John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation
The John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation is a private foundation based in Worcester, Massachusetts. In 2024, it made 44 grants totaling $107,625 to charitable organizations in multiple states.
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation at a glance
In short: John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation gave $108K across 44 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), top state New Mexico. 25% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $107,625
- -10.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 44
- -6.4% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,446
- -4.2% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $2,000
- Total assets
- $984,687
- +18.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 25% first-time grantees (11 of 44, 2024)
- Primary geography
- New Mexico (19% 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 John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: 100 Front Street 5Th Floor, Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: (508) 459-8000
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Animal Humane Association of New Mexico ($10K). Together the top 10 received $45K.
Grant Size Distribution
305 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 305 grants of 305 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, the largest shares of grant dollars by recipient state went to New Mexico (19%), Maine (16%), Arizona (15%), New York (13%), and Illinois (10%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation open to new grantees?
25%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 11 of 44 grantees (25%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 70% 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 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 $104K (2020) to $138K (2021). In 2024 it made 44 grants totaling $108K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| 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 |
Ready to take the next step with John W and Clara C Higgins 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 | $984,687 | $420,218 | $137,826 | $107,625 | 44 | $109,506 | $259,099 | $149,032 |
| 2023 | $831,553 | $96,622 | $148,392 | $120,000 | 47 | $122,998 | $71,228 | $122,416 |
| 2022 | $881,872 | $62,373 | $184,125 | $137,150 | 56 | $148,339 | $26,587 | $122,049 |
| 2021 | $1,000,124 | $53,611 | $174,097 | $138,000 | 82 | $142,697 | $22,246 | $145,034 |
| 2020 | $1,120,610 | $93,905 | $134,828 | $104,000 | 76 | — | $67,980 | $115,334 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 recipients included organizations working in several fields. For example, Verde Valley Humane Society says its mission is to care for unwanted, lost, and abused animals and promote adoption and animal welfare. Rockend says it explores the arts with children regardless of ability. FEAST says it works to improve long-term health and wellness in low-income communities through educational support groups and access to healthy foods. Jericho Project says it works to end homelessness by fostering individual change and sustainable independence.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $107,625. Grants ranged from $500 to $10,000, with a median grant of $2,000. The grants listed below were reported for general support:
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Veronica Wilding-White Winters and Heather J Wilding as trustees, and Sumner B Tilton Jr as power of attorney.
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Heather J. Wilding
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Veronica Wilding-White Winters
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sumner B. Tilton Jr.
Power of Attorney
Power of Att → Power of Attorney, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Elisabeth H. Null (2020–2022) — 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 John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation
How much does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation give each year?
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation gave $108K across 44 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $120K across 47 grants.
What is John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's typical grant size?
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $2,000, and its average grant was $2,446, across 44 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation give grants?
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's top state is New Mexico, with 19% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were 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).
Does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 44) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's largest grantees?
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Animal Humane Association of New Mexico ($10,000), Wild Spirit Wolf Sanctuary PKA Candy ($5,250) and Greater Albuquerque Habitat for Humanity ($5,250), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation?
John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation reported $985K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $110K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $149K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its 2024 recipients included organizations working in several fields. For example, Verde Valley Humane Society says its mission is to care for unwanted, lost, and abused animals and promote adoption and animal welfare. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does John W and Clara C Higgins 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 17, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-w-and-clara-c-higgins-foundation-morg_adb9539b050b417e9f6ab2d5688b8369
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_046026914_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John W and Clara C Higgins Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-w-and-clara-c-higgins-foundation-morg_adb9539b050b417e9f6ab2d5688b8369},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-17. 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 John W and Clara C Higgins 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.
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