John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation
The John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation is an independent private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. Established in 1956, the foundation supports museums, arts organizations, and educational institutions.
Key facts about John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation
- EIN
- 04-6026914
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $107,625
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- Average grant
- $2,446
- Median grant
- $2,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 43% first-time grantees (19 of 44, 2024)
- Total assets
- $984,687
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (19% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's 44 itemized 2024 grants were New Mexico (19%), Maine (16%) and Arizona (15%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (6 grants), Chicago, IL (6 grants), Flagstaff, AZ (2 grants) and Mount Desert, ME (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation open to new grantees?
43%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 44 grantees (43%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 57% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 22% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 73% 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 (2020–2024). 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 John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation
- How to evaluate John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$985K
+18.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$108K
-10.3% YoY
Grant Count
44
-6.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$2K
-4.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $149K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's giving priorities include:
- Museums and arts organizations
- Education
- Arts and culture (including film and video)
Grantmaking
The foundation distributes grants to support its stated focus areas, with recent activity documented in 2024 IRS filings.
Grant Range
$500–$11,000
Ready to take the next step with John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation has funded organizations in Illinois, Maine, and New York, though its primary location is Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 44 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Based on the most recent IRS Form 990 filing (2024):
- Total assets: $984,687
- Total giving: $107,625
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $984,687 | $831,553 | $881,872 |
| Revenue | $420,218 | $96,622 | $62,373 |
| Expenses | $137,826 | $148,392 | $184,125 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $109,506 | $122,998 | $148,339 |
| Net Investment Income | $259,099 | $71,228 | $26,587 |
| Distributable Amount | $149,032 | $122,416 | $122,049 |
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
305 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Animal Humane Association of New Mexico ($10,000), Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary Pka Candy ($5,250), Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity ($5,250).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ANIMAL HUMANE ASSOCIATION OF NEW MEXICO Albuqerque, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| WILD SPIRIT WOLF SANCTUARY PKA CANDY Ramah, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,250 |
| GREATER ALBUQUERQUE HABITAT FOR HUMANITY Albuquerque, NM | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,250 |
| FLAGSTAFF INTERNATIONAL RELIEF EFFORT Flagstaff, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| PISCATAQUOG LAND CONSERVANCY FORMERLY New Boston, NH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| VERDE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY Cottonwood, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,500 |
| ROCKEND INC Ne Harbor, ME | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,333 |
| MOUNT DESERT ISLAND Salisbury Cove, ME | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| ARTIST ORGANIZED ART INC West Hatfield, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| PAW PLACEMENT OF NORTHERN ARIZONA Flagstaff, AZ | GENERAL SUPPORT | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
No officer or director reported compensation in the available filings.
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Veronica Wilding-White Winters | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Heather J Wilding | Trustee | 1 | — |
| Sumner B Tilton Jr | Power of Attorney | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 100 Front St Fl 5 Worcester, MA 01608-1425
Phone: 508-459-8000
Website: Fletchertilton.com
EIN: 04-6026914
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation fund?
The foundation's giving priorities include: • Museums and arts organizations • Education • Arts and culture (including film and video)
How do I apply for a grant from John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation?
**Financial Profile:** • Total assets: $984,687 • Total annual giving: $107,625 • Typical grant range: $500–$11,000 The foundation distributes grants to support its stated focus areas, with recent activity documented in 2024 IRS filings.
Where does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation make grants?
The foundation has funded organizations in Illinois, Maine, and New York, though its primary location is Massachusetts.
What size grants does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation award?
In 2024, John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $108K — an average of about $2K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation reported a distributable amount of $149K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's EIN?
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6026914. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.