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Clark Associates Charitable Foundation

Annual Giving
$6.9M
Grant Range
$0K - $5.0M
Decision Time
1mo

Clark Associates Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $6,500,000+
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Monthly review cycle
  • Grant Range: Varies (average ~$24,884 based on 2023 data)
  • Geographic Focus: Nine states, with emphasis on Lancaster County, PA and areas where Clark Associates has business locations
  • Founded: 2001
  • Total Distributed: Over $33 million

Contact Details

Clark Associates Charitable Foundation 2205 Old Philadelphia Pike Lancaster, PA 17602

Executive Director: Mike Thornton

Website: https://www.clarkassociatesinc.biz/community/

Phone: 717-392-7550

Application: Contact Executive Director Mike Thornton for application information

Overview

The Clark Associates Charitable Foundation (CACF) was incorporated in 2001 to enact the Clark family's ideals and beliefs of giving back to the community. Founded by Fred and Elizabeth Clark as the charitable arm of Clark Associates Inc., a successful food service equipment and supply company founded in 1971, the foundation has grown significantly over two decades. In 2023 alone, CACF contributed $6,868,526 in grants through 276 awards, supporting 317 unique charities across 25 cities and 9 states. The foundation emphasizes "responsibility, sharing our success with others, and the importance of building strong communities." A hallmark of CACF's approach is its connection to employee volunteerism—the foundation prioritizes nonprofits where Clark Associates employees actively volunteer and contribute, creating a direct link between corporate culture and community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Grant Program: CACF reviews grant applications monthly throughout the year on a rolling basis. The foundation made 276 awards in 2023, with an average grant size of approximately $24,884, though individual grants vary significantly based on project scope and organizational need.

Derby Day Fundraiser: The foundation's signature fundraising event has become a major source of charitable giving. The 12th annual Derby Day event in May 2024 raised $2.2 million for 24 nonprofit organizations, demonstrating remarkable growth from the first event in 2013, which raised $25,000. The 2025 event raised $2.4 million and allocated $1.45 million to 17 youth development and education-based organizations.

Priority Areas

CACF focuses on three primary categories:

  1. People in Need (largest giving category)

    • Homelessness assistance
    • Food insecurity programs
    • Disability services
    • Abuse victim support
    • Recovery programs
    • Veterans' services
    • Senior support

  2. Youth Education

    • Innovative educational programs
    • Academic enrichment
    • Leadership development
    • At-risk youth programs
    • Mentorship initiatives
    • Educational scholarships (e.g., four $2,500 scholarships annually to Elizabethtown College students)

  3. Arts & Culture for Youth

    • Music programs for youth
    • Visual arts programs for youth

Additional focus areas include fire departments, Christianity-based organizations, health services, and environmental preservation. A notable example is the $5 million gift to Lancaster Conservancy in 2021 in celebration of Clark Associates' 50th Anniversary.

What They Don't Fund

CACF explicitly excludes:

  • Organizations solely supporting animals
  • Youth sports teams
  • Political causes
  • General operating expenses (they fund special projects and initiatives instead)

Governance and Leadership

Fred Clark - Founder and Chairman of Clark Associates and Trustee of the foundation (with wife Elizabeth Clark)

Mike Thornton - Executive Director of Clark Associates Charitable Foundation

Foundation Structure: CACF operates as a company-sponsored private foundation, closely connected to Clark Associates Inc., which employs approximately 4,500-7,100 people across its various businesses including WebstaurantStore.com and 11 Restaurant Stores in the northeast.

The foundation reflects the values of its parent company, which has cultivated a strong culture of community engagement. As stated in their materials, the foundation was established "to enact the Clark family's ideals and beliefs of giving back to the community."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Contact Executive Director Mike Thornton to obtain an application and learn about the grant process. Applications can be submitted through the foundation's website or by direct contact.

Eligibility Requirements:

  • Must be a registered 501(c)(3) charity
  • Demonstrate sound financial operations
  • Show non-government funding sources
  • Document active volunteerism (preferably by Clark Associates employees)
  • Provide detailed rationale for funding requests
  • Serve one or more of the foundation's three primary categories

Strong Preference For: Organizations operating in and around Clark Associates business locations and those where Clark Associates employees volunteer and actively contribute.

