The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 35-1812631 · since 1990awclowescf.org·Indiana·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$16.5M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$2,000 to $250k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$25,000
Typical grant (median)
160 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • If your organisation works in the arts or humanities, the fit is worth checking, and the Foundation gives priority to Central Indiana.
  • Half of its 160 grants to organisations in the filing were $25,000 or less, and the median was $25,000, so a modest request suits it, though its typical band of $2,000 to $250,000 is not a ceiling because its largest grant was $4,500,000.
  • Because it expects grants to complement other funding, present your request as a portion of your overall budget, and note that new Operations applicants and all Capital applicants must first submit a Letter of Intent and be approved: Capital Cycle Letters of Intent are due April 30 with applications by June 30, while Operations Cycle Letters of Intent for organisations new to the cycle are due November 30 and returning Operations Cycle applicants submit applications by January 31.
  • Individuals and endowments are not funded, and schools and universities may apply only for arts projects through the Capital Cycle, so those should not apply under Operations.
  • The filing does not say how competitive applications are, so treat the Letter of Intent as your first real test.

Overview

The Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Indianapolis, IN.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Foundation supports charitable organisations that promote or preserve the Arts and Humanities, prioritising organisations in Central Indiana. Its stated arts interests include museums, performing arts ensembles, symphonic and choral groups, visual arts centres and theatres. Its Operations Cycle supports eligible organisations’ ongoing core missions, while its Capital Cycle supports one-time projects, programmes and initiatives, including project and capacity-building work. Educational institutions may apply only for arts-related projects through the Capital Cycle. The Foundation also makes legacy and emergency-relief grants, with emergency grants responding to disasters locally, nationally and internationally. It values sustained impact, effective mission execution, strong leadership, collaborative partnerships, resource development and measurable outcomes, and expects grants to complement other sources of funding.

Themes

  • Arts and humanities

Geographic Focus

Priority: Central Indiana.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals
  • Endowments
  • Capital Grants only: ongoing programs, staff expansion, or operational overhead
  • Operations Grant Cycle only: Schools and universities

How to apply

Applications go through the grant portal. New Operations applicants and all Capital applicants first submit a Letter of Intent and must be approved before proceeding to a full application.

Deadlines:

  • Capital Cycle Letters of Intent are due April 30.
  • Approved Capital Cycle applicants submit applications by June 30.
  • Operations Cycle Letters of Intent for organisations new to the cycle are due November 30.
  • Returning and approved Operations Cycle applicants submit applications by January 31.

Application success factors

  • Grant size: In its TY2024 filing, half of its 160 grants to organisations were $25,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Priority is given to organisations located in Central Indiana.
  • Successful proposals demonstrate sustained impact through effective mission execution, strong leadership, collaborative partnerships, resource development and measurable outcomes.
  • A grant should complement other funding and represent only a portion of an organisation’s overall financial support.
  • The Board decides proposals case by case.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Indiana98%
District of Columbia<1%
New York<1%
Connecticut<1%
Massachusetts<1%
Kentucky<1%

6 other states: <1%

  • The largest single recipient received 27% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

160 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $25,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 160 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k3%
$1k–$2.5k9%
$2.5k–$5k6%
$5k–$10k6%
$10k–$25k24%
$25k–$50k19%
$50k–$100k13%
$100k–$250k10%
$250k–$500k8%
$500k–$1M2%
$1M and over1%

Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Butler University · Capital & Special Project
    $4,500,0002024 tax year
  • Indianapolis Motor Speedway Foundation · Capital & Special Project
    $750,0002024 tax year
  • Aspire Higher Foundation · Capital & Special Project
    $600,0002024 tax year
  • Crown Hill Heritage Foundation · Capital & Special Project
    $550,0002024 tax year
  • Indianapolis Ballet · Operations, Capital, & Special Project
    $462,5002024 tax year
  • Shelby County Players · Capital & Special Project
    $425,0002024 tax year
  • Harrison Center for the Arts · Operations, Capital, & Special Project
    $413,5002024 tax year
  • Indianapolis Symphonic Choir · Operations, Capital, & Special Project
    $364,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • Elizabeth Kaznak-Hall — VP / Director of Programs
  • Wallace R Yakey Jr — Director
  • Paul Lowell Haines — Director
  • Jennett M Hill — Director
  • Ben W Blanton — Director
  • Danny R Dean — Chair
  • Joanna Taft — Secretary / Treasurer
  • James B Lemler — President
  • Beth Slaninka — Vice Chair

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$13,012,818$12,114,019$325,279,680Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$18,331,711$17,176,978$453,366,199Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$18,673,582$16,518,369$558,767,994Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

Other sources

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