The Clayton Family Foundation
The Clayton Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Knoxville, Tennessee. Its 2024 grants included support for a donor-advised fund and organizations in Tennessee working in areas such as education, the arts, community services, and conservation.
The Clayton Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Clayton Family Foundation gave $11.1M across 47 grants in 2024 (avg $237K), mostly in Massachusetts. 21% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $11,119,700
- -8.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 47
- -6.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $236,589
- -3.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $92,556,283
- -1.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 21% first-time grantees (10 of 47, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (90% 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 The Clayton Family Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applications are emailed upon request; no specific format is required, and an IRS determination letter must be submitted. Awards are restricted to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations and governmental agencies. **Deadline:** Applications are accepted year-round; the general response time is 90 days.
- Contact
Application contact: Michell Clayton
Mailing address: 3340 Lake View Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919
Phone: (865) 999-5989
Email: cff.mail@clayton.org
Website: https://clayton.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Clayton Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($10.0M). Together the top 10 received $11.0M.
Grant Size Distribution
273 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 222 grants of 273 (81%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts and 10% to recipients in Tennessee. The reported shares for Colorado, Georgia, and Washington were 0% each.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 47 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Clayton Family Foundation open to new grantees?
21%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 47 grantees (21%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $300K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 77% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 26% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 112% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). 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 $1.1M (2022) to $12.2M (2023). In 2024 it made 47 grants totaling $11.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund Boston, MA | Donor Advised Fund | $10,000,000 |
| Knoxville Science Museum Knoxville, TN | Site Demolition for New Building | $270,000 |
| United Way of Greater Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Improving Lives in the Community | $255,000 |
| Episcopal School of Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Capital Building Campaign | $100,000 |
| Knoxville Museum of Art Knoxville, TN | Art Museum & Education | $100,000 |
| Knoxville Symphony Orchestra Knoxville, TN | Christmas Concert & Endowment | $75,000 |
| TN State Collab on Reforming Educ Nashville, TN | Educational Reform | $75,000 |
| Muse Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Muse Pop Summer Program | $50,000 |
| Webb School of Knoxville Knoxville, TN | Scholarship | $24,700 |
| Knoxville Zoological Gardens Inc Knoxville, TN | Conservation of Animals | $20,500 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $92,556,283 | $9,844,424 | $11,347,848 | $11,119,700 | 47 | $11,119,700 | $9,790,344 | $9,943,801 |
| 2023 | $94,064,345 | $9,700,499 | $12,362,550 | $12,206,600 | 50 | $12,206,600 | $9,571,877 | $8,604,257 |
| 2022 | $96,725,946 | $7,593,536 | $1,780,785 | $1,077,850 | 51 | $1,077,924 | $7,334,598 | $8,402,770 |
| 2021 | $90,913,195 | $17,391,150 | $9,170,191 | $8,812,398 | 63 | $8,812,398 | $17,016,079 | $9,176,276 |
| 2020 | $82,692,236 | $5,142,879 | $7,860,659 | $7,639,690 | 62 | — | $4,922,340 | $7,283,148 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Clayton Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $9.9M 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 mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. For example, the Episcopal School of Knoxville says its mission is to prepare students for higher education and lifelong learning; the Knoxville Museum of Art says it promotes public interest and education in visual arts; and Knoxville Zoological Gardens says it advances education, conservation, research, exhibition, and recreation related to the natural world.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 47 grants totaling $11,119,700. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $10,000,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grant was $10,000,000 to Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund for a donor-advised fund. Other notable grants included $270,000 to Knoxville Science Museum for site demolition for a new building; $255,000 to United Way of Greater Knoxville for improving lives in the community; $100,000 each to Episcopal School of Knoxville for a capital building campaign and Knoxville Museum of Art for the art museum and education; and $75,000 to Knoxville Symphony Orchestra for its Christmas concert and endowment.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists James L. Clayton as president; Michell B. Clayton as managing director; Kevin T. Clayton, Travis K. Edmondson, Flynt H. Griffin, Christina C. Sullivan, and Raja Jubran as directors; Kevin S. Wilder as treasurer; and Chuck Justice as secretary.
The Clayton Family Foundation is led by James L. Clayton, President since 2022 (on filings since 2020); none of the 9 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
James L. Clayton
President
Director & President → President, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michell B. Clayton
Managing Director
On filings since 2020
30 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christina C. Sullivan
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Flynt H. Griffin
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin T. Clayton
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Travis K. Edmondson
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Raja Jubran
Director
New on the 2024 filing
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin S. Wilder
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Justice
Secretary
On filings since 2022
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Richard K. Green (2020–2021) — Secretary
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 The Clayton Family Foundation
How much does The Clayton Family Foundation give each year?
The Clayton Family Foundation gave $11.1M across 47 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $12.2M across 50 grants.
What is The Clayton Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Clayton Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $236,589, across 47 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Clayton Family Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does The Clayton Family Foundation give grants?
The Clayton Family Foundation gives mostly in Massachusetts: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Tennessee (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Knoxville, TN (31 grants), Maryville, TN (3 grants) and Seattle, WA (2 grants).
Does The Clayton Family Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 11% of The Clayton Family Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 47) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Clayton Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Clayton Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund ($10,000,000), Knoxville Science Museum ($270,000) and United Way of Greater Knoxville ($255,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 95% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Clayton Family Foundation?
The Clayton Family Foundation reported $92.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $9.9M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Clayton Family Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations with varied purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Clayton Family Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Clayton Family Foundation's EIN?
The Clayton Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 58-1970851. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Clayton Family Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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). The Clayton Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-clayton-family-foundation-morg_2aa26190108640f19f30a6375cc01858
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_581970851_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Clayton Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-clayton-family-foundation-morg_2aa26190108640f19f30a6375cc01858},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Clayton Family 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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