The Clara E and John H Ware Jr
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr is a private foundation based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports grants to charitable organizations in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Texas, including organizations working in research, education, housing, hunger relief, and the arts.
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr at a glance
In short: The Clara E and John H Ware Jr gave $705K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $44K), top state Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $705,000
- +14.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $44,063
- +0.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,500
- Total assets
- $12,104,003
- +2.3% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (47% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Clara E and John H Ware Jr
- 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: 1650 Market Street 47Th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (212) 464-0308
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Clara E and John H Ware Jr funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Brigham & Womens Hospital ($100K). Together the top 10 received $650K.
Grant Size Distribution
59 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 59 (46%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Pennsylvania received 47% of grant dollars, Massachusetts 35%, Vermont 14%, and Texas 4%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Clara E and John H Ware Jr gives
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+0%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 93% 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 (2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $615K (2024) to $4.3M (2020). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $705K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Brigham & Womens Hospital Boston, MA | Rich Family Research Fund | $100,000 |
| University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA | Preclinical Gene Therapy for Hearing Loss Program | $100,000 |
| University of Vermont Foundation Burlington, VT | Support Graduate Scholarships | $100,000 |
| Gloucester Marine Genomics Institute Gloucester, MA | Support Instructor Position | $75,000 |
| Pennsylvania School of the Deaf Philadelphia, PA | Support PSD'S Deaf Professionals in Residence Program | $70,000 |
| Philabundance Philadelphia, PA | General Support | $50,000 |
| Project Home Philadelphia, PA | For the Housing Program | $50,000 |
| The Phoenix Multisport Boston, MA | Support Capital Campaign | $40,000 |
| Sorptimist Philadelphia, PA | Support the Live Your Deams Awards Program | $35,000 |
| Gloucester Education Foundation Gloucester, MA | High School - Medical Assisting Instructional Materials | $30,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $12,104,003 | $1,085,270 | $809,723 | $705,000 | 16 | $708,895 | $995,291 | $760,762 |
| 2024 | $11,828,456 | $712,431 | $702,259 | $615,000 | 14 | $617,946 | $628,118 | $724,564 |
| 2023 | $11,871,625 | $436,811 | $762,477 | $675,000 | 10 | $677,116 | $351,450 | $657,978 |
| 2022 | $12,197,291 | $680,813 | $841,247 | $705,000 | 10 | $707,405 | $581,884 | $673,683 |
| 2021 | $12,357,725 | $1,535,610 | $856,636 | $755,000 | 9 | $757,288 | $1,445,208 | $733,303 |
| 2020 | $11,678,751 | $493,666 | $4,363,497 | $4,260,393 | 2 | — | $392,550 | $716,254 |
| 2019 | $15,548,582 | $1,208,966 | $1,349,487 | $1,275,000 | 8 | — | $1,153,231 | $836,773 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Clara E and John H Ware Jr reported a distributable amount of $761K for 2025 — 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. For example, an individual recipient Genomics Institute received support for an instructor position; the institute describes its mission as addressing challenges in ocean health, human health, and the environment through marine biotechnology research and science education. Project HOME received support for its housing program; it describes its mission as helping adults, children, and families break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Philabundance received general support; it says its mission is to drive hunger from communities and end hunger.
Other 2025 grants included support for graduate scholarships at the University of Vermont Foundation, a preclinical gene therapy for hearing loss program at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf’s Deaf Professionals in Residence Program.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 16 grants totaling $705,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $37,500.
Among the largest reported grants were $100,000 each to Brigham & Women’s Hospital for the Rich Family Research Fund, the University of Pennsylvania for its preclinical gene therapy for hearing loss program, and the University of Vermont Foundation for graduate scholarships. Other grants included $75,000 to an individual recipient Genomics Institute, $70,000 to the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, $50,000 each to Philabundance and Project HOME, and $40,000 to The Phoenix Multisport for a capital campaign.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph R Gates as president, Paul W Gates as vice-president, and Lisa R Rich as treasurer.
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr is led by Joseph R. Gates, President on every filing since 2019; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph R. Gates
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa R. Rich
Treasurer
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul W. Gates
Vice President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 The Clara E and John H Ware Jr
How much does The Clara E and John H Ware Jr give each year?
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr gave $705K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $615K across 14 grants.
What is The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's typical grant size?
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's median grant in 2025 was $37,500, and its average grant was $44,063, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Clara E and John H Ware Jr give grants?
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's top state is Pennsylvania, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Massachusetts (35%) and Vermont (14%). The most frequent recipient cities were Philadelphia, PA (7 grants), Boston, MA (2 grants), Gloucester, MA (2 grants) and Cambridge, MA (2 grants).
Does The Clara E and John H Ware Jr give general operating support?
Yes: 31% of The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 16) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's largest grantees?
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's largest 2025 grantees include Brigham & Womens Hospital ($100,000), University of Pennsylvania ($100,000) and University of Vermont Foundation ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Clara E and John H Ware Jr?
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr reported $12.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $709K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $761K (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 The Clara E and John H Ware Jr fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its reported 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Clara E and John H Ware Jr?
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 The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's EIN?
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-1083951. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Does The Clara E and John H Ware Jr 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
(3)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 8, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The Clara E and John H Ware Jr funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Clara E and John H Ware Jr funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-clara-e-and-john-h-ware-jr-morg_c8e3f32427e84fba8f425a463791ae48
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_201083951_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Clara E and John H Ware Jr funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-clara-e-and-john-h-ware-jr-morg_c8e3f32427e84fba8f425a463791ae48},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 The Clara E and John H Ware Jr'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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