Mary D. Clapham Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,600,003 (2023)
• Total Assets: $42,679,631 (2024)
• Number of Grants: 18 (2023)
• Grant Range: Approximately $65,000 - $650,000
• Geographic Focus: National (United States)
• EIN: 51-6570085

Contact Details

Address: 10 S Dearborn IL1-0111, Chicago, IL 60603

Phone: 800-496-2583 or 866-888-5157

Trustee: JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware

Note: Organizations must contact the foundation directly for application procedures.

Overview

The Mary D. Clapham Charitable Trust was established in 2006 in Delaware as an independent private foundation to honor the philanthropic legacy of Mary Delahanty Clapham, who died in 2004 at the age of 103. Mary's charitable work honored her late husband, Arthur Clapham, former President of Johnson & Johnson. According to her niece Christine Letendre, "She did so much for so many people, and her intent was not to receive praise." The trust, managed by JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware (compensated $237,178 annually), maintains assets of approximately $42.7 million and distributes around $2.6 million annually to pre-selected charitable organizations. Mary Delahanty Clapham was described as "a deeply spiritual woman who felt a great responsibility to care for those who might be suffering or in need," which is reflected in the trust's focus on health, religious, and human service organizations across the United States.

Funding Priorities

Funding Distribution

The trust's giving is concentrated in three primary areas:

• Health: 64% of total giving (particularly cancer-related organizations)
• Religion: 20% of giving (Christianity and Catholicism)
• Social & Human Services: 9% of giving

Recent Grant Examples

Based on recent filings, the trust has awarded grants including:

• $652,778 to Lahey Hospital and Medical Center (Burlington, MA) - Health/Cancer care
• $195,833 to Arthritis Foundation - Health
• $130,556 to Church of the Nativity (Fair Haven, NJ) - Religion
• $65,278 to Jesuit Seminary and Mission Bureau - Religion
• $65,278 to Salvation Army - Human Services

Historical Grant Recipients (2007)

• $647,500 to Lahey Clinic (Burlington, MA)
• $259,000 to Cancer Care (New York, NY)
• $259,000 to National Cancer Care Foundation (New York, NY)
• $259,000 to Rose Hawthorne Home (New York, NY)
• $129,500 to St. Jude Research Hospital (Memphis, TN)
• $129,500 to Catholic Relief Services (Baltimore, MD)
• $129,500 to Riverview Medical Center (Redbank, NJ)
• $129,500 to Church of the Nativity (Fair Haven, NJ)
• $64,750 to National Arthritis Foundation (Iselin, NJ)
• $64,750 to Marianist Mission (Dayton, OH)

Geographic Reach

The trust has provided funding to organizations across multiple states including:

• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Oklahoma
• Tennessee
• Illinois

Priority Areas

Based on grant history, the trust prioritizes:

• Cancer research and treatment facilities (notably strong relationship with Lahey Hospital)
• Catholic churches and religious institutions
• Disease-specific foundations (cancer, arthritis)
• Medical centers and hospitals
• Catholic relief and missionary organizations
• Human service providers (Salvation Army)

Governance and Leadership

Trustee

JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware serves as the sole trustee of the Mary D. Clapham Charitable Trust. JPMorgan's Delaware Trust Company has over 70 professionals with an average of 8 years of Delaware trust administration experience, specializing in charitable trusts and cross-border trust planning.

Trustee Compensation: $237,178 annually (2024)

Legacy and Mission

The trust was established to continue Mary Delahanty Clapham's philanthropic legacy. Mary maintained a 30-year relationship with Lahey Hospital, beginning this connection to honor her late husband Arthur Clapham. Even after Arthur's death, she continued traveling from Rumson, New Jersey to Lahey for medical appointments and enthusiastically supported the hospital's greatest areas of need.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

IMPORTANT: This funder does not have a public, open application process. The trust only makes contributions to pre-selected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

However, according to foundation directories, "Applicants must contact the foundation directly for the application procedures" at:

• Phone: 800-496-2583 or 866-888-5157
• Address: 10 S Dearborn IL1-0111, Chicago, IL 60603

Organizations interested in being considered should reach out to JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware, which administers the trust, to inquire about their selection process and whether there may be opportunities for consideration.

Getting on Their Radar

Since the trust operates on a pre-selected basis, organizations should consider:

1. Long-term Relationship Building: Mary Clapham's 30-year relationship with Lahey Hospital demonstrates the trust values sustained partnerships with organizations rather than one-time grants.

2. Geographic Connections: Historical grants show a concentration in areas with personal significance (New Jersey, where Mary lived in Rumson; Massachusetts, where she received medical care at Lahey).

