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 and Workforce Development. The Fund also awards grants to longtime grantees that focus on Arts Education and K-12 Education in New England. 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. (We appreciate the efforts to help immigrants secure housing and furnishings, basic health care, nutrition, etc., but these needs are outside our funding guidelines.)
Workforce Development: Ensuring that all individuals (especially those who face systemic barriers) 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 help young people (ages 15 to 25) thrive in early adulthood through higher education and/or career preparation.
Arts Education: Fostering critical thinking skills and creativity through the arts.
We no longer accept Introductory Applications for arts education 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. We no longer accept Introductory Applications for K-12 education grants.
