Our Mission

The Clark Foundation's mission was to ensure that individuals and families have access to the opportunities, support, and resources that enable them to reach their full potential.

About
Board Chair Courtney Clark Pastrick listens to Clark Scholar speak at a university dinner.

The Clark Foundation's mission was to ensure that individuals and families have access to the opportunities, support, and resources that enable them to reach their full potential.

About

He wanted to give back and share what he knew were his many blessings and try in some way to make our community a better place.

A professional headshot of Board Chair Courtney Clark Pastrick. She wears a blazer and a pearl necklace.
Courtney Clark Pastrick
Clark Foundation, Board Chair

The Clark Foundation invested more than $1.4 billion during its 10-year spend down.

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    Engineering Initiatives

    We invested $332 million to support Clark Scholars

    Two engineers wearing safety gear examine the frame of a building under construction.
    A doctoral student stands outside of a glass-enclosed fire. She wears protective goggles and looks confidently at the camera.
    Vanderbilt Clark Scholar Yoanna Ivanova conducts research in a lab. She wears a lab coat and protective gloves.
    Two university students hug amongst a crowd of students greeting each other on campus.
    Clark Scholars participate in a design challenge. Two speak to each other while a third cuts cardboard with precision.

    Serving 475 scholars each year in perpetuity

    Dedicated to educating future engineering leaders, the Clark Foundation established the A. James Clark Scholars Program. Each year, the Clark Scholars Program will support engineering students across 11 universities.

    Three students crouch over a patch of grass. One holds a construction plan as they examine the soil.
    DC Map Solid DC Map Outlines

    DC Initiatives

    We invested $452 million in the DC area

    Supporting our city across 200 organizations

    The Clark Foundation invested in supporting DC residents and families from birth to graduation. Our initiatives helped improve health outcomes for moms and babies, strengthened community-based organizations, and supported DC students on their path to and through college.

    Veterans Initiatives

    230,000 unique transition services for our nation's veterans and their families.

    The Clark Foundation funded innovative employment, education, health, housing, and leadership development opportunities.

    An army veteran in a specialized wheelchair pets the forehead of a chestnut horse.
    Board Chair Courtney Clark Pastrick stands on a stage and accepts an award from Headstrong, between two grantee leaders.
    Two young women exchange smiles as they work on a laptop. Their blue polo shirts bear the Warrior-Scholar Project logo.

    • 2,400

      employment, education, transitional housing, resiliency, and wellness services provided to the families of veterans

    • 78,000

      evidence-based medical, mental health and traumatic growth services delivered

    • 120,000

      services to help veterans find their professional purpose and navigate the civilian career space

    • 8,700

      services to connect veterans with their communities, leadership potential, and sense of purpose

    • 2,800

      new opportunities for veterans to build skills through pre-college, vocational and entrepreneurship programs

    Our Legacy of Giving

    Alongside its core investment areas, the Clark Foundation focused additional investments in causes and communities aligned with its core mission and close to the hearts of its board and the Clark family.

    A researcher conducts an experiment in a lab. She wears a white lab coat and protective gloves.

    Memorial Sloan Kettering

    Advancing glioblastoma research in honor of late board member Larry Nussdorf.
    An older woman, left, speaks with two young children as they do a craft in a school gymnasium.

    Catholic Charities DC

    Creating opportunity for immigrant families in the DC area.
    An group of elementary schoolchildren raise their hands to answer a question from a teacher.

    Smithsonian Institution

    Supporting civic education and outreach to engage K-12 students in our nation's rich history.
    A white rectangular building, The Kennedy Center's Reach, is captured in a reflecting pool at dusk.

    John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts

    Promoting the knowledge, practice, and appreciation of the arts through the REACH.

    Our Impact

    From 2016 – 2025, the Clark Foundation invested in more than 300 organizations, building a legacy of opportunity for individuals, families, and communities.

    Case Studies

    Our collaborative approach resulted in stronger, more sustainable organizations.
    View Case Studies
    Two young people smile as they work on a laptop seated in an outdoor courtyard. The Washington Monument is visible in the skyline.

    Grantee Stories

    Our investments not only strengthened organizations, but also created new opportunities for students, DC residents, and veterans to thrive.
    View Grantee Stories
    Vanderbilt Clark Scholar Yoanna Ivanova conducts research in a lab. She wears a lab coat and protective gloves.

    All data accurate to 2025. Image credits: Ed Whitman/Johns Hopkins University; Lisa Helfert Photography; Candler Hobbs - College of Engineering Marketing and Communications; Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University; Penn State College of Engineering; Fred Zwicky at the University of Illinois; University of Maryland A. James Clark School of Engineering/Department of Fire Protection Engineering; Boulder Crest Foundation; The Headstrong Project; Warrior-Scholar Project; Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Denny Henry/Catholic Charities; National Museum of American History | Smithsonian Institution; Richard Barnes