The Clifford Family Foundation

BOSTON, MA EIN: 22-3025894

The Clifford Family Foundation Charitable Trust is a private foundation established in 1989 and based in Boston, Massachusetts. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status since March 1990. The foundation supports educational, philanthropic, and human services initiatives across the United States.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$32.8M

+4.9% YoY

Annual Giving

$5.5M

+99.5% YoY

Grant Count

34

+6.3% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$161K

+87.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Clifford Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

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

Mission & Focus Areas

The foundation's grantmaking supports the following areas:

  • Education: Early childhood, K-12, and higher education
  • Higher Education: Including support for colleges and universities
  • Philanthropy and Nonprofits: Support for philanthropic infrastructure
  • Human Services: Including youth development and youth services
  • Environment: Environmental conservation and land trust organizations
  • Health: Health-related organizations and initiatives

The foundation does not appear to maintain formal, publicly stated focus areas or grant programs, and lacks a dedicated website or significant internet presence.

Grantmaking

The foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals or requests for funding. Networking with the family is noted as the most viable approach for prospective grantees.

Grant Range

$380

Average Grant

$380

How to Apply

**

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation supports projects across numerous U.S. states and cities, including:

  • Boston, Massachusetts
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Los Angeles, California
  • New York, New York
  • Additional states: California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming

The family has ties to both Boston and Florida.

Grant Distribution by State

13states
+5 more states

States

CaliforniaDistrict of ColumbiaFloridaIllinoisIndianaKentuckyMassachusettsNew YorkOregonTennesseeVirginiaWest VirginiaWyoming

Cities

AlexandriaArlingtonBeavertonBelmontBerkeleyBostonCambridgeChicagoCoral GablesFort PierceFt PierceGeyservilleHadleyHamiltonHealdsburgIndianapolisJacksonLake ForestLos AngelesLouisville

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Current Assets and Revenue (2024):

  • Total assets: $32,827,665
  • Total revenues: $6,568,467
  • Total expenses: $5,763,842

Prior Year (2023):

  • Total assets: $31,292,703
  • Total revenues: $10,402,233
  • Total expenses: $3,052,096

Liabilities: $0 (2023)

The foundation has no employees and operates with trustee leadership serving without compensation.

Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$3M$6M$9M$11M20202021202220232024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$32,827,665$31,292,703$27,466,166
Revenue$6,568,467$10,402,233$731,570
Expenses$5,763,842$3,052,096$2,260,379
Qualifying Distributions$5,462,695$2,737,534$2,025,069
Net Investment Income$3,528,199$6,516,112$151,048
Distributable Amount$1,776,966$1,551,049$1,535,963

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$1M$3M$4M$5M37 grants202033 grants202138 grants202232 grants202334 grants2024

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

COLGATE UNIVERSITY$2.0MTHE NATURE CONSERVANCY$1.6MTHE CAROLINE M CLIFFORD …$296KTHE CATHERINE K CLIFFORD…$296KTHE JOHN C CLIFFORD DONO…$296KENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE$250KCEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CEN…$100KJUMPSTART$100KPARENT CHILD$75KB2K SOCIAL VENTURES$60K

Grant Size Distribution

174 grants across all recorded years

102<$50K25$50–100K39$100–250K5$250–500K1$500K–1M2$1–5M$5M+

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Colgate University ($1,950,006), The Nature Conservancy ($1,600,000), The Caroline M Clifford Donor Advised Fund Schwab Charitable Giving ($296,313).

RecipientPurposeAmount
ACTIVATE GLOBAL BERKELEY, CAUNRESTRICTED$37,500
ATLANTIC CLASSICAL ORCHESTRA FORT PIERCE, FLUNRESTRICTED$1,500
B2K SOCIAL VENTURES BERKELEY, CAUNRESTRICTED$60,000
BELMONT HILL SCHOOL BELMONT, MAUNRESTRICTED$10,000
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF BOSTON BOSTON, MAUNRESTRICTED$1,000
CARBON 180 WASHINGTON, DCUNRESTRICTED$37,500
CEDARS-SINAI MEDICAL CENTER LOS ANGELES, CAUNRESTRICTED$100,000
CREO FAMILY OFFICE SYNDICATE NEW YORK, NYUNRESTRICTED$38,000
DRUM MAJOR INSTITUTE NEW YORK, NYUNRESTRICTED$25,000
ENVIROMENTAL DEFENSE WASHINGTON, DCUNRESTRICTED$250,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Trustees:

  • J. Christopher Clifford – Trustee (serves without compensation); Founder of Berkshire Partners
  • Daniel Carbonneau – Trustee (serves without compensation)

The foundation was founded by J. Christopher Clifford and his wife A. Keena Clifford.

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

NameTitleHoursCompensation
DANIEL CARBONNEAUTRUSTEE1—
J CHRISTOPHER CLIFFORDTRUSTEE1—

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has demonstrated consistent grantmaking activity, with recent grants supporting organizations focused on early childhood education (Jumpstart for Young Children), environmental conservation (Activate Global), health services (Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Medical Center), and higher education (Colgate University). Environmental grantees have included Prime Coalition, Environmental Defense Fund, Indian River Land Trust, Environmental Learning Center, and Yampa Valley Land Trust. Education grantees have included Teach for America, Bowdoin College, College For Every Student, and Dana Hall School.

The Clif Family Foundation Joins The Conservation Alliance

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Clifford Family Foundation fund?

The foundation's grantmaking supports the following areas: • **Education**: Early childhood, K-12, and higher education • **Higher Education**: Including support for colleges and universities • **Philanthropy and Nonprofits**: Support for philanthropic infrastructure • **Human Services**: Including youth development and youth services • **Environment**: Environmental conservation and land trust organizations • **Health**: Health-related organizations and initiatives The foundation does not appe…

How do I apply for a grant from The Clifford Family Foundation?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving (2024): $5,763,842 • Total giving (2023): $2,737,284 • Average grant size: $380 • Median grant size: $25,000 • Maximum grant size: $900,000 • Number of grants (2024): 21+ grants • Number of grants (2023): 30 grants **Recent Notable Grants (2024):** • Colgate University: $1,950,006 • Jumpstart for Young Children: $100,000 • Women's Guild Cedars-Sinai Medical Center: $100,000 **Recent Notable Grants (2023):** • Activate Global: $100,000 • Women's Guild Cedars-Si…

Where does The Clifford Family Foundation make grants?

The foundation supports projects across numerous U.S. states and cities, including: • Boston, Massachusetts • Chicago, Illinois • Los Angeles, California • New York, New York • Additional states: California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New York, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming The family has ties to both Boston and Florida.

What size grants does The Clifford Family Foundation award?

In 2024, The Clifford Family Foundation awarded 34 grants totaling $5.5M — an average of about $161K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Clifford Family Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Clifford Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.8M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.

What is The Clifford Family Foundation's EIN?

The Clifford Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3025894. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Clifford Family 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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