Who We Are

For three decades, The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation has sought to improve the lives of people in poverty. It currently focuses on advancing opportunities for low-income youth (ages 9 to 24) in the United States.

In 2000, it transformed its grantmaking to provide growth and capacity-building capital to exemplary organizations that have evidence of the effectiveness of their youth services. It believes that significant and long-term investments in proven organizations with growth potential are a highly efficient and effective way to meet urgent needs. The Foundation’s aim is to help develop and expand a pool of organizations that can serve thousands more low-income youth each year with proven programs. Its investments are designed to help youth-serving nonprofits achieve organizational sustainability on a significant scale. Achieving sustainability requires succeeding in three critical areas: organizational strength, financial viability, and program quality and evaluation.

The Foundation funds organizations that help young people:

1. Improve their educational skills and academic achievement;
2. Prepare for the world of work and make the transition to employment and economic independence; and/or
3. Avoid high-risk behaviors such as involvement in the juvenile justice system and teen pregnancy

The Foundation is named for Edna McConnell Clark, a daughter of the founder of Avon Products. Over the past three decades, the Foundation has made grants totaling over $799 million. As of September 30, 2010, its assets were valued at $850 million.

For more background on the Foundation, please see the following: