
The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation concentrates its giving on higher education scholarships and engineering/STEM talent pipelines (notably the Clark Scholars program), major gifts to regional universities, and child- and family-focused health and early childhood initiatives in the DC–Maryland area. It also consistently supports workforce and veteran transition programs and neighborhood social services in Washington, DC. The foundation favors institutional partners (universities, hospitals, and nonprofit intermediaries) and often funds capital, endowed scholarship, and program-scale initiatives that scale access to education and health services.
A defining thread in Clark Charitable Foundation Inc Dba a James & Alice B Clark Foundation’s giving is the Clark Scholars pipeline, which appears alongside large-scale support for engineering facilities, endowed chairs, and university-based talent development. The foundation has backed the University of Maryland College Park Foundation with major gifts for new engineering facilities, the Clark Scholars Program Network, the Kim Building Addition, and Clark Distinguished Chairs, showing a long-running investment in academic infrastructure and student progression. It also funds scholarship and leadership programs beyond Maryland, including a $10 million gift to Boston College for the Carroll School of Management Scholarship Program and a $9 million grant to North Carolina A&T State University for engineering transfer pathways and a legacy scholars endowment. That higher-education focus sits next to health and family-service grants in the DC–Maryland area, including support for pediatric and maternal health initiatives, early childhood networks, and community-facing services in Washington, DC. The foundation’s recent record also includes support for veterans’ job-training infrastructure and newcomer services, indicating a portfolio built around education access, workforce transition, and family stability through institutional partners.
In higher education, the foundation has consistently backed scholarship and academic pipeline work. It gave $20,627,622 to University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc for the Clark Scholars Program Network, $10,000,000 to Trustees of Boston College for the Carroll School of Management Scholarship Program, and $9,000,000 to North Carolina A&T State University for college of engineering transfer student pathways and an A. James Clark Legacy Scholars competitive freshman endowment. Engineering infrastructure is another clear thread: it awarded $23,000,000 to University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc for new engineering facilities and $7,000,000 for the Kim Building Addition. The foundation also funds family and community services. It gave $7,750,000 to MedStar Health Inc for the Safe Babies, Safe Moms Health Initiative and $5,000,000 to Georgetown University for the Thrive Center for Children, Families, and Communities. In newcomer support, it granted $4,100,000 to Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Inc for the Newcomer Network.
$187M
$447.1M
$148M
$192.8M
Most grants fall between $35K and $556K, with a median of $140K.
25th Percentile
$35K
Median
$140K
75th Percentile
$556K
About 26% of grants go to recipients in DC.
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Concentrated, multi-year and multi-million-dollar grants to a set of repeat institutional grantees with large endowments and capital projects; a mix of large flagship gifts (endowments, chairs, capital) and targeted multi-year program operating support. Geographic focus is heavily local/regional (MD and DC) with select national investments in priorities like veterans and medical research.
Notable grantees: University of Maryland College Park Foundation (A. James Clark Scholars, engineering support), Children’s National Medical Center (parent-child and early childhood networks), MedStar Health / MedStar Georgetown (maternal and pediatric health initiatives), Washington Jesuit Academy / Catholic Charities DC (K–12 access and newcomer/social services), Workshops for Warriors / The Mission Continues (veterans job training and leadership)
Typical grants cluster in the mid-six-figure to low-seven-figure range, with a p25 of $35,000, a median of $140,100, and a p75 of $555,652. The recent record also shows repeated support for the same institutions across multiple years, especially University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc, MedStar Health Inc, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University, and Clark Scholars-related programs. The foundation is a regular funder and a large institutional grantmaker, using both major project grants and ongoing program support. It also funds individuals, which fits with the scholarship-heavy profile visible in the recent grants.
Grantmaking is regional and centered in the DC–Maryland area. Washington, DC appears frequently through grants to the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University, and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Inc. College Park, Maryland is another major hub because of repeated support for University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc. The foundation gives most often in DC, and 26% of grants go to recipients in Maryland, but its recent portfolio also reaches beyond the region to Boston, Greensboro, Durham, New York, San Diego, and Chestnut Hill.
Its recent grants cluster around higher education scholarships and engineering talent pipelines, university facilities and endowed chairs, pediatric and maternal health, early childhood and family services, veterans’ workforce transition, and newcomer services. The recent record includes repeated university support, health-system partnerships, and community-service grants in Washington, DC and Maryland.
The typical grant size is $35,000 at the 25th percentile, $140,100 at the median, and $555,652 at the 75th percentile. The recent portfolio also includes several much larger awards, including multi-million-dollar gifts for university programs, health initiatives, and scholarship endowments.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeated funding for University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc, MedStar Health Inc, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University, and Clark Scholars-related programs across multiple years, suggesting ongoing institutional relationships rather than one-time gifts only.
