Our Approach
The A. James & Alice B. Clark Foundation's philanthropic approach focused on trust, due diligence, and generating long-term impact through flexible, multi-year investments.

Credit: Fred Zwicky at the University of Illinois

Credit: Lisa Helfert Photography
Our Guiding Principles
Five guiding principles steered the Clark Foundation's work. Each was rooted in the personal values of our founder, A. James Clark.
Make investments, not gifts.
Our investment-oriented approach delivered measurable results.
The Clark Foundation strategically invested its resources to achieve lasting impact. Backed by thorough due diligence, each partnership was founded on a deep understanding of how the funds could drive long-term change.
Key Points
Due diligence
Data-driven collaboration
Be bold. Learn quickly. Stay nimble.
We invested in pilot programs, provided seed funding, and were flexible with our partners in times of change.
The Clark Foundation's approach emphasized innovation, learning and adaptability. We aimed to establish candid relationships with our grantees, which allowed us to understand what was effective soon after they did. Our small team facilitated quick decision-making and prompt course correction, ensuring our partners' efforts remained impactful and relevant in an ever-evolving landscape.
Key Points
Seed funding
Pilot programs
Quick pivots and course-correction
Key Results
Build strong, trusting relationships with grantees.
We respected grantees as experts and leaders in the communities they served.
The Clark Foundation's approach centered on establishing trust and clear communication with our partners. We hosted summits, connected grantees, and facilitated knowledge-sharing between them, with the goal of fostering collaborative and supportive relationships.
Key Points
Trust and transparency
Data-gathering and sharing
Key Results
Invest today's capital in solving today's problems.
We made large investments to make the greatest possible impact within ten years.
Our approach prioritized immediate impact, responsiveness, and measurable results. We helped our partners tackle urgent challenges, ensuring that our contributions had a timely and significant effect.
Key Points
A focus on learning
Fostering partnerships
Support the growth and sustainability of our partners.
We invested to increase organizational capacity.
We helped our partners work toward ambitious goals while also strengthening their ability to serve their communities. We prioritized capacity-building support and leadership training to ensure that they would continue to succeed long after our sunset.
Key Points
Capacity building
Long-term sustainability
Key Results
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Credit: Art Trends LLC