Clark-Winchcole Foundation

OVERVIEW: The Clark-Winchcole Foundation supports higher education, hospitals, health, culture, social services, youth and religious causes in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

IP TAKE: This is an accessible D.C.-area funder that supports many types of nonprofits causes. Check out this foundation’s tax filings to gain access to its grant application policies and forms. The Clark-Winchcole Foundation does not have a website to guide grantseekers which limits information about grantmaking guidelines and applications. Though it maintains a low profile, it is still one of the largest grantmakers in Maryland.

PROFILE: Established in 1964, the Clark-Winchcole Foundation is a private foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. The foundation’s major donors are Dorothy C. Winchcole and Elizabeth G. Clark. Dorothy Clark Winchcole is the daughter the founder of an insurance company called Equitable General. The foundation funds local efforts for higher education, hospitals, health, culture, social services, youth and religious causes.

Grants for Higher Education, Public Health and Access, Arts and Culture, and Community Development

Each year, the foundation awards grants to various issues, including causes for the disabled, children, Catholic and Protestant churches, universities and human service needs. Grants go towards tuition assistance, museums, equipment needs, capital campaigns, specific projects and general operating support.

Past local grantees include Adventure Theater, American Youth Philharmonic Orchestras, Carpenter’s Shelter and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington.

Important Grant Details

Grants range between about $5,000 and $50,000.  In recent years, the foundation has awarded over $6 million in annual grants. Grantmaking focuses on the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area.

This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. It shares its grant program application and policies in its annual tax filings. The foundation notifies all applicants about the trustees’ funding decisions in writing. There are no specific deadlines to apply for a grant. Direct general questions to the staff at 301-654-3607.

PEOPLE:

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