The Clifton Foundation Inc

CHESTERTOWN, MD EIN: 52-2256618 Website

The Clifton Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Chestertown, Maryland, dedicated to research and education focused on identifying and developing the strengths of young people. The foundation supports leaders, researchers, and organizations working to help young people discover and build upon their individual strengths. Each partner project operates under a ten-year growth and impact framework.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$9.9M

-2.7% YoY

Annual Giving

$780K

-86.4% YoY

Grant Count

+11.1% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$39K

-87.8% YoY

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Clifton Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $675K 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

Primary funding focus areas include:

Education
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
Human Services
Volunteer grants
After-school programs
Mentoring programs

Grantmaking

The foundation's grantmaking is characterized as supporting general charitable purposes. Grants are structured to support long-term partnerships and initiatives with multi-year commitments.

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation primarily funds organizations in Maryland, Oklahoma, and Delaware. The foundation also supports international initiatives, with current builders and programs in the United States, Colombia, and Mexico.

Grant Distribution by State

New York $5.0M (57%)

Maryland $3.4M (39%)

Vermont $189K (2%)

Oklahoma $123K (1%)

Pennsylvania $67K (1%)

Delaware $38K (0%)

Virginia $13K (0%)

States

Delaware Maryland New York Oklahoma Pennsylvania Virginia Vermont

Cities

AlbanyAnnapolisBradfordCentrevilleChestertownCrescoEastonLexingtonLibertytownNewarkQueenstownRock HallStevensvilleTonkawaWilmingtonWorton

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of Fiscal Year 2024:

Total assets: $9,853,949
Total giving: $780,000
Total revenues: $666,490
Total expenses: $941,498

Revenue Composition (FY 2024):

Investment income and dividends: $231,088
Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $435,284

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	$9,853,949	$10,122,426	$13,802,384
Revenue	$666,490	$2,195,517	$1,018,075
Expenses	$941,498	$5,870,322	$1,062,212
Qualifying Distributions	$820,233	$5,783,866	$943,384
Net Investment Income	$596,551	$2,120,061	$924,957
Distributable Amount	$675,127	$774,485	$901,864

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

95 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ymca of the Chesapeake ($325,000), Chesapeake Charities ($102,500), Horizons of Kent and Queen ($85,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES ROCK HALL, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$10,000
GIVING THE EDGE STEVENSVILLE, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$4,500
PECOMETH UNITED METHODIST CAMP AND CENTREVILLE, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$25,000
CHESAPEAKE CHARITIES STEVENSVILLE, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$102,500
HORIZONS OF KENT AND QUEEN CHESTERTOWN, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$85,000
CHANGING PERSPECTIVES INC BRADFORD, VT	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$50,000
HAVEN MINISTRIES QUEENSTOWN, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$12,500
FOUNDATION OF HOPE EASTON, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$5,000
GIRL SCOUTS OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY NEWARK, DE	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$5,000
BAY AREA YOUNG LIFE CENTREVILLE, MD	GENERAL CHARITABLE PURPOSES	$4,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Mary Reckmeyer: Chairman

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

From 2024 filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
RICHARD L GOODALL	DIR. & PRES.	1	—
LAURA K G GRAY	DIR. & SEC.	1	—
RICHARD T GOODALL	DIR. & TREAS.	1	—
ELIZABETH STARKEY	EXEC. DIRECTOR	1	—

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What does The Clifton Foundation Inc fund?

The foundation's mission is to conduct research and education to find and develop the strengths of young people, report findings on what works, and take action based on those findings. The foundation takes a personal, longitudinal, and experience-based approach to its work. Primary funding focus areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services • Volunteer grants • After-school programs • Mentoring programs

How do I apply for a grant from The Clifton Foundation Inc?

**Grant Activity:** • Total giving: $780,000 (fiscal year 2024) • Number of grants: 17 grants made in 2024 • Typical award range: $1,370–$5,000,000 **Recent Grants (2024):** • Young Men's Christian Association of the Chesapeake: $325,000 • Chesapeake Charities: $102,500 • Horizons of Kent and Queen Anne's: $85,000 **Grant Approach:** The foundation's grantmaking is characterized as supporting general charitable purposes. Grants are structured to support long-term partnerships and initiatives wi…

Where does The Clifton Foundation Inc make grants?

What size grants does The Clifton Foundation Inc award?

In 2024, The Clifton Foundation Inc awarded 20 grants totaling $780K — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Clifton Foundation Inc required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Clifton Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $675K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.