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Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation

Annual Giving
$13.8M
Grant Range
$2K - $0.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $13,836,419 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $326.5 million (2024)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only process)
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $300,000+
  • Geographic Focus: Utah (primarily), with some national programs
  • Number of Awards: 67 grants (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 978 E. Wood Oak Lane, Salt Lake City, UT Phone: (810) 747-7000 Email: info@ivoryhomes.com Website: www.ivoryfoundation.org Business Hours: Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm

Overview

Founded in 2003 by Clark and Christine Ivory, the Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation with assets of $326.5 million and annual giving of approximately $13.8 million. The foundation focuses on supporting individuals by creating opportunities to advance economically through education, affordable housing, and sustainable communities. Clark Ivory, CEO of Ivory Homes (Utah's #1 homebuilder for 30 consecutive years), and his wife Christine have provided more than 7,000 scholarships, internships, and mentorships at universities, colleges, and high schools across Utah. The foundation's philanthropic philosophy emphasizes acting as a "catalyst for change" while continually assessing and evaluating results. In 2024, Clark received the 45th annual Giant in our City Award by the Salt Lake City Chamber, recognizing his unwavering commitment to excellence, leadership, and philanthropy.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Education & Scholarships

  • Ivory Foundation Completion Scholarship (Utah State University): Supports returning students to complete bachelor's degrees; $100,000 awarded annually to approximately 35 students (~$2,857 per student)
  • Ivory Housing Scholarships (University of Utah): $5,000-$10,000 per student for housing costs; 100+ scholarships awarded each semester
  • Ivory Scholars Student Success Initiative (Southern Utah University): Half-tuition scholarship plus $1,000 stipend per semester
  • Ivory Prize for Excellence in Community Engagement (Utah State University): $10,000 grant for community project, $2,000 scholarship for recipient, and $10,000 invested in the community program
  • Women in Business Scholarships (Southern Utah University): $75,000 gift supporting 10 students completing Women Business Leadership Certificate

Housing Affordability

  • Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability: $100,000 per winner in three categories (Construction and Design, Finance, and Policy and Regulatory Reform); awarded annually through Ivory Innovations
  • Utah Housing Preservation Fund: $2 million seed contribution in 2019
  • Ivory University House: Innovative student housing project at University of Utah for 624 students, with all net proceeds dedicated to scholarships, housing stipends, and internships

Sustainable Communities

  • Support for community engagement projects and initiatives that build sustainable communities
  • Focus on responding to urgent economic and social needs

Priority Areas

  1. Lift & Educate: Scholarships, internships, and mentorships focusing on first-generation students, single parents returning to university, and students close to graduation
  2. Innovate & Invest in Housing Affordability: Supporting innovative solutions to housing affordability crisis through prizes, seed funding, and direct investments
  3. Build Sustainable Communities: Community engagement projects and initiatives
  4. Respond to Urgent Economic & Social Needs: Flexible response to pressing community challenges

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds and only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations. No information is publicly available about specific exclusions beyond this policy.

Governance and Leadership

Founders: Clark and Christine Ivory

Clark D. Ivory (CEO, Ivory Homes):

  • Education: B.A. in Political Science, University of Utah (1988); MBA, Harvard Business School (1992)
  • Leadership: CEO of Ivory Homes since 2000; served on University of Utah Board of Trustees (2007-2014, including 5 years as chair); director of Salt Lake City Branch, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco (2006-2011, including 3 years as chair); chaired Salt Lake Chamber (2009)
  • Recognition: ProBuilder's National Home Builder of the Year (2021); 45th annual Giant in our City Award (2024)

Key Staff:

  • Charles Porter Openshaw, CFO
  • Manny Gunter, Assistant Controller

Philanthropic Philosophy: "We care about the larger world we live in and our very own community. We conserve, we invest, and we remember that it is our responsibility to create a better place."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Clark and Christine Ivory Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Grants are awarded through:

  1. Direct partnerships with Utah universities: Students at partner institutions (University of Utah, Utah State University, Southern Utah University, Salt Lake Community College, Weber State University, Utah Valley University, BYU Pathway Worldwide) can apply for scholarships through their university's scholarship application system
  2. Invitation-only institutional grants: The foundation identifies organizations and initiatives aligned with their mission through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships
  3. Competitive prizes: The Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability is administered through Ivory Innovations and accepts applications during designated application periods

Getting on Their Radar

University Partnerships: The foundation has established formal partnerships with multiple Utah universities. Organizations working in higher education should note that the foundation values:

  • Programs supporting first-generation students
  • Initiatives helping single parents return to complete their degrees
  • Student completion and retention programs
  • Student housing solutions that improve affordability

Housing Affordability Sector: The foundation actively seeks innovative solutions to housing affordability through the Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability. Organizations and initiatives working on construction and design innovations, financing solutions, or policy and regulatory reform can apply during the annual Ivory Prize application period (administered by Ivory Innovations).

Board Connections: Given Clark Ivory's extensive service on boards (University of Utah Board of Trustees, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Salt Lake Chamber), organizations with connections to these networks may have increased visibility.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. For university scholarship programs, decisions typically follow academic calendars. For the Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability, winners are announced annually.

Success Rates

With 67 awards made from total giving of $13.8 million in 2023, the average grant size is approximately $206,500. Success rates for unsolicited applications are not applicable, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable for institutional grants due to invitation-only process. For university scholarship programs, students should consult their institution's scholarship office for reapplication policies.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis for institutional grants, the following factors appear to be important based on their documented funding patterns:

  1. Individual-Centered Approach: The foundation's core philosophy is "supporting, at the most fundamental level, the individual." Programs that demonstrably improve individual capacity to advance economically are strongly aligned with their mission.

  2. Utah Focus: The vast majority of grants support Utah-based programs and institutions. Geographic proximity to the foundation's base in Salt Lake City appears to be a significant factor.

  3. Education Emphasis: Over 7,000 scholarships, internships, and mentorships have been provided, indicating education is a cornerstone priority. Programs targeting underserved student populations (first-generation, single parents, near-completion students) are particularly favored.

  4. Innovation in Housing: The foundation seeks "the nation's most promising ideas to improve affordability" through the Ivory Prize. Solutions that are scalable, measurable, and address root causes of housing unaffordability are valued.

  5. Partnership Model: Rather than one-off grants, the foundation appears to prefer sustained partnerships with institutions (e.g., ongoing scholarship programs at multiple universities, multi-year housing initiatives).

  6. Measurable Impact: The foundation's emphasis on "continually assessing and evaluating results" suggests they value data-driven programs with clear outcomes.

  7. Housing-Education Connection: The innovative Ivory University House project demonstrates interest in solutions that bridge housing and education needs simultaneously.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Not Open to Unsolicited Applications: This foundation only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Cold applications will not be accepted or reviewed.
  • University Partnerships Are Key: The most accessible pathway is through established university scholarship programs for individual students, not institutional grants.
  • Housing Innovation Exception: The annual Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability offers a competitive application opportunity for housing-focused organizations and innovators (administered through Ivory Innovations, not the foundation directly).
  • Individual Impact Matters: The foundation's philosophy centers on amplifying individual capacity to advance economically—programs should demonstrate direct individual benefit.
  • Utah-Centric: While the Ivory Prize for Housing Affordability is national in scope, the foundation's education and community grants heavily favor Utah-based programs and institutions.
  • Relationship-Driven: With no public application process, grants appear to flow through existing relationships, board connections, and institutional partnerships.
  • Substantial Resources: With assets exceeding $326 million and annual giving near $14 million, this foundation has significant capacity for impactful partnerships when alignment exists.

References

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