The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation concentrates on large, strategic investments to scale nonprofits and fund intermediaries, with a strong emphasis on improving outcomes for disadvantaged children and youth (e.g., Harlem Children’s Zone, Nurse-Family Partnership) and deploying capital through fund-distribution partners (notably Blue Meridian Partners). Grants are few but very large, often designated for general operations, scaling plans, strategic planning, or capital projects (e.g., Woods Hole lab renovation). Giving is heavily NY‑centered but includes national investments and occasional support for higher education and leadership development.
Small number of very large grants (majority of dollars concentrated in one or a few recipients), funding both intermediaries and direct program scaling/strategic support
A defining feature of The Edna Mcconnell Clark Foundation is its use of Blue Meridian Partners as a channel for very large growth-capital commitments. In 2023, the foundation directed $201,538,566 to Blue Meridian Partners Inc for general operations and disbursements to grantees, underscoring a grantmaking model that moves capital through intermediary structures as well as directly to nonprofits. Alongside that pathway, the foundation made major strategic grants to organizations serving children, youth, and families, including $30,000,000 to Harlem Children's Zone for strategic plan support and $2,500,000 to Nurse Family Partnership for a scaling plan. The 2023 record also shows support for higher education and research infrastructure, with $25,000,000 to Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation for historically black colleges and universities and $25,000,000 to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for the EMCF laboratory renovation fund. Smaller awards such as $8,500,000 to Center for Creative Leadership for PropelNext 2.0 and $100,000 to Brooklyn Museum for the 2022 Brooklyn Artists Ball show a mix of capacity-building, leadership, and select arts support.
Work with disadvantaged children, youth, and families appears repeatedly in the foundation’s recent grants. Harlem Children's Zone received $30,000,000 for strategic plan support and another $1,000,000 to support its ongoing work with disadvantaged children, youth and families. Nurse Family Partnership received $2,500,000 for a scaling plan, matching the foundation’s interest in helping effective programs expand. Capacity-building is also present through PropelNext 2.0, with $8,500,000 to Center for Creative Leadership for a program tied to nonprofit performance management and organizational learning. The foundation also supported historically black colleges and universities with $25,000,000 to Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, and made an arts-related grant of $100,000 to Brooklyn Museum for the 2022 Brooklyn Artists Ball.
The median recent grant size is $16,750,000, with the 25th percentile at $2,125,000 and the 75th percentile at $26,250,000, which reflects a portfolio built around very large awards. The foundation’s recent record includes both direct grants and payments through Blue Meridian Partners, showing a blended structure that uses intermediaries for national investments. Repeat support appears in the grants list: Harlem Children's Zone received two grants in 2023, one for strategic plan support and one for ongoing work with disadvantaged children, youth and families. The foundation is a Regular Funder and does not fund individuals or make program-related investments.
$293.6M
$0
-$9.3M
$295.1M
Most grants fall between $2.1M and $26.3M, with a median of $16.8M.
25th Percentile
$2.1M
Median
$16.8M
75th Percentile
$26.3M
About 50% of grants go to recipients in NY.
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Notable grantees: Blue Meridian Partners Inc, Harlem Children’s Zone, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Center for Creative Leadership
Giving is national, but New York is the most frequent recipient state and accounts for 50% of grants to recipients in the HQ state. Recent New York recipients include Blue Meridian Partners Inc in New York, NY; Harlem Children's Zone in New York, NY; and Brooklyn Museum in Brooklyn, NY. Outside New York, the foundation gave in Tulsa, OK; Woods Hole, MA; Greensboro, NC; and Denver, CO. All recent grants in the provided list went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants show support for organizations serving disadvantaged children, youth, and families, along with higher-education and research institutions. Examples include Harlem Children's Zone, Nurse Family Partnership, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation for historically black colleges and universities, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for a laboratory renovation fund.
The recent grant pattern is weighted toward very large awards. The median grant size is $16,750,000, with the 25th percentile at $2,125,000 and the 75th percentile at $26,250,000. The 2023 list also includes a $201,538,566 payment to Blue Meridian Partners Inc.
Yes. Harlem Children's Zone appears twice in the 2023 list, once at $30,000,000 for strategic plan support and once at $1,000,000 for ongoing work with disadvantaged children, youth and families. The foundation also uses ongoing intermediary relationships such as Blue Meridian Partners.
It uses direct grants and intermediary-based funding. Blue Meridian Partners is an incubated philanthropic organization that channels national investments, and the foundation also has a PropelNext initiative that provides unrestricted funding plus coaching and peer learning for selected nonprofits.
2023
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2023.
Current and upcoming funding from Edna Mcconnell Clark Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations and initiatives aligned with Blue Meridian Partners' selection criteria and investment focus.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS INC | NEW YORK, NY | $201,538,566 | 2023 | GRANT PAYMENTS TO BMP FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS AND DISBURSEMENTS TO GRANTEES |
| HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE | NEW YORK, NY | $30,000,000 | 2023 | STRATEGIC PLAN SUPPORT |
| CHARLES AND LYNN SCHUSTERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION | TULSA, OK | $25,000,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES |
| WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION | WOODS HOLE, MA | $25,000,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT TO EMCF LABORATORY RENOVATION FUND |
| CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP | GREENSBORO, NC | $8,500,000 | 2023 | PROPELNEXT 2.0 |
| NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP | DENVER, CO | $2,500,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN |
| HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE | NEW YORK, NY | $1,000,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT ITS ONGOING WORK WITH DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES |
| BROOKLYN MUSEUM | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2023 | TO SUPPORT THE 2022 BROOKLYN ARTISTS BALL |
BLUE MERIDIAN PARTNERS INC
$201,538,566GRANT PAYMENTS TO BMP FOR GENERAL OPERATIONS AND DISBURSEMENTS TO GRANTEES
HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE
$30,000,000STRATEGIC PLAN SUPPORT
CHARLES AND LYNN SCHUSTERMAN FAMILY FOUNDATION
$25,000,000TO SUPPORT HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
WOODS HOLE OCEANOGRAPHIC INSTITUTION
$25,000,000TO SUPPORT TO EMCF LABORATORY RENOVATION FUND
CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP
$8,500,000PROPELNEXT 2.0
NURSE FAMILY PARTNERSHIP
$2,500,000TO SUPPORT SCALING PLAN
HARLEM CHILDREN'S ZONE
$1,000,000TO SUPPORT ITS ONGOING WORK WITH DISADVANTAGED CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILIES
BROOKLYN MUSEUM
$100,000TO SUPPORT THE 2022 BROOKLYN ARTISTS BALL
