WHERE AND WHAT WE FUND
where we fund
The Clowes Fund (the Fund) supports organizations in Indianapolis, Indiana, and in parts of New England.
What we fund
The Fund primarily awards multi-year operating grants that focus on socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals through Immigrant Services, Workforce Development, Arts Education and K-12 Education. In 2022, the Fund committed to making multi-year operating grants the norm rather than exception. Relationships are at the center of our work, and strong relationships with grantee partners will continue to guide us.
Transparency is core to strong relationships, so we are compelled to share that fewer than 10% of Introductory Applications will result in an Introductory Grant. The likelihood of funding is much higher for returning grantees seeking Continuation Grants.
Introductory Grants are limited to Immigrant Services and Workforce Development, and most Introductory Grants are awarded to organizations with operating budgets less than $2.5 million. Priorities include:
Immigrant Services: Addressing the economic, linguistic, legal, and mental and emotional hurdles that immigrants, refugees and asylees and their children face during integration into the United States’ society and its economy. Learn more about our immigrant services priorities on the Community Grantee Feedback page.
Workforce Development: Ensuring that all individuals have access to both job skills training and the support services necessary to enable them to participate fully in the economic life of their communities. In addition, we support youth development efforts that prevent students (ages 15 to 25) from dropping out of school and assist in their return to school or their pursuit of an alternate course to economic self-sufficiency.
Arts Education: Fostering critical thinking skills and creativity through the arts.
(Arts Education is not eligible for Introductory Grants.)K-12 Education: Improving elementary and secondary education through efforts that emphasize classroom instruction, such as professional development for educators or programs that are fully integrated into the school day. We do not fund after-school or summer enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students. We consider such programs for teens as youth development within our workforce development interests. (K-12 Education is not eligible for Introductory Grants.)
