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Schmetterling Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,208,000 (2024)
  • Total Assets: $42,026,449
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $500 - $1,000,000
  • Median Grant: $10,000
  • Geographic Focus: Indiana, Texas (Austin area), Michigan, California, Massachusetts
  • Number of Grants: 41 (2024)

Contact Details

Address: c/o Foundation Source, 501 Silverside Rd, Wilmington, DE 19809-1377

Phone: 800-839-1754

EIN: 27-4267762

Note: The foundation is administratively based in Delaware but makes grants primarily in Indiana and Texas.

Overview

The Schmetterling Foundation was established in 2011 by Jim and Colleen Clark, a couple who moved to Austin, Texas from Valparaiso, Indiana. With total assets of $42 million and annual giving of approximately $2.2 million, the foundation focuses primarily on education with recent emphasis on early childhood education. The foundation's name—German for "butterfly"—reflects the Clarks' philosophy that grantmaking should support transformational change rather than creating dependency. The foundation has consistently increased its grantmaking activity, growing from 7 grants in 2020 to 41 grants in 2024. Leadership includes family members Colleen Clark (Co-President), James A. Clark (Co-President/Secretary), Nicholaus Clark (Vice President), Nissa Clark (Vice President), and Katrina Swartz (Vice President), all serving without compensation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation primarily makes general and unrestricted grants to preselected organizations:

  • Major Grants: $500,000 - $1,000,000 (recent examples include $750,000 to Into Action Recovery Inc and $750,000 to YMCA, plus $3 million to Greater Austin YMCA for Tomorrow Academy)
  • Standard Grants: $500 - $50,000
  • Median Grant Size: $10,000

The foundation operates on a trustee discretion basis with no fixed deadlines or rolling application windows.

Priority Areas

  • Early Childhood Education: Primary focus area, including childcare centers and PreK programs
  • Higher Education: Support for institutions like Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology and other educational institutions
  • YMCA Programs: Strong history of supporting YMCA facilities and programs, dating back to their time in Valparaiso, Indiana
  • Human Services: Including addiction recovery services
  • Zoos and Conservation: Past grants to Indianapolis Zoological Society, Austin Zoo, Chicago Zoological Society

What They Don't Fund

  • The foundation does not publicly disclose specific exclusions
  • Unsolicited grant proposals are not accepted

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership (all positions unpaid):

  • Colleen Clark, Co-President & Director: Active in foundation strategy and grant decisions. Quoted regarding the Four Points YMCA gift: "This is an area that's growing rapidly, and there's a ton of families without huge resources."
  • James A. Clark, Co-President, Secretary & Director: Articulates the foundation's philosophy of empowerment. Key quote: "If you just give people things or do it for them, it doesn't necessarily accomplish what you want."
  • Nicholaus Clark, Vice President
  • Nissa Clark, Vice President
  • Katrina Swartz, Vice President

Foundation Philosophy: The Clarks chose the butterfly metaphor deliberately. Jim Clark explains that the butterfly's metamorphosis—the difficult process of breaking out of the cocoon—reminded him of the journey that community-based nonprofit organizations must undertake to bring projects to life. The foundation believes in supporting organizations through challenging transformative processes rather than simply providing resources without requiring growth.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

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

Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion, with the Clark family identifying organizations to support based on their knowledge of community needs and existing relationships with nonprofit organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

While specific, documented strategies for this funder are limited, their known grantmaking pattern suggests:

  • Geographic connections matter: The foundation supports organizations in areas where the Clarks have lived and been active—particularly Valparaiso, Indiana (their former home) and Austin, Texas (current residence)
  • YMCA connection: The Clarks have a long history of YMCA involvement, being active with the Valparaiso YMCA before moving to Austin 10 years ago, and continuing that relationship in Texas
  • Education sector engagement: Given their stated focus on education, particularly early childhood education, organizations in this space may have greater visibility to the foundation
  • Existing relationship building: Past grantees include organizations the Clarks likely encountered through community involvement, suggesting relationship-building in Austin and Indiana communities where they're active

The foundation's Form 990-PF filings are publicly available and show past grantees, which may help identify organizations in similar fields or geographic areas.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. Grants appear to be made throughout the year based on trustee meetings and decisions.

Success Rates

Not publicly disclosed. With only 41 grants made from an invitation-only pool in 2024, the "success rate" for preselected organizations is presumably high, but unsolicited applicants have a 0% success rate.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable given the invitation-only model. Organizations may receive multi-year support or repeated grants if they remain aligned with foundation priorities.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates on an invitation-only basis, traditional "application success factors" don't apply. However, analysis of their grantmaking reveals:

What the Foundation Values:

  • Transformational change over dependency: Jim Clark's quote makes clear they want to support organizational growth and self-sufficiency, not create reliance on foundation funding
  • Early childhood education impact: Recent major gifts show intensified focus on addressing childcare gaps, particularly in growing communities with limited resources
  • Community needs in growth areas: Colleen Clark specifically mentioned supporting areas with "families without huge resources"
  • Long-term sector engagement: Their decade-long YMCA support shows loyalty to organizations and causes they believe in

Recent Funding Examples:

  • $3 million to Greater Austin YMCA Tomorrow Academy (2024) for early childhood education center serving ages 6 weeks to PreK
  • $750,000 to Into Action Recovery Inc (2024)
  • $750,000 to Young Men's Christian Association (2024)
  • Repeated grants to Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indianapolis Zoological Society, Austin Zoo, and Chicago Zoological Society

Foundation Language and Priorities: The Clarks use language focused on "transformation," "empowerment," and "breaking out"—avoiding dependency-creating relationships. They emphasize addressing gaps in services for families with limited resources in rapidly growing communities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Unsolicited proposals will not be accepted: This is explicitly stated. Do not waste time preparing applications unless specifically invited
  • Geographic relevance is crucial: Focus areas are Indiana (particularly Valparaiso area) and Texas (particularly Austin area), with some California, Michigan, and Massachusetts grants
  • Education is the priority: Especially early childhood education, but also higher education and youth development through organizations like the YMCA
  • Relationship-driven grantmaking: The foundation supports organizations where the Clark family has personal connection or community involvement
  • Empowerment over charity: Projects should demonstrate how funding will support organizational transformation and long-term sustainability, not create ongoing dependency
  • Major gifts possible: While median grant is $10,000, the foundation makes transformational gifts of $500,000-$3 million for strategic priorities
  • Family foundation with hands-on leadership: All five board members are family, suggesting personal engagement in grant decisions and site visits

References

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