The Clayton Baker Trust is a Baltimore-centered funder that concentrates on supporting K–12 and college-access education programs, neighborhood-level community development, and climate/environmental action and communications. It routinely makes multi-year or repeat grants to a mix of local nonprofits (schools, youth programs, community development corporations, churches) and a handful of regional/national environmental groups, reflecting both place-based philanthropy and a clear climate/environment interest. Grants tend to support program delivery, scholarships, youth development, and neighborhood quality-of-life improvements.
Clayton Baker Trust’s recent giving is anchored by repeated support for Baltimore education and neighborhood organizations, alongside a sustained climate portfolio. The trust has made two $125,000 grants to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School and multiple six-figure gifts to environmental and civic groups, showing a mix of local place-based funding and policy-oriented grantmaking. Across its recent grants, education, community development, and environmental advocacy are the clearest threads. In Baltimore education, the trust has supported college-access and school-based programs such as Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore, Teach for America, and Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. In neighborhood work, it has backed groups tied to housing, transit, media, public space, and outreach, including Rebuild Metro, Healthcare for the Homeless, Bikemore, and Baltimore Public Media. On the environmental side, grants have gone to Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Union of Concerned Scientists, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, and the Center for Climate Change Communication George Mason University Foundation. The pattern is not limited to one-off awards. Several organizations appear in multiple years, and the trust also uses fiscal sponsorship for some outreach support, indicating a flexible grantmaking style that reaches both direct operating needs and project-level work.
Education is a major area of support. Clayton Baker Trust gave $75,000 in 2025 and $70,000 in 2024 to Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore, and $65,000 in 2024 to Teach for America Inc. It also made two $125,000 grants in 2024 to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School. In community development, the trust supported infrastructure and neighborhood service groups with $95,000 in 2025 to Rebuild Metro and $60,000 in 2024 to Bikemore. It also gave $77,500 in 2025 to Healthcare for the Homeless and $70,000 in 2025 to Baltimore Public Media Public Radio Corporation. Environmental grantmaking includes $150,000 in 2024 to Chesapeake Bay Foundation, $115,000 in 2025 to the Center for Climate Change Communication George Mason University Foundation, and $105,000 in 2025 to Union of Concerned Scientists. The trust also backed Chesapeake Climate Action Network and The Nature Conservancy.
Typical grant size sits at $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile, though the recent grants list also includes several awards in the $50,000 to $150,000 range. The trust’s pattern shows repeat support: Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore, Union of Concerned Scientists, Rebuild Metro, Emmanuel Church, and New Leaders all appear more than once across the recent grants. The data also shows some fiscal sponsorship, including Emmanuel Church Outreach Fund Baltimore Community Foundation fiscal ag. Clayton Baker Trust does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments.
$2.4M
$32.9M
$4.5M
$2.8M
Most grants fall between $10K and $30K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$30K
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Moderately sized, repeat grants concentrated in Baltimore with a mix of multi-year commitments to core local grantees and targeted larger gifts to regional/national environmental organizations; giving is distributed across many organizations but shows clear repeat funding relationships (several grantees received 3–7 grants each).
Notable grantees: Union of Concerned Scientists, Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Bikemore, Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore
Giving is overwhelmingly Maryland-centered: 92% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, and Maryland is also the top state by grant count. Baltimore is the main city in the recipient list, with grants to Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Rebuild Metro, Healthcare for the Homeless, Baltimore Public Media, Teach for America Inc, and Bikemore. Outside Baltimore, the trust also funded Annapolis, Takoma Park, Fairfax, and Cambridge in recent grants. All recipient grants in the country distribution are in the US.
The trust supports education, community development, and environmental organizations. Recent grants include school and college-access groups, neighborhood revitalization and outreach groups, and environmental advocacy and communications organizations.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $20,000 at the median, and $30,000 at the 75th percentile. Recent awards also include larger grants of $50,000, $75,000, $95,000, $115,000, $125,000, and $150,000.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Cristo Rey Jesuit High School, Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore, Union of Concerned Scientists, Rebuild Metro, Emmanuel Church, and New Leaders.
Most grants go to Maryland recipients, and 92% of grants are given to organizations in the HQ state. Baltimore accounts for many of the named recipients in the recent grants list.
