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Clif Bar Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$12.0M
Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
4mo

Clif Bar Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $12,047,980 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: 4 months
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily United States (some Canadian grants)
  • Total Grants (2023): 452 awards
  • Operating Budget Preference: Under $8 million (grassroots focus)

Contact Details

Website: https://cliffamilyfoundation.org

Email: info@cliffamilyfoundation.org

Phone: (510) 596-6383

Address: 1334 Vidovich Ave Ste B, St Helena, CA 94574

Overview

The Clif Bar Family Foundation (now operating as Clif Family Foundation) was established in 2006 by Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford, founders of Clif Bar & Company, to support grassroots organizations working at the community level. The foundation underwent a transformative shift in 2022 when Clif Bar was acquired by Mondelez International in a $2.9 billion deal. Following the acquisition, the foundation became an independent entity, with assets increasing from $500,000 to $500 million through charitable contributions from Crawford and Erickson. In 2023, the foundation awarded $12,047,980 across 452 grants to nonprofits working on food systems transformation, environmental revitalization, and community health. The foundation's mission is to "transform food systems, revitalize the environment, and enhance community health," with a vision of "a healthy, just, ecologically thriving world for all people." The foundation prioritizes people-centered solutions designed by those most impacted, with 77% of grants provided as general operating support.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Open Call Grants: $5,000 - $50,000

  • Application deadlines: March 1 and August 1 annually
  • Duration: One year
  • Supports general operating costs or specific projects
  • Available through online application portal
  • Decisions announced approximately 4 months after deadline

By Invitation Only (BIO) Grants

  • Strategic grants for nonprofits closely aligned with foundation priorities
  • Two main focus areas:
    • Food Systems Transformation: Increased access to good food for disadvantaged communities and organic/regenerative farming
    • Climate Justice: Resilient built environment and climate movement building

Special Invitation-Only Capacity Building Grants

  • Multiyear funding for two types:
    • Organizations expanding from local/regional to national levels
    • Organizations with budgets under $250,000 implementing strategic plans

Priority Areas

  1. Regenerative and Organic Farming: Accelerating the adoption of regenerative farming practices, including organic, climate-resilient, equitable, and agroecological approaches

  2. Food Production Workers' Health and Safety: Amplifying efforts to secure healthy, safe, just, and empowering working and living conditions for food production workers

  3. Climate Justice: Expanding community-centered solutions to climate change that build resilience and empower historically marginalized communities

  4. Healthy Food Access: Advancing food systems changes that make healthy and sustainably produced food accessible, affordable, and culturally appropriate

  5. Inclusive Outdoor Access: Catalyzing solutions that expand access to safe places to enable healthy physical activity and improve mental health

  6. Environmental Health (also referred to as Pollution Prevention): Promoting preventative health approaches by identifying and eliminating toxics from air, water, soil, and human-made materials

What They Don't Fund

  • After-school programs
  • Capital construction projects
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Individuals
  • Government agencies
  • Fundraising events
  • Media projects
  • Organizations with operating budgets over $8 million

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Directors: Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford serve as directors and officers of the foundation

Board Structure: Seven-person Board of Directors (specific members beyond founders not publicly disclosed)

Key Staff:

  • Ann Thrupp, Senior Program Officer, Food Systems Transformation - manages programs on farmworker justice, health and safety; increased access to good food; and organic and regenerative farming. A leader with over 30 years of experience in sustainable agriculture and food systems
  • Sierra Angel Martinez, Senior Program Officer, Climate - manages the Climate Justice program

Leadership Philosophy: Gary Erickson and Kit Crawford stated, "We believe we can all do more good in the world. Together." The foundation emphasizes that "we invest in the leadership of our grant recipients and entrust that they know best how to manage their budgets."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Open Call Grants:

  • Apply online through the foundation's grant portal at cliffamilyfoundation.org
  • Two annual deadlines: March 1 and August 1 (applications close at 11:59 PM PST)
  • Detailed application guidelines available on website
  • Contact info@cliffamilyfoundation.org with questions

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be registered as (or fiscally sponsored by) a 501(c)(3) organization
  • Must primarily work in the United States
  • Operating budget must be under $8 million
  • Grassroots-level organizations preferred

By Invitation Only Grants:

  • No open application process
  • Organizations selected by foundation staff based on strategic priorities

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed twice annually (March 1 and August 1 deadlines)
  • Grant announcements made approximately 4 months after each deadline
  • One-year grant period

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation awarded 452 grants in 2023 and supported over 361 nonprofits in 2024, indicating substantial grantmaking activity.

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants is not publicly disclosed on the foundation's website. Contact the foundation directly at info@cliffamilyfoundation.org for specific guidance on reapplication.

Application Success Factors

Demonstrate Grassroots Community Ties: The foundation explicitly prioritizes "grassroots organizations" and states that preference is given to organizations that "operate at the community level and have strong community ties." Successful applicants should clearly articulate their community connections and locally-rooted work.

Address Multiple Priority Areas: The foundation gives "priority to applicants that address two or more priority areas at the same time" from their six strategic areas. Applications demonstrating intersectional approaches across food systems, environment, and community health are favored.

Focus on General Operating Support: With 77% of grants awarded as general operating support, the foundation trusts organizations to allocate funds where most needed. Applications should demonstrate organizational capacity and leadership rather than solely project-specific outcomes.

Align with JEDI Values: The foundation emphasizes Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) as core values. Successful applications demonstrate commitment to "people-centered solutions designed by those most impacted" and show how work addresses root causes of systemic problems.

Emphasize Transformation Over Service Delivery: The foundation's value of "Transformation" means they seek to address "root causes of societal problems" rather than symptomatic relief. Frame your work in terms of systemic change.

Budget Size Matters: Organizations with budgets under $3 million are especially prioritized, though the eligibility ceiling is $8 million. Smaller grassroots organizations appear to have a strategic advantage.

Recent Grant Recipients as Models: Examples of funded organizations include Institute for Local Self-Reliance, Green America, Sustainable Markets Foundation, Pesticide Action Network North America, Friends of the Earth, Center for Creative Land Recycling, LA Compost, Bike Works, and YES Nature to Neighborhoods - demonstrating the foundation's preference for established grassroots organizations with clear environmental and food justice missions.

Show a Clearly Defined Objective and Viable Plan: The foundation states that "preference will be given to organizations that can demonstrate a clearly defined objective and a viable plan to achieve it." Be specific about goals and strategies.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Apply during Open Call periods: With two annual deadlines (March 1 and August 1), plan to submit when your organization is best positioned to demonstrate impact and alignment
  • Prioritize general operating support applications: The foundation strongly prefers unrestricted funding (77% of grants), so frame your request around organizational capacity rather than single projects
  • Stay under budget thresholds: Organizations with budgets under $3 million are especially favored; the hard ceiling is $8 million
  • Demonstrate intersectional work: Applications addressing multiple priority areas (e.g., regenerative farming + farmworker justice) receive preference
  • Emphasize community-led solutions: Highlight how those most impacted by issues are designing and leading your solutions - this aligns with the foundation's "People Power" value
  • Plan for a 4-month decision timeline: Build this into your funding pipeline and cash flow planning
  • Consider the foundation's transformation from corporate to independent: The 2022 asset increase from $500K to $500M suggests potential for expanded grantmaking in future years
  • Note the foundation's trust-based approach: Their statement that they "invest in the leadership of our grant recipients and entrust that they know best how to manage their budgets" signals openness to flexible, unrestricted support

References

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