The Clara E. and John H. Ware Jr. Foundation concentrates on institutional philanthropy—primarily funding university medical research and regional cultural/historic preservation. Major grants support biomedical research (adult-onset hearing loss; microbiome links to progressive neurological disease) alongside repeated support for New England arts, museum archives, and historic preservation projects. Grants tend to be substantial and directed to established nonprofit and academic partners rather than small grassroots groups.
The Clara E and John H Ware Jr Foundation stands out for sustained support of adult-onset hearing loss research at the University of Pennsylvania. The largest recent gift in the dataset was $215,000 in 2023 to Penn Medicine’s Development Center for Adult Onset Hearing Loss, followed by another $135,000 in 2024 and a $100,000 grant in 2025 for preclinical gene therapy for hearing loss. That continuity points to a funder that returns to the same research effort over multiple years rather than making isolated awards. Alongside biomedical research, the foundation also backs institutions tied to preservation and public service. Its recent grants include repeated support for the University of Vermont Foundation’s historic preservation work, Cape Ann Museum’s library and archives, and Philadelphia organizations such as Project Home, Philabundance, and the Pennsylvania School of the Deaf. The pattern is institution-focused and project-specific, with grants directed to universities, museums, service nonprofits, and other established organizations. Awards are often in the tens of thousands of dollars, but the portfolio also includes six-figure commitments when the foundation chooses to concentrate on a long-running research or preservation effort.
Biomedical research is a core theme. The foundation gave $100,000 in 2024 and another $100,000 in 2023 to Brigham & Women’s Hospital for research on the gut microbiome in progressive multiple sclerosis, showing repeat support for the same scientific question across years. It also funds historic preservation in higher education settings. The University of Vermont Foundation received $100,000 in 2024 for the College of Arts & Science historic preservation general program and $80,000 in 2025 for scholarships to the historic preservation program. Cultural heritage infrastructure is another clear lane. Cape Ann Museum Inc. got $100,000 in 2023 for library and archives support and $60,000 in 2024 for a photo archives position and refurbished scanner. The foundation also supports local community programming, including $60,000 to The Phoenix in 2024 for youth and family programming and $50,000 in 2025 to The Phoenix Multisport for the same purpose.
$705K
$12.1M
$1.1M
$810K
Most grants fall between $32K and $95K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$32K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$95K
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Relatively concentrated, mid-to-large grants directed to repeat institutional grantees; a mix of multi-year or multiple awards to the same organizations rather than many small, one-off grants. Geographic emphasis on Philadelphia-connected institutions and New England regional cultural/environmental projects.
Notable grantees: University of Pennsylvania, Brigham & Women's Hospital, University of Vermont Foundation, Cape Ann Museum, Inc., Lake Champlain (regional conservation initiatives)
Typical grant sizes cluster in the mid-five-figure range: p25 is $32,000, median is $50,000, and p75 is $95,000. The recent record shows both recurring grants and one-time awards, with several grantees appearing in consecutive years, including University of Pennsylvania, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Cape Ann Museum Inc., University of Vermont Foundation, Project Home, The Phoenix, Philabundance, and Soroptimist. The foundation is an institutional grantmaker rather than an individual funder, and it does not make program-related investments. Grants are given regionally, with Pennsylvania as the most frequent recipient state.
Grant recipients are entirely in the United States, with Pennsylvania receiving 47% of grants. Philadelphia appears often, including awards to University of Pennsylvania, Project Home, Philabundance, Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, William Way LGBT Community Center, Soroptimist, and Theatre Exile. Outside Pennsylvania, the foundation gives repeatedly in Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts, and in Burlington, Vermont. The geographic pattern is regional rather than national, with a concentration in the Philadelphia area and another cluster in New England.
The recent record shows four main lanes: biomedical research, historic preservation, museum library and archive support, and selected community programs. Examples include hearing-loss research at the University of Pennsylvania, multiple sclerosis research at Brigham & Women’s Hospital, historic preservation at the University of Vermont Foundation, and archive support at Cape Ann Museum Inc.
