The Clark Foundation is a family foundation established in 1931 and incorporated in New York. It is one of the larger foundations in the United States, operating as a 501(c)(3) private foundation with tax-exempt status since March 1932. The foundation is based in Cooperstown, NY, with offices in New York City.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$453.7M
+1.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$21.5M
-2.8% YoY
Grant Count
81
-12.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$266K
+10.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Clark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Clark Foundation operates with a dual geographic focus:
In New York City: The foundation supports poverty alleviation through education, employment, and human/social services, helping people achieve independent and productive lives.
In Cooperstown: The foundation supports nonprofit institutions, environmental protection and beautification of village land, cultural and educational institutions, healthcare, and local scholarship programs.
The foundation's program areas include:
- Clark Sports Center scholarship and direct program expenses
- Community activities and facility operations promoting health, fitness, recreational and educational life in Cooperstown
- Protection and beautification of village land
- Education, employment, and social services in NYC
The foundation is known for its pioneering approach to general operating support, which comprises approximately 80% of its grantmaking, and for its commitment to long-term relationships with grantees, with some partnerships extending over 50 years.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
** $10,350 - $3,922,268
How to Apply
es. The foundation also underwrites management training on a case-by-case basis to existing grantees.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
- New York City: Primary focus on poverty alleviation through education, employment, and social services
- Cooperstown, NY: Support for cultural, educational, healthcare, and environmental institutions
- Maryland: Also noted as a funding area
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $453,692,813
- Total Revenue: $41,818,055
- Total Expenses: $37,197,394
- Net Income: $4,620,661
- Total Liabilities: $239,000
- Number of Employees: 34
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $453,692,813 | $448,977,655 | $476,584,018 |
| Revenue | $41,818,055 | $10,612,557 | $72,456,246 |
| Expenses | $37,197,394 | $38,252,387 | $39,461,212 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $31,081,819 | $31,298,356 | $31,968,641 |
| Net Investment Income | $47,515,561 | $26,888,824 | $18,782,278 |
| Distributable Amount | $23,123,665 | $23,137,196 | $24,349,711 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Cooperstown Fire Department ($1,500,000), Fenimore Art Museum ($870,000), Goddard Riverside Community Center ($475,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Advocacy Institute Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| Advocates for Children of New York New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $120,000 |
| Arbor Brothers Inc (dba Arbor Rising) New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NYC PROGRAMS | $100,000 |
| Ascendus New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NYC PROGRAMS | $175,000 |
| Bard College AnnandaleonHudson, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NYC'S BARD HIGH SCHOOL EARLY COLLEGES | $100,000 |
| Bowery Residents' Committee Inc New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $325,000 |
| CAMBA Inc Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| Center for an Urban Future New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| Center for Employment Opportunities New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NYC PROGRAMS | $200,000 |
| Center for Justice Innovation (Formerly Center for Court Innovation) New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR NYC PROGRAMS | $200,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Jane Forbes Clark: President
- Douglas Bauer: Executive Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JANE F CLARK | PRESIDENT/ DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| KENT L BARWICK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| DOUGLAS B BAUER | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/SECRETARY | 35 | — |
| ANTHONY J FASANO JR | ASSIST TREASURER | 2 | — |
| TERRY T FULMER | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| FAITH GAY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| GATES HELMS HAWN | VICE PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| MAUREEN KILLACKEY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KEVIN S MOORE | TREASURER/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| THOMAS Q MORRIS DR | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| CARL J MUMMENTHEY | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| JAMES K PATRICK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| KARL E SEIB | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| PAUL C SHIVERICK | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
Contact Information
Main Office: 19 Main Street P.O. Box 427 Cooperstown, NY 13326
Phone: (607) 547-9927 Fax: (607) 547-8598 Email: office@clarkscholarship.org (primarily for scholarship inquiries)
New York City Office: 1 Rockefeller Plaza, Floor 31 New York City, NY 10020-2011
Phone: 212-977-6900
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Clark Foundation fund?
The Clark Foundation operates with a dual geographic focus: **In New York City:** The foundation supports poverty alleviation through education, employment, and human/social services, helping people achieve independent and productive lives. **In Cooperstown:** The foundation supports nonprofit institutions, environmental protection and beautification of village land, cultural and educational institutions, healthcare, and local scholarship programs. The foundation's program areas include: • Clar…
How do I apply for a grant from The Clark Foundation?
**Grant Range:** $10,350 - $3,922,268 **Annual Giving:** Approximately $22.1 million (2024) **Grant Activity:** The foundation made 95 grants in 2024. Recent notable grants include: • Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home: $1,500,000 (General Operating Support) • Fenimore Art Museum: $870,000 (General Operating Support, Special Initiative, & Capital Support) **Grantmaking Approach:** The foundation primarily works with existing grantees through relationship-based grantmaking rather than open applicatio…
Where does The Clark Foundation make grants?
• **New York City:** Primary focus on poverty alleviation through education, employment, and social services • **Cooperstown, NY:** Support for cultural, educational, healthcare, and environmental institutions • **Maryland:** Also noted as a funding area
What size grants does The Clark Foundation award?
In 2024, The Clark Foundation awarded 81 grants totaling $21.5M — an average of about $266K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Clark Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Clark Foundation reported a distributable amount of $23.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Clark Foundation's EIN?
The Clark Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-5616528. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Clark Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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