Stephanie And Carter McClelland Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $4,776,500 (2024)
• Success Rate: N/A (invitation only)
• Decision Time: Not applicable
• Grant Range: $500 - $2,200,000
• Geographic Focus: New York and California

Contact Details

• Phone: 212-297-0400 (c/o CohnReznick)
• Address: c/o CohnReznick, 1301 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10019
• Website: None
• Email: Not publicly available

Overview

The Stephanie and Carter McClelland Foundation (EIN: 137154217) is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1998 with assets of approximately $2.6 million. The foundation distributed $4.77 million in grants in 2024. Founded by Broadway producer Stephanie P. McClelland and investment banker Carter McClelland, the foundation focuses on education, arts, and human services, with a particular emphasis on removing financial barriers to opportunity. The foundation operates without a public website and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations, reflecting the founders' strategic, relationship-based approach to philanthropy rooted in their extensive professional networks in theater, finance, and education.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate specific grant programs but makes strategic grants ranging from $500 to $2,200,000, with a median grant size of approximately $273,000.

Priority Areas

• Education (primary focus) - particularly higher education access and arts education
• Arts and Culture - especially theater and performing arts institutions
• Human Services - supporting social service organizations in NYC and California
• Philanthropy and Voluntarism - supporting infrastructure for social entrepreneurship

What They Don't Fund

As a private foundation that only funds preselected organizations, they do not accept unsolicited applications or proposals from organizations outside their existing network.

Governance and Leadership

Stephanie P. McClelland - 14-time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer and founder of Green Curtain Productions. Serves as trustee of the Juilliard School (26 years) and board member of National Theatre in America. Stanford alumna (BS '70, MS '72).

Carter McClelland - Co-Founder and Chairman of Union Square Advisors. Former President of Bank of America New York Market and Deutsche Bank North America. Board Co-Chair of Echoing Green. Stanford alumnus (BS '67, MBA '73) who taught at Stanford GSB for 33 years. Recipient of 2019 Stanford GSB Excellence in Leadership Award.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to their IRS filings, they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations and don't accept unsolicited applications for funds."

Getting on Their Radar

Organizations may come to the foundation's attention through:

• Board connections at Echoing Green, Juilliard School, Stanford PACS, or National Theatre in America
• The Broadway theater community through Stephanie's extensive production network
• Financial services and technology sectors through Carter's Union Square Advisors connections
• Stanford University alumni networks and philanthropic initiatives
• United Way of New York City network (Carter is former Chairman)

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at the foundation's discretion to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - invitation-only funding model.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional application success factors don't apply. However, organizations that align with their values and networks should note:

• The McClellands favor matching challenge grants that leverage additional philanthropic support, as demonstrated by their $5 million Juilliard MFA challenge
• They maintain long-term commitments to organizations - Stephanie served on Juilliard's board for 26 years
• They focus on removing financial barriers to opportunity based on merit rather than means
• Both founders are actively engaged with organizations they support through board service
• Grants align closely with the founders' professional backgrounds in theater and finance

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This foundation does NOT accept unsolicited applications - all grants are made to preselected organizations
• Average grant size is substantial ($273,000 median), indicating preference for high-impact strategic investments
• Strong focus on arts education, particularly theater, reflecting Stephanie's Broadway career
• Emphasis on social entrepreneurship through support of organizations like Echoing Green
• Geographic concentration in New York and California
• Relationship cultivation through shared board members or professional networks is the only path to funding consideration
• The foundation uses innovative approaches like matching challenges to multiply philanthropic impact

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Foundation 990 filings and financial data (accessed March 2024)
• Cause IQ - Foundation profile and grant history (accessed March 2024)
• Grantmakers.io - Grant recipient data 2021-2024 (accessed March 2024)
• Juilliard School News - McClelland Challenge Grant announcement and MFA program updates (2024)
• Stanford Graduate School of Business - Carter McClelland Excellence in Leadership Award profile (2019)
• Union Square Advisors - Carter McClelland professional biography (accessed March 2024)
• Echoing Green - Board leadership information (accessed March 2024)
• Charity Navigator and GuideStar - Foundation verification and tax-exempt status (accessed March 2024)