The Schmetterling Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2011 by Jim and Colleen Clark, who relocated to Austin, Texas from Valparaiso, Indiana. The foundation is administratively based in Wilmington, Delaware and operates as a 501(c)(3) organization designated for philanthropic and grantmaking purposes. The foundation's name—German for "butterfly"—reflects the founders' philosophy that grantmaking should support transformational change rather than creating dependency.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$42.0M
+13.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.2M
+57.7% YoY
Grant Count
41
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$54K
+57.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Schmetterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grantmaking philosophy is rooted in the metaphor of a butterfly's metamorphosis. As founder Jim Clark explains, the difficult and transformative process a butterfly undergoes to emerge from its chrysalis mirrors the journey a community-based nonprofit organization must undertake to bring a project to life. This philosophy guides the foundation's approach to supporting organizations through meaningful change rather than providing temporary assistance.
The foundation's primary funding focus is education, with recent emphasis on early childhood education. The foundation also supports organizations in the areas of human services and philanthropy/voluntarism.
Grantmaking
The Schmetterling Foundation makes general and unrestricted grants to preselected organizations.
Grant Range
$10,000
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation makes grants primarily in:
- Indiana
- Texas (Austin area)
- Michigan
- California
- Massachusetts
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $42,026,449
- Annual giving: $2,208,000
- Total revenue: $7,708,050
- Total expenses: $2,755,079
- Net income: $4,952,971
- Total liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $42,026,449 | $37,073,478 | $28,447,998 |
| Revenue | $7,708,050 | $10,415,237 | $1,591,166 |
| Expenses | $2,755,079 | $1,789,757 | $1,667,989 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,277,511 | $1,468,148 | $1,392,193 |
| Net Investment Income | $4,974,918 | $7,115,076 | $278,841 |
| Distributable Amount | $2,114,542 | $1,526,013 | $1,427,486 |
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
155 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Into Action Recovery Inc ($750,000), Young Mens Christian Association ($750,000), Nations of Coaches Inc ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION FOUNDATION INC NEW YORK, NY | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| AUSTIN ZOO AUSTIN, TX | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA SOUTH BEND, IN | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| CHICAGO ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BROOKFIELD, IL | General & Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| CLAGETT SAILING PORTSMOUTH, RI | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| FIGHT FOR THE FUTURE EDUCATION FUND BOSTON, MA | General & Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Fishers High School Fishers, IN | Golf outing fund | $750 |
| GRAND RAPIDS CABLE ACCESS CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MI | General & Unrestricted | $5,000 |
| GRAND RAPIDS CABLE ACCESS CENTER GRAND RAPIDS, MI | WYCE for several hours of the '24 Spring fund drive | $5,000 |
| Greenfield-Central High School Greenfield, IN | Athletic Department | $1,250 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation is led by family members serving without compensation:
- Colleen Clark – Co-President
- James A. Clark – Co-President/Secretary
- Nicholaus Clark – Vice President
- Nissa Clark – Vice President
- Katrina Swartz – Vice President
Administrative services are provided through Foundation Source, located at 501 Silverside Road, Wilmington, Delaware.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colleen Clark | Co- Pres, Dir | 8 | — |
| James A Clark | Dir, Sec, Co- Pres | 1 | — |
| Nicholaus Clark | VP | 2 | — |
| Nissa Clark | VP | 1 | — |
| Katrina Swartz | VP | 4 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In August 2024, the Schmetterling Foundation announced a $3 million gift to the Greater Austin YMCA to launch the organization's first YMCA Tomorrow Academy early childhood education center. The facility is located at 8300 N RM 620 at the Trails at 620 in Four Points, Texas, and opened in early 2025. According to Greater Austin YMCA President & CEO Kathy Kuras, affordable, high-quality childcare was identified as a top community need. The YMCA facility will ultimately include health and wellness, sports, swimming, and enrichment programs in addition to the early childhood education center.
The Scherman Foundation Awards $5.85 Million in 2025 Fall Grantmaking \u2014\Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Schmetterling Foundation fund?
The foundation's grantmaking philosophy is rooted in the metaphor of a butterfly's metamorphosis. As founder Jim Clark explains, the difficult and transformative process a butterfly undergoes to emerge from its chrysalis mirrors the journey a community-based nonprofit organization must undertake to bring a project to life. This philosophy guides the foundation's approach to supporting organizations through meaningful change rather than providing temporary assistance. The foundation's primary fu…
How do I apply for a grant from The Schmetterling Foundation?
The Schmetterling Foundation makes general and unrestricted grants to preselected organizations. **Grant Characteristics:** • Median grant size: $10,000 • Grant range: $500 - $1,000,000 • Standard grants: $500 - $50,000 • Major grants: $500,000 - $1,000,000 **Recent Activity:** The foundation has significantly increased its grantmaking activity, growing from 7 grants in 2020 to 41 grants in 2024. In 2024, the foundation distributed $2,208,000 in grants. **Recent Major Grants:** • $3,000,000 to …
Where does The Schmetterling Foundation make grants?
The foundation makes grants primarily in: • Indiana • Texas (Austin area) • Michigan • California • Massachusetts
What size grants does The Schmetterling Foundation award?
In 2024, The Schmetterling Foundation awarded 41 grants totaling $2.2M — an average of about $54K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Schmetterling Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Schmetterling Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Schmetterling Foundation's EIN?
The Schmetterling Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-4267762. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Schmetterling 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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