About James B Mcclatchy Foundation
We stand with the people of the Central Valley by investing in education and active civic participation in our democracy.
Focus Areas
Education (Pre-K / Early childhood for English learners)Local journalism and community mediaCivic engagement and democracyFirst Amendment (free speech, free press, media literacy)Multilingual / Dual language learner supportCapacity building and organizational sustainabilityLeadership development
Who They Fund
PreK children / early learnersEnglish Language Learners (students)Central Valley / regional community residentsGeneral public / arts audiences
About James B Mcclatchy Foundation
The James B McClatchy Foundation has made community journalism and civic participation in the Central Valley a defining part of its recent grantmaking. One of its largest recent awards was $1,000,000 in 2023 to Central Valley Jouralism Coll for LIFT, signaling substantial support for the infrastructure behind local news and civic information. The foundation has also backed education work at scale, including six-figure grants to school districts for PreK and English learner programs and to organizations advancing dual language learner support. Its grantmaking also reaches local journalism, First Amendment work, community storytelling, and initiatives tied to neighborhood quality of life. Recent grants show repeated support for Central Valley institutions and regional intermediaries, alongside targeted awards to organizations working in Fresno, Kern, Sacramento, Stockton, and other California communities. The pattern is consistent with a funder using project-based grants and initiative-driven support to strengthen local systems rather than making broad, unrestricted awards across many issue areas.
What James B Mcclatchy Foundation Funds
In education, the foundation has invested in early learning and English learner programs through school-district grants such as $592,000 to Cutler-Orosi Joint Unified for PreK and ELL Programs and $449,289 to Galt Joint Union Elementary School for the same purpose. Dual language learner and prekindergarten work also appears in its Growing Strong Learners initiatives, which center educator capacity, family engagement, and leadership development. On the civic side, the foundation has supported democracy-focused rapid-response work, including $500,000 to Central Valley Community Foun for Improve Quality of Life and $300,000 to Sobrato Foundation for the Sunrise Plan. Its arts and public-facing community work includes $337,000 to Fresno Art Museum for a Frida Kahlo Exhibit, showing that cultural programming sits alongside education and civic engagement in the portfolio.
How James B Mcclatchy Foundation Gives
Typical grant size sits at $20,000 at the 25th percentile, $60,000 at the median, and $150,000 at the 75th percentile, which points to a mix of smaller project support and larger initiative grants. The recent record also shows repeat support to the same recipients across years, including Central Valley Jouralism Coll, Lindsay Unified School Distri, Washington Unified School, Winters Joint Unified School, and Delhi Unified School District. The foundation does not fund individuals and does not make program-related investments. Its approach is initiative-driven and project-based, with direct-service, capacity-building, and program support all appearing in the grant record.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$10.1M
Total Assets
$28.3M
Total Revenue
$4.6M
Total Expenses
$12.1M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $20K and $150K, with a median of $60K.
25th Percentile
$20K
Median
$60K
75th Percentile
$150K
Geographic Reach
Local5 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
Leadership
Susanna Cooper
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