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Joseph A.W. Clayes III Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$1.8M
Grant Range
$250K - $10.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $1,823,655 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $37.3 million (2024)
  • Grant Range: $250,000 - $10,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: San Diego County, Orange County, and Coachella Valley (California)
  • Application Process: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited requests

Contact Details

Address: 6309 Hartley Dr, La Jolla, CA 92037

Phone: (858) 459-8783

Trustees:

  • Trulette M. Clayes
  • Brendan A. Holmes

Note: The trust does not accept unsolicited grant applications. They only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations.

Overview

The Joseph A.W. Clayes III Charitable Trust was established in 2007 following the death of Joseph Clayes III, a financial and real estate investor and avocado rancher from Anaheim, California. The trust is managed by his niece, Trulette Clayes (Controller at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego), and Brendan Holmes (Joseph's former business partner). With assets exceeding $37 million and annual giving of approximately $1.8 million, the trust focuses on supporting children facing physical or mental challenges, performing arts, museums, and causes involving children and dogs. The trust operates as a private independent foundation and makes significant endowment gifts to carefully selected organizations primarily in Southern California.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The trust does not have structured grant programs. Instead, the trustees make strategic decisions about major gifts, typically in the form of endowments ranging from $250,000 to $10 million. Recent grants have averaged $1.75-2 million annually.

Application Method: Invitation only - no public application process

Priority Areas

Children's Health and Welfare:

  • Neuro-oncology and genomics research
  • Children's hospitals and medical research
  • Support for physically and mentally challenged young people
  • Meal programs for families of critically ill children

Performing Arts:

  • Theater companies and performing arts centers
  • Opera and music organizations
  • Performing arts facilities and capital projects

Museums and Cultural Venues:

  • Art museums and galleries
  • Music and arts libraries
  • Exhibition spaces

Animal Welfare:

  • Organizations serving assistance dogs
  • Programs connecting children with animals

Geographic Focus: San Diego County, Orange County, and Coachella Valley

What They Don't Fund

The trust operates with a clear mission and does not fund:

  • Organizations outside their geographic focus areas
  • Individuals (except through institutional fellowships)
  • General operating support without endowment component
  • Organizations not pre-selected by trustees

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

Trulette M. Clayes: Niece of Joseph Clayes III, serving as trustee since 2007. She is the Controller at the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego (since 1998) and holds a Bachelor of Accountancy degree from the University of San Diego. She is married to Jeffrey Partrick, and together they are active San Diego philanthropists. Annual compensation: $100,000.

Brendan A. Holmes: Former business partner of Joseph Clayes III, serving as co-trustee since 2007. Annual compensation: $100,000.

Trustee Philosophy: According to Trulette Clayes, "Education was important and the arts were important. Helping children is a strong part of our mission." She also noted about her uncle: "My uncle never had kids, but he was kind of a kid himself. Watching kids playing and being happy with their families and their pets made him happy."

Brendan Holmes stated: "Making a positive and lasting impact on children with cancer perfectly illustrates the mission of the Trust."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This trust does not have a public application process. The trust only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The trustees identify potential recipients through their own research, networks, and relationships in the Southern California nonprofit community. Grants are made at the discretion of the two trustees.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made by trustee discretion on their own timeline, not in response to applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the trust does not accept applications.

Application Success Factors

Since this trust does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations cannot directly apply. However, based on the trust's giving history, the following factors characterize their preferred grants:

Focus on Endowments: The trust strongly prefers making endowment gifts that provide permanent, lasting support rather than annual operating grants. Major gifts have established endowed funds, endowed chairs, and named facilities.

Children as Primary Beneficiaries: Trulette Clayes emphasized, "Helping children is a strong part of our mission." The trust's largest grants have supported children's health research, children's hospitals, and organizations serving families with critically ill children.

Named Recognition: Virtually all major grants have resulted in named recognition - research centers, theater spaces, exhibition wings, endowment funds - suggesting the trust values legacy and visibility.

Southern California Connections: All grants have been to organizations in San Diego County, Orange County, Coachella Valley, or to Joseph Clayes III's alma mater (Cal State Fullerton). Geographic proximity appears essential.

Quality Organizations with Strong Track Records: Recipients include major, well-established institutions like Rady Children's Hospital, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Cal State Fullerton, and the Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego.

Mission Alignment with Founder's Interests: Joseph Clayes III loved theater and opera, was frugal but generous, had a golden retriever, and advocated for children's health and welfare. His personal interests continue to guide trustee decisions.

Recent Major Grants

  • Cygnet Theatre (2024): $5 million endowment for The Joan and Irwin Jacobs Performing Arts Center, with the main 280+-seat theater named the Joseph W. Clayes III Theatre
  • Rady Children's Hospital Foundation (2023): $1,750,000 for neuro-oncology and genomics research
  • Rady Children's Hospital (2016): $10 million endowment to establish the Joseph Clayes III Research Center for Neuro-Oncology and Genomics, including an endowed chair and research fellowship fund
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego (2013): $3.5 million to create the Joseph Clayes III Endowment Fund; additional $500,000 matching gift for meal program endowment
  • Palm Springs Art Museum: Gift for the Joseph Clayes III Exhibition Wing
  • Athenaeum Music and Arts Library (2012): $500,000 with main gallery named after Joseph Clayes
  • Cal State Fullerton (2008): $5 million (second-largest gift in university history at the time)
  • Canine Companions Southwest Region: $250,000 endowment gift
  • Center for Emotional Healing at Rady Children's Hospital: Support amount undisclosed

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This trust cannot be approached through traditional grant applications - they only fund preselected organizations and explicitly do not accept unsolicited requests
  • Focus is on major endowment gifts ($250,000-$10 million) rather than annual operating support, suggesting multi-year financial commitment capacity
  • Children and arts are the twin pillars of the trust's mission, with particular emphasis on children's health research and performing arts facilities
  • Geographic limitation is strict - only organizations in San Diego County, Orange County, and Coachella Valley have received funding (plus Cal State Fullerton due to founder's connection)
  • Legacy matters - the trust prefers gifts that result in permanent naming recognition and lasting impact through endowments
  • Two trustees make all decisions - Trulette Clayes and Brendan Holmes jointly determine all grants based on their interpretation of Joseph Clayes III's philanthropic values
  • Building relationships in the Southern California nonprofit community could potentially bring an organization to the trustees' attention, though there is no guarantee

References

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