The Clark Foundation was set up in 1959 by C&J Clark, the shoe manufacturing and retail company based in Street, Somerset.
It’s now an independent Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO), registered with the Charity Commission (no. 1179639). The Foundation gives grants for capital projects, equipment and ‘start ups’. It awards around £400,000 to some 60+ organisations and community groups each year.
We award ‘small’ grants (up to £1,000) all year round and have a committee that meets quarterly to review applications for grants for over £1,000. We give to a huge range of projects that help local organisations to improve the lives of their communities.
We favour projects in places where significant numbers of Clarks employees, pensioners and their families are likely to live and work. In practice, most of our awards also benefit many other people as well. Take a look at our FAQs for more information about what we support and where we target our giving.
Eligibility checker: please only apply to us if you are a not-for-profit organisation based in one of our target areas (see the ‘Links to Clarks’ section in our FAQs) seeking funding for a capital project or equipment.
The Clark Foundation has a board of five trustees:
It has a grants committee that meets quarterly to determine applications for grants over £1,000. The grants committee comprises the five trustees, plus two senior members of the staff team of C&J Clark.
The Foundation has two employees. Trust Manager, Susie Mercer, is supported by Trust Administrator, Mel Park.
Susie and Mel are based at Clarks HQ in Street and work part-time, usually from Wednesday to Friday.
All enquiries should be made to Trust staff, rather than to trustees or grants committee members.
