The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation is a private foundation committed to helping create a vibrant New York City – one that is strong, healthy, livable and just. The foundation gives in three categories:
Leadership and Network Development: Investing in the potential of people is at the heart of work to build a stronger New York City. With interest in network building, we are most interested in issue- or identity-focused programs that are cohort-based that have sustained contact over a period of time.
Infrastructure: Only 1% of philanthropic dollars are targeted to investment in people. The private sector invests 4x as much in its people than the nonprofit sector does. We believe that for the sector, and society, to be stronger, we need to invest more in people. Our infrastructure grants support organizations that build out the field of leadership development.
Research: To further the case for increased investment, to strengthen our work and to help us better learn about and understand leadership, networks and what the needs of leaders are in New York City, we support and want to learn from organizations experimenting with different models of leadership development and using network leadership as a means of bringing about change.
The Robert Sterling Clark Foundation is interested in funding leadership development programs that:
- Are focused on social change leaders in NYC
- Include leaders from multiple organizations
- Program should be cohort based
- Meet regularly over a sustained period (at least six months)
- Have been operating for at least a year