The Clark Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $22.1 million (2024)
Success Rate: Not applicable (primarily works with existing grantees)
Decision Time: Varies (relationship-based grantmaking)
Grant Range: $10,350 - $3,922,268
Geographic Focus: New York City and Cooperstown, NY (also Maryland)
Foundation Assets: $449 million

Contact Details

Main Office: 19 Main Street P.O. Box 427 Cooperstown, NY 13326

Phone: (607) 547-9927 Fax: (607) 547-8598 Email: office@clarkscholarship.org (primarily for scholarship inquiries)

Executive Leadership:

Jane Forbes Clark, President
Douglas Bauer, Executive Director

Overview

The Clark Foundation was established in 1931 to consolidate the philanthropic activities of the Clark Family and is now one of the larger foundations in the United States. With assets of approximately $449 million, the foundation distributes approximately $22 million annually in grants and operating programs. The foundation operates with a dual geographic focus: supporting poverty alleviation through education, employment, and social services in New York City, while preserving and enhancing cultural, educational, healthcare, and environmental institutions in the Cooperstown area. The foundation is known for its commitment to long-term relationships with grantees, with some partnerships extending over 50 years, and for its pioneering approach to general operating support, which comprises 80% of its grantmaking.

Funding Priorities

Geographic Focus

New York City: The foundation supports approximately 80 grantees in the program areas of Education, Employment, Social Services, and Nonprofit Management Training, focusing on helping people move out of poverty and lead independent, productive lives.

Cooperstown, NY: Grants are distributed to cultural, education, and healthcare institutions, as well as community and environmental groups. Major support is provided to institutions established by the Clark family, including the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, Fenimore Art Museum, The Farmers' Museum, the New York State Historical Association, and the Glimmerglass Festival. The foundation also supports The Clark Sports Center, Mohican Farm, and The Clark Foundation Scholarship Program.

Priority Areas

Education: Programs that provide pathways to educational achievement and economic mobility
Employment: Workforce development and job training initiatives
Social Services: Organizations serving vulnerable populations and those experiencing poverty
Nonprofit Management Training: Capacity-building support for nonprofit organizations (over $2 million annually)
Cultural Institutions: Museums, performing arts, and heritage organizations (Cooperstown focus)
Healthcare: Support for healthcare institutions, particularly in the Cooperstown region
Environment: Environmental conservation and community beautification programs

Grantmaking Philosophy

The Clark Foundation is distinguished by its commitment to general operating support, which represents 80% of their grantmaking. As Executive Director Douglas Bauer explains: "General operating support is critical, because those dollars are not allocated to anything but the ultimate success and sustainability of the organization."

The foundation also emphasizes:

Long-term partnerships with grantees (relationships lasting 10-15 years on average, with some exceeding 50 years)
Capacity building through nonprofit management training
Collaborative funding initiatives with other foundations
Financial health and organizational sustainability

Governance and Leadership

Jane Forbes Clark, President A member of the Board since 1992 and Chairman of the National Baseball Hall of Fame Board since 2000, Jane Forbes Clark brings substantial museum expertise, philanthropic insight, and management skill to the foundation. She also serves as President of Fenimore Farm & Country Village, The Scriven Foundation, and The Clara Welch Thanksgiving Home, as well as a Trustee of the Fenimore Art Museum. In recent statements, she has emphasized practical support for community needs, noting in relation to a $6 million grant to Bassett Medical Center for employee daycare: "Providing excellent daycare for the children of Bassett employees that is literally next door with flexible hours to match their schedules will help to attract and retain the best caregivers that our communities need and depend upon."

Douglas Bauer, Executive Director Doug Bauer serves as Executive Director of The Clark, Scriven, and Fernleigh Foundations, and Senior Vice President of The Clark Estates, Inc. Prior to joining Clark, he was a Senior Vice President with Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors from 2002 to 2009. He is an adjunct faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia Business School, where he teaches about philanthropy and the nonprofit sector. Under his leadership, the foundation has maintained its commitment to general operating support and has been one of the largest funders of nonprofit management training in New York City.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Clark Foundation does not have a public application process. The foundation works primarily with a stable portfolio of existing grantees with whom they maintain long-term relationships. With typical grantee relationships lasting 10 to 15 years, and some extending more than 50 years, the foundation focuses on deepening partnerships with current grantees rather than seeking new organizations.

For organizational grants, the foundation operates through:

Invitation-based proposals: The foundation identifies potential grantees through its networks and invites proposals
Trustee discretion: Grant decisions are made by foundation leadership and trustees
Existing relationships: Most grants go to organizations with established relationships with the foundation

The foundation is structured within a family office (The Clark Estates, Inc.) and maintains a small staff to manage grantmaking operations across three foundations (Clark, Scriven, and Fernleigh).

Decision Timeline

Due to the relationship-based nature of grantmaking, there are no standard application deadlines or decision timelines for organizational grants. Decisions are made on an ongoing basis through consultation between foundation leadership and existing grantees.

Grantee Due Diligence

For organizations in the foundation's portfolio, the foundation conducts thorough review processes including:

Grant proposals and budgets
IRS Form 990s
Three years of audited financial statements
Management letters from auditors
Consultation with other funders supporting the same organizations
Regular site visits with board members or officers present

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Already in the Portfolio

Financial Transparency and Health: The foundation places significant emphasis on organizational financial sustainability. Executive Director Doug Bauer advises that organizations should "welcome detailed financial discussions and view funders as partners in continuous improvement rather than oversight bodies."

Open Dialogue About Challenges: The foundation values honest communication about financial and operational challenges. They view their role as partners in problem-solving rather than as external evaluators.

Organizational Capacity: The foundation actively supports capacity building and may underwrite management training on a case-by-case basis for existing grantees. Organizations that demonstrate a commitment to strengthening their operations and financial management are well-positioned for continued support.

Alignment with Foundation Priorities:

For NYC grantees: Focus on poverty alleviation through education, employment, and social services
For Cooperstown grantees: Cultural preservation, healthcare, education, and community enhancement
Across all areas: Commitment to organizational sustainability and effective service delivery

Long-term Orientation: The foundation values sustained impact over time rather than short-term projects. They prefer to support organizations' core operations rather than specific programs.

Foundation's Partnership Approach

The Clark Foundation distinguishes itself through:

Partnership mentality: Regular engagement with grantees as collaborative partners
General operating support: Providing unrestricted funding to support organizational sustainability
Capacity investment: Funding nonprofit management training and organizational development
Patient capital: Making program-related investments, such as a $2 million working capital loan fund for financially struggling grantees
Collaborative grantmaking: Partnering with other foundations on initiatives like the NYC Merger, Acquisition and Collaboration Fund

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

The Clark Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. They work exclusively with existing grantees and organizations identified through their networks and invited to apply.
Long-term relationships are central to the foundation's approach. Typical grantee relationships last 10-15 years, with some exceeding 50 years, indicating a preference for deep, sustained partnerships.
General operating support is the norm, comprising 80% of all grantmaking. The foundation prioritizes organizational sustainability over project-specific funding.
Geographic focus is strict: Organizations must serve either New York City (poverty alleviation) or the Cooperstown area (cultural/community institutions) to align with foundation priorities.
Financial health matters: The foundation conducts thorough financial due diligence and values organizations that maintain strong financial management and are transparent about challenges.
Capacity building is valued: The foundation invests heavily in nonprofit management training and may provide additional support to help grantees strengthen their operations.
Connection to the Clark family legacy is significant, particularly in Cooperstown, where the foundation supports institutions established or championed by the Clark family since the 1930s.

References

Information accessed December 2025