Decision Timeline

The foundation reviews grant applications monthly throughout the year on a rolling basis. Specific decision timelines from submission to notification are not publicly disclosed, but the monthly review cycle suggests relatively quick turnaround compared to foundations with annual or semi-annual deadlines.

Success Rates

In 2023, CACF made 276 awards to 317 unique charities. The foundation states that in 2023 they "were able to put more money back into their communities in 2023 than in the first 12 years of the foundation's work combined," indicating expanding grantmaking capacity.

Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly disclosed. However, the foundation's emphasis on employee volunteer connections suggests that organizations with existing relationships to Clark Associates employees or operating in their business locations may have higher success rates.

Reapplication Policy

Not publicly disclosed. Contact Executive Director Mike Thornton for information about reapplication after an unsuccessful submission.

Application Success Factors

Based on CACF's stated priorities and recent grant patterns, the following factors appear critical:

  1. Employee Volunteer Connection: The foundation explicitly states it supports "non-profits operating in and around its business locations and those where employees volunteer and actively contribute." Demonstrating active Clark Associates employee volunteerism significantly strengthens applications.

  2. Project-Based Funding Approach: CACF provides funding for "special projects and initiatives rather than operating expenses." Applications should focus on specific programs, capital needs, or discrete initiatives rather than general operating support.

  3. Financial Soundness: Organizations must demonstrate sound financial operations and show non-government funding sources, suggesting the foundation values organizational sustainability and diverse funding streams.

  4. Clear Community Impact: Recent Derby Day beneficiaries address concrete community needs—Water Street Mission (homelessness), the Food Hub (food insecurity), Lancaster Education Foundation (youth education), Discovery Corner Preschool (early childhood education). Applications should demonstrate measurable community impact.

  5. Alignment with Core Categories: Organizations must clearly serve "people in need," "innovative youth educational programs," or "youth programs in music and the arts." Applications should explicitly connect their work to one or more of these categories.

  6. Geographic Connection: With over 700 organizations funded across nine states, CACF supports charities beyond Lancaster County, but there's clear emphasis on Pennsylvania and areas where Clark Associates operates. Organizations in these regions should highlight local connections.

  7. Detailed Rationale: The foundation requires "detailed rationale for funding requests," suggesting they value thorough, well-documented proposals that clearly explain project needs, expected outcomes, and budget justification.

Recent Example Projects Funded (via Derby Day 2024):

  • Water Street Mission (homeless assistance)
  • The Food Hub (food insecurity)
  • Bench Mark Program (disability services)
  • Lancaster Education Foundation (youth education)
  • Discovery Corner Preschool (early childhood education)
  • Organizations supporting children and adults with disabilities
  • Environmental preservation initiatives
  • At-risk youth protection
  • War refugee support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Cultivate employee volunteer connections: The single strongest advantage is having Clark Associates employees actively volunteering with your organization. If possible, recruit Clark Associates employees to your volunteer base before applying.

  • Focus on projects, not operations: Frame your request around a specific project or initiative with clear deliverables rather than general operating support. CACF wants to fund tangible programs.

  • Demonstrate financial health: Be prepared to show sound financial management and diverse funding sources beyond government grants. The foundation values organizational sustainability.

  • Apply year-round: With monthly reviews on a rolling basis, you don't need to wait for an annual deadline. Submit when your project is ready and well-documented.

  • Emphasize community impact in one of three core areas: Clearly articulate how your work serves people in need, provides innovative youth education, or offers arts/culture programs for young people. Quantify impact where possible.

  • Geographic proximity helps: While CACF funds across nine states, organizations in Lancaster County and areas where Clark Associates has operations (Pennsylvania, surrounding northeast states) should emphasize local connections.

  • Consider the Derby Day opportunity: The annual Derby Day event in May distributes significant funds ($2.2M in 2024 to 24 organizations). Inquire about how organizations are selected as Derby Day beneficiaries—this may represent an additional funding pathway beyond standard grant applications.

References

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