000 across 3 grants), Washington University ($260,625) and University of Chicago ($200,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Clayco Foundation?
Clayco Foundation reported $1.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Clayco Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s website describes the Juneteenth Fund as supporting organizations that further equality and justice for the African American community, and says the fund seeks to elevate voices and increase awareness of injustices. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Clayco Foundation?
The Foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Clayco Foundation's EIN?
Clayco Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1330583. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Clayco Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 14, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Clayco Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Clayco Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/clayco-foundation-morg_590ac5fa903a49e8a1bb050ac0ff73e4
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471330583_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Clayco Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/clayco-foundation-morg_590ac5fa903a49e8a1bb050ac0ff73e4},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Clayco 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.
Clayco Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?