Clifton Foundation Inc
Clifton Foundation Inc is an independent private foundation based in Louisville, Kentucky. The foundation is located at 710 W Main Street, Floor 3, Louisville, KY 40202-2698.
Key facts about Clifton Foundation Inc
- EIN
- 46-4148510
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $349,955
- Grants made (2024)
- 50
- Average grant
- $6,999
- Median grant
- $1,250
- Total assets
- $9,086,906
- Primary geography
- Kentucky (79% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Clifton Foundation Inc funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Clifton Foundation Inc's 50 itemized 2024 grants were Kentucky (79%), New York (13%) and District of Columbia (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Louisville, KY (29 grants), Lexington, KY (5 grants), Frankfort, KY (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
How Clifton Foundation Inc gives
- 16% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 73% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 63% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with Clifton Foundation Inc
- How to evaluate Clifton Foundation Inc as a funder
Our grant prospecting guide: read the 990-PF, check fit, and decide whether to apply.
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$9.1M
+3.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$350K
+92.0% YoY
Grant Count
50
+257.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$7K
-46.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Clifton Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $567K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Grantmaking
Clifton Foundation Inc operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications.
Grant Range
$1,000–$125,000
Ready to take the next step with Clifton Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 50 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets (2023): $8,758,029
Annual Giving (2023): $181,150–$182,250
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $9,086,906 | $8,758,029 | $8,831,698 |
| Revenue | $739,187 | $167,936 | $37,267 |
| Expenses | $410,310 | $241,605 | $561,958 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $354,937 | $191,325 | $457,605 |
| Net Investment Income | $684,765 | $90,665 | $76,935 |
| Distributable Amount | $567,005 | $526,613 | $515,511 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
195 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Kentucky College of Art & Design at Spalding University Attn Meghan Greenw ($126,000), Whitney Museum of American Art ($36,285), Louisville Orchestra ($30,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF ART & DESIGN AT SPALDING UNIVERSITY ATTN MEGHAN GREENW Louisville, KY | GENERAL FUND | $126,000 |
| WHITNEY MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART New York, NY | GENERAL FUND | $36,285 |
| LOUISVILLE ORCHESTRA Louisville, KY | GENERAL FUND | $30,000 |
| THE NATURE CONSERVANCY OF KENTUCKY Lexington, KY | GENERAL FUND | $22,500 |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD Washington, DC | GENERAL FUND | $20,000 |
| LOUISVILLE BALLET Louisville, KY | GENERAL FUND | $11,000 |
| BLUEGRASS LAND CONSERVANCY Lexington, KY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| FAULKNER MORGAN ARCHIVE INC Lexington, KY | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| CREATIVE CAPITAL New York, NY | GENERAL FUND | $9,000 |
| WATERFRONT BOTANICAL GARDENS Louisville, KY | GENERAL FUND | $9,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Based on available information, J Clifton Mahaffey is listed as a director of a related foundation entity.
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laura Lee Brown | President/Director | 2 | — |
| Steven Wilson | Secretary/Director | 1 | — |
| James Seiler | Director | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I apply for a grant from Clifton Foundation Inc?
Clifton Foundation Inc operates on an invite-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications. **Grant Activity (2023):** • Total giving: $181,150–$182,250 • Number of grants: 10 • Median grant amount: $4,000 • Grant range: $1,000–$125,000 • Giving rate: 2.1% of assets
What size grants does Clifton Foundation Inc award?
In 2024, Clifton Foundation Inc awarded 50 grants totaling $350K — an average of about $7K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Clifton Foundation Inc required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Clifton Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $567K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Clifton Foundation Inc's EIN?
Clifton Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-4148510. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Clifton Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.