No. The foundation profile indicates that Clayton Baker Trust does not fund individuals.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Center for Climate Change Communication George Mason University Foundation | FAIRFAX, MD | $115,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Union of Concerned Scientists | Cambridge, MA | $105,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Rebuild Metro | Baltimore, MD | $95,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| HEALTHCARE FOR THE HOMELESS | BALTIMORE, MD | $77,500 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Children's Scholarship Fund Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $75,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| BALTIMORE PUBLIC MEDIA PUBLIC RADIO CORPORATION | BALTIMORE, MD | $70,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Bikemore | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| BRIDGES BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| UPSURGE BALTIMORE | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | NEW YORK, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| i-Mentor | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| Central MD Transportation Alliance Baltimore Community Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Chesapeake Climate Action Network | Takoma Park, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Climate Access Fund | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| BALTIMORE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPO | BALTIMORE, MD | $50,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Baltimore Tree Trust | Baltimore, MD | $40,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Teach for America Inc | Baltimore, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| Middle Grades Partnership | Baltimore, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| NAMI Metropolitan Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| BALTIMORE BANNER INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $35,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Fund for Educational Excellence | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| MARYLAND SCIENCE CENTER | BALTIMORE, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| GAME CONSERVANCY USA INC | WEST PORT, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Cristo Rey Jesuit High School | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCTAION |
| St Vincent de Paul of Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELPMENT |
| B More Clubhouse | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Nature Sacred | Annapolis, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CollegeBound Foundation | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| Community Law Center | Baltimore, MD | $30,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| KIPP Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND MEDICINE | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| St Vincent de Paul of Baltimore | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| ROCA Baltimore | CHELSEA, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Patterson Park Audubon Center | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Rails-to-Trails Conservancy | BALTIMORE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEMT |
| Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKidsl | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| 4 MY CITY INC | TANEYTOWN, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| Friends of Patterson Park | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Fistula Foundation | SAN JOSE, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| Baltimore School for the Arts | Baltimore, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION:TWIGS PROGRAM |
| RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY & AMERICAN WOODCOCK SOCIETY | PITTSBURGH, MD | $25,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| CHESAPEAKE LEGAL ALLIANCE | ANNAPOLIS, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | ENVIRONMENT |
| MARYLAND CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION INC | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | OTHER |
| No Boundaries Coalition | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT |
| Downtown Sailing Center | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCTAION |
| Village Learning Place | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| Public Justice Center | Baltimore, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEMT |
| Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake | Annapolis, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
| CITY TEACHING ALLIANCE URBAN TEACHERS | BALTIMORE, MD | $20,000 | 2025 | EDUCATION |
Center for Climate Change Communication George Mason University Foundation
$115,000ENVIRONMENT
BALTIMORE PUBLIC MEDIA PUBLIC RADIO CORPORATION
$70,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Bikemore
$50,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
i-Mentor
$50,000EDUCATION
Central MD Transportation Alliance Baltimore Community Foundation
$50,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Climate Access Fund
$50,000ENVIRONMENT
BALTIMORE NEIGHBORHOOD DEVELOPMENT CORPO
$50,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Teach for America Inc
$35,000EDUCATION
Middle Grades Partnership
$35,000EDUCATION
BALTIMORE BANNER INC
$35,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Cristo Rey Jesuit High School
$30,000EDUCTAION
B More Clubhouse
$30,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Nature Sacred
$30,000ENVIRONMENT
Boys Hope Girls Hope Baltimore
$30,000EDUCATION
JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY AND MEDICINE
$25,000OTHER
ROCA Baltimore
$25,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Patterson Park Audubon Center
$25,000ENVIRONMENT
Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
$25,000COMMUNITY DEVELOPMEMT
Baltimore Symphony Orchestra OrchKidsl
$25,000EDUCATION
4 MY CITY INC
$25,000ENVIRONMENT
Baltimore School for the Arts
$25,000EDUCATION:TWIGS PROGRAM
RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY & AMERICAN WOODCOCK SOCIETY
$25,000ENVIRONMENT
MARYLAND CLUB PRESERVATION FOUNDATION INC
$20,000OTHER
Downtown Sailing Center
$20,000EDUCTAION
Village Learning Place
$20,000EDUCATION