Recent recipients include University of Maryland College Park Foundation Inc, John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Trustees of Boston College, North Carolina A&T State University, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, MedStar Health Inc, Children’s National Medical Center, Georgetown University, Workshops for Warriors, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington Inc, Johns Hopkins University, Pennsylvania State University, and Duke University.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $23,000,000 | 2025 | NEW ENGINEERING FACILITIES |
| JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | WASHINGTON, DC | $10,000,000 | 2025 | ENDOW THE VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND THE LAWRENCE C. NUSSDORF FUND FOR SOUND HEALTH |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE | CHESTNUT HILL, MA | $10,000,000 | 2025 | CARROLL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY | GREENSBORO, NC | $9,000,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TRANSFER STUDENT PATHWAYS AND A. JAMES CLARK LEGACY SCHOLARS COMPETITIVE FRESHMAN ENDOWMENT |
| MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER | NEW YORK, NY | $7,900,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR GLIOBLASTOMA RESEARCH |
| MEDSTAR HEALTH INC | COLUMBIA, MD | $7,750,000 | 2025 | SAFE BABIES, SAFE MOMS HEALTH INITIATIVE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $7,000,000 | 2025 | CLARK DISTINGUISHED CHAIRS |
| MARYLAND FOOD BANK INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $5,750,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF FOOD SECUITY PROGRAMS |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THRIVE CENTER FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $4,265,090 | 2025 | MARYLAND PROMISE PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,100,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF THE NEWCOMER NETWORK |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY | BALTIMORE, MD | $4,000,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $4,000,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF STUDY OF MARKETS & ETHICS PROGRAMMING AND THE ETHICS PROJECT AT THE MCDONOUGH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS |
| PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY | UNIVERSITY PARK, PA | $4,000,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $3,750,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,750,000 | 2025 | CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PAVILION |
| GEORGIA TECH FOUNDATION INC | ATLANTA, GA | $3,500,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| CHILDRENS NATIONAL HOSPITAL | WASHINGTON, DC | $3,331,500 | 2025 | CLARK PARENT-CHILD NETWORK |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $3,021,127 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM NETWORK |
| VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY | NASHVILLE, TN | $3,000,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,552,064 | 2025 | MATERNAL HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM |
| SAMARITAN INNS INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,500,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF HOUSING, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES PROGRAMS |
| TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $2,500,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| WASHINGTON NATIONALS PHILANTHROPIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,200,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING SUPPORT |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | BETHESDA, MD | $2,000,000 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS CENTER INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $2,000,000 | 2025 | FACILITY EXPANSION |
| SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,872,206 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR A VIRTUAL NURSING PROGRAM |
| THE COMMIT FOUNDATION | BOZEMAN, MT | $1,750,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF VETERANS TRANSITION PROGRAMS |
| THE WASHINGTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,750,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTION |
| SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC | BETHESDA, MD | $1,745,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR A VIRTUAL NURSING PROGRAM |
| VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC | BLACKSBURG, VA | $1,700,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY | HOBOKEN, NJ | $1,620,000 | 2025 | CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| OPERATION HOMEFRONT INC | SAN ANTONIO, TX | $1,500,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR VETERANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS |
| THE MISSION CONTINUES | ST LOUIS, MO | $1,390,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR VETERANS PROGRAM |
| TEAM RUBICON INC | LOS ANGELES, CA | $1,355,833 | 2025 | SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND STRATEGIC GROWTH OF THE TRADES ACADEMY |
| HIRE HEROES USA | ALPHARETTA, GA | $1,250,000 | 2025 | MENTORING AND ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMS |
| WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,242,727 | 2025 | CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT |
| SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,119,372 | 2025 | EXPAND PEDIATRIC PROTON THERAPY CARE |
| THIRD OPTION FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT OF VETERANS PROGRAMS |
| COLLEGE TRACK | SUITLAND, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATIONS |
| NATIONAL LINKS TRUST | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000,000 | 2025 | FACILITY RENOVATIONS |
| PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC | PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FL | $1,000,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT FOR THE FINCHEM SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| MOUNT ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY | EMMITSBURG, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | THIRD CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM |
| BISHOP MCNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL | FORESTVILLE, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC | COLLEGE PARK, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | A. JAMES CLARK SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT |
| DEMATHA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL | HYATTSVILLE, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION | DOYLESTOWN, PA | $1,000,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR VETERANS PROGRAM |
| ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL | BLADENSBURG, MD | $1,000,000 | 2025 | STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DOG TAG INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $900,000 | 2025 | DOG TAG FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM EXPANSION |
| OPERATION OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $750,000 | 2025 | CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT OF COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAMS |
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC
$23,000,000NEW ENGINEERING FACILITIES
JOHN F KENNEDY CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$10,000,000ENDOW THE VICE PRESIDENT OF EDUCATION AND THE LAWRENCE C. NUSSDORF FUND FOR SOUND HEALTH
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON COLLEGE
$10,000,000CARROLL SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
NORTH CAROLINA A&T STATE UNIVERSITY
$9,000,000COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING TRANSFER STUDENT PATHWAYS AND A. JAMES CLARK LEGACY SCHOLARS COMPETITIVE FRESHMAN ENDOWMENT
MEMORIAL SLOAN KETTERING CANCER CENTER
$7,900,000SUPPORT FOR GLIOBLASTOMA RESEARCH
MEDSTAR HEALTH INC
$7,750,000SAFE BABIES, SAFE MOMS HEALTH INITIATIVE
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC
$7,000,000CLARK DISTINGUISHED CHAIRS
MARYLAND FOOD BANK INC
$5,750,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF FOOD SECUITY PROGRAMS
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
$5,000,000SUPPORT OF THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY THRIVE CENTER FOR CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC
$4,265,090MARYLAND PROMISE PROGRAM
CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE ARCHDIOCESE OF WASHINGTON INC
$4,100,000SUPPORT OF THE NEWCOMER NETWORK
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY
$4,000,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
$4,000,000SUPPORT OF STUDY OF MARKETS & ETHICS PROGRAMMING AND THE ETHICS PROJECT AT THE MCDONOUGH SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY
$4,000,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
DUKE UNIVERSITY
$3,750,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY
$3,750,000CONSTRUCTION OF NEW PAVILION
GEORGIA TECH FOUNDATION INC
$3,500,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
CHILDRENS NATIONAL HOSPITAL
$3,331,500CLARK PARENT-CHILD NETWORK
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC
$3,021,127CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM NETWORK
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
$3,000,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$2,552,064MATERNAL HEALTH ACCESS PROGRAM
SAMARITAN INNS INC
$2,500,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT OF HOUSING, TREATMENT AND RECOVERY SERVICES PROGRAMS
TRUSTEES OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA
$2,500,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
WASHINGTON NATIONALS PHILANTHROPIES
$2,200,000GENERAL OPERATING AND YOUTH PROGRAMMING SUPPORT
SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC
$2,000,000CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
JUNIOR TENNIS CHAMPIONS CENTER INC
$2,000,000FACILITY EXPANSION
SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$1,872,206SUPPORT FOR A VIRTUAL NURSING PROGRAM
THE COMMIT FOUNDATION
$1,750,000SUPPORT OF VETERANS TRANSITION PROGRAMS
THE WASHINGTON SCHOOL FOR GIRLS
$1,750,000STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS AND NEW FACILITY CONSTRUCTION
SUBURBAN HOSPITAL FOUNDATION INC
$1,745,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT FOR A VIRTUAL NURSING PROGRAM
VIRGINIA TECH FOUNDATION INC
$1,700,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
THE TRUSTEES OF THE STEVENS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
$1,620,000CLARK SCHOLARS PROGRAM
OPERATION HOMEFRONT INC
$1,500,000SUPPORT FOR VETERANS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING PROGRAMS
THE MISSION CONTINUES
$1,390,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR VETERANS PROGRAM
TEAM RUBICON INC
$1,355,833SUPPORT CAPACITY BUILDING AND STRATEGIC GROWTH OF THE TRADES ACADEMY
HIRE HEROES USA
$1,250,000MENTORING AND ONLINE TRAINING PROGRAMS
WASHINGTON JESUIT ACADEMY
$1,242,727CAPITAL CAMPAIGN SUPPORT
SIBLEY MEMORIAL HOSPITAL FOUNDATION
$1,119,372EXPAND PEDIATRIC PROTON THERAPY CARE
THIRD OPTION FOUNDATION
$1,000,000SUPPORT OF VETERANS PROGRAMS
COLLEGE TRACK
$1,000,000FACILITY RENOVATIONS
NATIONAL LINKS TRUST
$1,000,000FACILITY RENOVATIONS
PGA TOUR FIRST TEE FOUNDATION INC
$1,000,000SUPPORT FOR THE FINCHEM SCHOLARS PROGRAM
MOUNT ST MARY'S UNIVERSITY
$1,000,000THIRD CENTURY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
BISHOP MCNAMARA HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000,000STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK FOUNDATION INC
$1,000,000A. JAMES CLARK SCHOLARSHIP ENDOWMENT
DEMATHA CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000,000STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
TRAVIS MANION FOUNDATION
$1,000,000CAPACITY BUILDING SUPPORT FOR VETERANS PROGRAM
ELIZABETH SETON HIGH SCHOOL
$1,000,000STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
DOG TAG INC
$900,000DOG TAG FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM EXPANSION
OPERATION OPPORTUNITY FOUNDATION
$750,000CAPACITY-BUILDING SUPPORT OF COLLEGE PREPARATORY PROGRAMS