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The Clayton Family Foundation

KNOXVILLE, TN EIN: 58-1970851 Website

The Clayton Family Foundation is a private foundation established in 1991 and based in Knoxville, Tennessee. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a mission centered on philanthropic giving across multiple sectors and geographic regions throughout the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$92.6M

-1.6% YoY

Annual Giving

$11.1M

-8.9% YoY

Grant Count

47

-6.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$237K

-3.1% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's giving priorities include:

  • Higher education
  • Health associations and health organizations
  • Youth development
  • The arts
  • Social services
  • Protestant churches
  • Community and civic engagement
  • Local government initiatives

Grantmaking

The foundation made 33 documented grants in 2024, including:

Grant Range

$1,000

Average Grant

$1,000

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports a wide range of U.S. locations, with particular emphasis on:

Primary States: Tennessee, Washington, North Carolina, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, and Virginia

Major Cities Supported: Boston, Dallas, Houston, Seattle, and numerous locations throughout Tennessee

Grant Distribution by State

12states
+4 more states

Cities

Agoura HillsAlcoaAlexandriaAthensAtlantaBostonCartersvilleClevelandClintonColorado SpringsDallasHendersonHoustonImmokaleeKnoxvilleLenoir CityLoudonLynchburgMariettaMaryville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Most Recent Financial Data (2024):

  • Total assets: $92,556,283
  • Total revenues: $9,844,424
  • Total expenses: $11,347,848
  • Annual grants made: $6,858,510 to $12,200,000

Staffing: The foundation operates with zero employees; all work is conducted by volunteer leadership.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$5M$10M$14M$19M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$92,556,283$94,064,345$96,725,946
Revenue$9,844,424$9,700,499$7,593,536
Expenses$11,347,848$12,362,550$1,780,785
Qualifying Distributions$11,119,700$12,206,600$1,077,924
Net Investment Income$9,790,344$9,571,877$7,334,598
Distributable Amount$9,943,801$8,604,257$8,402,770

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$3M$6M$9M$12M62 grants202063 grants202151 grants202250 grants202347 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

FIDELITY CHARITABLE GIFT…$10.0MKNOXVILLE SCIENCE MUSEUM$270KUNITED WAY OF GREATER KN…$255KEPISCOPAL SCHOOL OF KNOX…$100KKNOXVILLE MUSEUM OF ART$100KKNOXVILLE SYMPHONY ORCHE…$75KTN STATE COLLAB ON REFOR…$75KMUSE KNOXVILLE$50KWEBB SCHOOL OF KNOXVILLE$25KKNOXVILLE ZOOLOGICAL GAR…$21K

Grant Size Distribution

247 grants across all recorded years

199<$50K26$50–100K13$100–250K5$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M4$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

No grants recorded for .

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

  • James L. Clayton – President
  • Michell B. Clayton – Managing Director

All personnel work without compensation.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
JAMES L CLAYTONPRESIDENT1
MICHELL B CLAYTONMANAGING DIR30
KEVIN T CLAYTONDIRECTOR0.25
KEVIN S WILDERTREASURER1
TRAVIS K EDMONDSONDIRECTOR0.25
FLYNT H GRIFFINDIRECTOR0.25
CHRISTINA C SULLIVANDIRECTOR0.25
CHUCK JUSTICESECRETARY0.25
RAJA JUBRANDIRECTOR0.25

Contact Information

Related Funders

Similar funders by location and focus area

Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.

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