3. Mission Alignment: Organizations working in cancer care, Catholic religious activities, or arthritis/disease research appear to align most closely with the founder's personal interests and experiences.

4. Direct Inquiry: While unsolicited applications are not accepted, contacting JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware to express interest and inquire about their organizational selection process may provide clarity on whether future consideration is possible.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly available, as the trust does not operate on a regular application cycle. The trust files its Form 990 annually in October, suggesting grants may be reviewed and distributed on an annual basis.

Grant Terms

Grants appear to be one-year awards, though some organizations (like Lahey Hospital) have received support over multiple years, indicating potential for renewal.

Application Success Factors

Given the trust's pre-selection approach and limited public information, success factors can be inferred from grant patterns:

Alignment with Founder's Values

Mary Delahanty Clapham was "a deeply spiritual woman who felt a great responsibility to care for those who might be suffering or in need." Organizations that demonstrate:

• Compassionate care for suffering individuals (particularly cancer patients)
• Catholic faith-based mission (churches, missionary work, relief services)
• Medical excellence and research (particularly in cancer and arthritis)

Organizational Characteristics of Recipients

Successful recipients tend to be:

• Established institutions with strong reputations (major hospitals, national foundations)
• Catholic organizations (churches, Jesuit institutions, Catholic Relief Services)
• Disease-focused organizations addressing cancer and arthritis
• Organizations with geographic ties to New Jersey, Massachusetts, or New York

Relationship and Connection

The trust's strongest relationship appears to be with Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, where both Mary and Arthur Clapham received care. This suggests:

• Personal connection to the organization matters significantly
• Long-term partnerships are valued (30-year relationship with Lahey)
• Quality of care and institutional reputation are important factors

Grant Size Patterns

Grant amounts appear to be formulaic, with common amounts including:

• $652,778 (top tier)
• $259,000 (major grants)
• $129,500-$130,556 (mid-level grants)
• $64,750-$65,278 (smaller grants)

This suggests a tiered approach to funding based on organizational type or relationship strength.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. No Public Application Process: This trust does not accept unsolicited applications and works exclusively with pre-selected organizations. Standard grant writing approaches will not be effective.

2. Focus on Relationship Building: The 30-year partnership with Lahey Hospital demonstrates that this trust values long-term relationships over one-time funding requests. Organizations should focus on building connections with JPMorgan Trust Company of Delaware.

3. Strong Preference for Catholic Organizations: With 20% of giving directed to religious causes and all religious grants supporting Catholic institutions, Catholic organizations have a clear advantage.

4. Cancer Care is Top Priority: The largest grants consistently go to cancer-related organizations, reflecting Mary's personal connection to Lahey Hospital and her husband's medical care.

5. Geographic Connections Matter: Historical grants show concentration in New Jersey (where Mary lived), Massachusetts (where she received care), and New York, suggesting geographic proximity to the founder's life may be relevant.

6. Institutional Credibility Required: Recipients are established, well-known institutions (national foundations, major hospitals, recognized religious organizations) rather than small or emerging nonprofits.

7. Contact JPMorgan Trust Company: While the trust doesn't accept unsolicited proposals, organizations can contact the trustee directly at 800-496-2583 to inquire about their selection process and express interest in potential future consideration.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. "Mary D Clapham Charitable Tr - Profile and Form 990 Filings." https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/516570085 (Accessed February 9, 2026)

• Cause IQ. "Mary D. Clapham Charitable Trust." https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mary-d-clapham-charitable-trust,516570085/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)

• Here-4-You Consulting/NPFunds. "Mary D. Clapham Charitable Trust Directory." https://npfunds.com/directory/mary-d-clapham-charitable-trust/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)

• Instrumentl. "Mary Delahanty Clapham Charitable Tr - 990 Report." https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/mary-delahanty-clapham-charitable-tr (Accessed February 9, 2026)

• Grantable. "Mary Delahanty Clapham Charitable Tr - Foundation Profile & Grants." https://www.grantable.co/search/funders/profile/mary-delahanty-clapham-charitable-tr-us-foundation-516570085 (Accessed February 9, 2026)

• Beth Israel Lahey Health. "Giving Back, Looking Forward - Lahey Hospital & Medical Center." https://giving.bilh.org/laheyhospitalmedicalcenter/philanthropy-news/giving-back-looking-forward/ (Accessed February 9, 2026) - Quote from Christine Letendre about Mary Clapham's philanthropic approach

• Grantmakers.io. "Mary D Clapham Charitable Tr Profile." https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/516570085-mary-d-clapham-charitable-tr/ (Accessed February 9, 2026)