Typical awards are in the mid-five-figure range. The distribution provided is p25 at $32,000, median at $50,000, and p75 at $95,000. Recent grants also include six-figure awards for research and preservation projects.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including the University of Pennsylvania, Brigham & Women’s Hospital, Cape Ann Museum Inc., University of Vermont Foundation, Project Home, The Phoenix, Philabundance, and Soroptimist. That suggests recurring support for selected institutional partners.
Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, and 47% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. Philadelphia-area recipients include University of Pennsylvania, Project Home, Philabundance, Pennsylvania School of the Deaf, William Way LGBT Community Center, Soroptimist, and Theatre Exile.
Recent purposes include the Penn Medicine Development Center for Adult Onset Hearing Loss, research on the gut microbiome in progressive multiple sclerosis, historic preservation general programming, scholarships for a historic preservation program, library and archives support, photo-archive infrastructure, youth and family programming, housing services, and medical assisting instructional materials.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2026 | RICH FAMILY RESEARCH FUND |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION | BURLINGTON, VT | $100,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2026 | PRECLINICAL GENE THERAPY FOR HEARING LOSS PROGRAM |
| GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE | GLOUCESTER, MA | $75,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT INSTRUCTOR POSITION |
| PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF THE DEAF | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $70,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT PSD'S DEAF PROFESSIONALS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM |
| PHILABUNDANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE PHOENIX MULTISPORT | BOSTON, MA | $40,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN |
| SORPTIMIST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE LIVE YOUR DEAMS AWARDS PROGRAM |
| GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | GLOUCESTER, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | HIGH SCHOOL - MEDICAL ASSISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS |
| DEEP VELLUM PUBLISHING | DALLAS, TX | $25,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF STEFANO D'ARRIGO'S HORCYNUS ORCA |
| THEATRE EXILE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2026 | SUPPORT THE PAPER WINGS PROGRAM |
| ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEW BEDFORD FISHING HERITAGE CENTER | NEW BEDFORD, MA | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARVARD CATHOLIC CENTER | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL | CAMBRIDGE, MA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $100,000 | 2025 | PRECLINICAL GENE THERAPY FOR HEARING LOSS PROGRAM |
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2025 | FOR RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION | BURLINGTON, VT | $80,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM |
| GLOUCESTER MARINE GENOMICS INSTITUTE | GLOUCESTER, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT BIOTECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AND STEM ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM |
| THE PHOENIX MULTISPORT | BOSTON, MA | $50,000 | 2025 | FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMING |
| PENNSYLVANIA SCHOOL OF THE DEAF | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PHILABUNDANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SORPTIMIST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2025 | FOR LIVE YOUR DREAMS AWARDS PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON THE PHILADELPHIA REGION |
| GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | GLOUCESTER, MA | $31,000 | 2025 | SUPPORT THE GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL - MEDICAL ASSISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS |
| THEATRE EXILE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | PAPER WINGS PROGRAM |
| CAPE ANN MUSEUM INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | FOR PHOTO ARCHIVES POSITION AND REFURBISHED SCANNER |
| ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| DUKE UNIVERSITY | DURHAM, NC | $4,000 | 2025 | TRANSLATION OF AESTHETICS OF RESISTANCE |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $135,000 | 2024 | FOR THE PENN MEDICINE DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ADULT ONSET HEARING LOSS |
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2024 | FOR RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION | BURLINGTON, VT | $100,000 | 2024 | COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE HISTORIC PRESERVATION - GENERAL PROGRAM |
| THE PHOENIX | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2024 | FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMING |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2024 | FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM |
| CAPE ANN MUSEUM INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $60,000 | 2024 | FOR PHOTO ARCHIVES POSITION AND REFURBISHED SCANNER |
| GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION | GLOUCESTER, MA | $45,000 | 2024 | SUPPORT THE GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL - MEDICAL ASSISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS |
| PHILABUNDANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| WILLIAM WAY LGBT COMMUNITY CENTER | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $40,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SORPTIMIST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $35,000 | 2024 | FOR LIVE YOUR DREAMS AWARDS PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON THE PHILADELPHIA REGION |
| UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $215,000 | 2023 | FOR THE PENN MEDICINE DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ADULT ONSET HEARING LOSS |
| CAPE ANN MUSEUM INC | GLOUCESTER, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | FOR SUPPORT OF THE LIBRARY & ARCHIVES |
| BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL | BOSTON, MA | $100,000 | 2023 | FOR RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN PROGRESSIVE M |
| UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION | BURLINGTON, VT | $100,000 | 2023 | COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE HISTORIC PRESERVATION - GENERAL PROGRAM |
| LAKE CHAMPLAIN | GLEN SPEY, NY | $75,000 | 2023 | COLL ACCESS AND VT UNDERWATER PRESERVES |
| THE PHOENIX | BOSTON, MA | $60,000 | 2023 | FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMING |
| PHILABUNDANCE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $20,000 | 2023 | CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS |
| OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE | BOSTON, MA | $15,000 | 2023 | FOR THE BELL TOWER REPARATION PROJECT |
| SORPTIMIST | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | FOR LIVE YOUR DREAMS AWARDS PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON THE PHILADELPHIA REGION |
| PROJECT HOME | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2023 | FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM |
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$100,000RICH FAMILY RESEARCH FUND
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION
$100,000SUPPORT GRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS
PRECLINICAL GENE THERAPY FOR HEARING LOSS PROGRAM
SUPPORT PSD'S DEAF PROFESSIONALS IN RESIDENCE PROGRAM
FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM
THE PHOENIX MULTISPORT
$40,000SUPPORT CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
SORPTIMIST
$35,000SUPPORT THE LIVE YOUR DEAMS AWARDS PROGRAM
GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$30,000HIGH SCHOOL - MEDICAL ASSISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
SUPPORT ENGLISH TRANSLATION OF STEFANO D'ARRIGO'S HORCYNUS ORCA
ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEW BEDFORD FISHING HERITAGE CENTER
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HARVARD CATHOLIC CENTER
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HARVARD DIVINITY SCHOOL
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PRECLINICAL GENE THERAPY FOR HEARING LOSS PROGRAM
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$100,000FOR RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION
$80,000SCHOLARSHIPS TO THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION PROGRAM
SUPPORT BIOTECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE PROGRAM AND STEM ENRICHMENT PROGRAMMING FOR SCHOOL-AGE STUDENTS
THE PHOENIX MULTISPORT
$50,000FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMING
SORPTIMIST
$35,000FOR LIVE YOUR DREAMS AWARDS PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON THE PHILADELPHIA REGION
GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$31,000SUPPORT THE GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL - MEDICAL ASSISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
ENCHANTMENT THEATRE COMPANY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
FOR THE PENN MEDICINE DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ADULT ONSET HEARING LOSS
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$100,000FOR RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN PROGRESSIVE MULTIPLE
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION
$100,000COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE HISTORIC PRESERVATION - GENERAL PROGRAM
THE PHOENIX
$60,000FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMING
GLOUCESTER EDUCATION FOUNDATION
$45,000SUPPORT THE GLOUCESTER HIGH SCHOOL - MEDICAL ASSISTING INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
SORPTIMIST
$35,000FOR LIVE YOUR DREAMS AWARDS PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON THE PHILADELPHIA REGION
FOR THE PENN MEDICINE DEVELOPMENT CENTER FOR ADULT ONSET HEARING LOSS
BRIGHAM & WOMENS HOSPITAL
$100,000FOR RESEARCH TO INVESTIGATE THE ROLE OF THE GUT MICROBIOME IN PROGRESSIVE M
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT FOUNDATION
$100,000COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCE HISTORIC PRESERVATION - GENERAL PROGRAM
LAKE CHAMPLAIN
$75,000COLL ACCESS AND VT UNDERWATER PRESERVES
THE PHOENIX
$60,000FOR YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMING
OUR LADY OF GOOD VOYAGE
$15,000FOR THE BELL TOWER REPARATION PROJECT
SORPTIMIST
$10,000FOR LIVE YOUR DREAMS AWARDS PROGRAM WITH A FOCUS ON THE PHILADELPHIA REGION