The Deerbrook Charitable Trust focuses its giving toward endeavors that reflect the goals of its founder, the late Hays Clark, who “ had a keen interest in assisting others, especially children and youth so that they might have opportunities for more secure futures.” After serving in the navy during WWII, Clark began a career with Avon (the company well-known for its beauty and household products was started by Clark’s grandfather) that lasted until his retirement 30 years later. According to his obituary in the New York Times, “education and giving underprivileged children a chance to succeed in life were major interests for Hays,” which explains profound support he offered the Boys and Girls Club of America for a large part of his adult life. He served on the national board of governors for that organization.
In addition to his commitment to the Boys and Girls Club, which continues to be reflected today in the philanthropy of the Deerbrook Charitable Trust, Clark sat on the board of the Edna McConnell Clark Foundation as well as Cornell University, among others.
Major Program Categories: Today the trust supports organizations nationwide that serve children, youth and families. Additionally, “the Trust also supports work of selected organizations that improves or increased their effectiveness in delivering services, including efforts to alleviate critical shortages of healthcare providers, non-profit management, and other areas of need identified by trustees.”
Grantmaking also engages a sense of intergenerational connection, and supports organizations “that intentionally [utilize] persons fifty years old and above who wish to use their expertise and life experience to assist organizations and individuals in fulfilling their goals.”
The trust is quietly doing some big work. Though the Deerbrook Charitable Trust’s 990 form from last year shows some smaller gifts in the $1,000 – $2,000 range, it also shows the ways in which the trust has given substantial amounts to programs it has relationships with, such as the Boys and Girls Club of America, and several of the organization’s local chapters. The recipients of the trust’s largest grants, ranging in the $1 million to $2.5 million range, were the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Harlem Children’s Zone and Reading Partners.
How to Apply: At this time, the Deerbrook Charitable Trust is not accepting unsolicited proposals.
Name of Foundation: Deerbrook Charitable Trust
Location: Chevy Chase, Maryland
Website: http://www.deerbrooktrust.org/
Contact Information: Arthur E. Sundstrom, Executive Director. Email: [email protected] Phone: 240.235.5030
Coverage Area: National
Subject Area: Children, youth and families
Assets: $50,817,649 (2015)
Last Year Total Giving: $10,856,331 (2015)
Recent News and Grantmaking:
http://www.capitalgazette.com/neighborhoods/ph-ac-mytime-cfaac-grant-0115-20170115-story.html
http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20170210/desoto-boys-amp-girls-club-announce-effort-for-new-club