CLA Foundation grants $1.5M to expand education access, strengthen career pipelines, and innovate philanthropy.
This week, CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) announced the CLA Foundation has awarded $1.5 million in funding through its Strategic Impact Fund to expand access to education, strengthen career pathways, and introduce new models for philanthropic investment. CLA remains committed to elevating careers across the U.S. by collaborating with organizations driving change in how individuals pursue, develop, and advance within professional and trade pathways.
Launched in 2024, the Strategic Impact Fund focuses on national, mission-aligned collaborations amplifying CLA’s purpose and advance the Foundation’s areas of emphasis: education, employment, and entrepreneurship.
The CLA Foundation selected:
Scholarship America for a second straight year, expanding on a shared scholarship program to encourage students to embrace professional services as a profession. Scholarship America, which is dedicated to eliminating financial barriers for students, received $1.25 million to expand its scholarship program. Last year, the CLA Foundation launched the CLA Foundation Opportunity Scholarship, a program administered by Scholarship America that awarded 75 scholarships to students nationwide pursuing degrees in accounting and professional services.
New to receive a Strategic Impact Fund grant is Venn Foundation, a nonprofit advancing innovative approaches to philanthropy. Venn received $250,000 to launch an impact investment program aiming to accelerate new models of capital deployment creating lasting social change and expand philanthropic opportunities across the country.
“Creating opportunities to pursue career development and build on capital distribution in our communities is something we believe in,” said Chris Dhanraj, managing principal of service for CLA. “Through the Strategic Impact Fund, we are investing in organizations reshaping access to education, strengthening the professional pipeline, and introducing new approaches supporting long-term, sustainable impact in the communities in which we live and work.”
Since 2015, the CLA Foundation has collaborated with forward-thinking organizations across the U.S., expanding access to education and building workforce skills. This investment continues that legacy by supporting national programs that advance the Foundation’s mission and CLA’s commitment to building stronger communities.
“Education and career development are powerful drivers of growth, and we are proud to work with two organizations sharing our vision for strengthening communities through expanded access to opportunities,” said Susan Carter, executive director of the CLA Foundation. “These grants represent more than financial support; they are investments in organizations building the educational and professional pipelines powering the industries we serve.”
Since its inception, the CLA Foundation has granted more than $15 million to organizations nationwide focused on advancing education, employment, and entrepreneurship. All CLA Foundation grant nominations originate from CLA family members and reflect the firm’s ongoing promise to create career opportunities through intentional community investments.
To learn more about the CLA Foundation and its purpose-driven giving, visit the CLA Foundation page on CLAconnect.com to view the 2024 Impact Report.
About the CLA Foundation
The CLA Foundation is a private 501(c)(3) organization. This foundation supports a variety of initiatives aimed at improving education, employment, and entrepreneurship opportunities. The Foundation provides grants to help organizations implement projects and programs that make a tangible difference in their communities. The Foundation is exclusively funded by contributions from CLA family members and does not accept grant proposals from external organizations.
About CLA
CLA exists to create opportunities for our clients, our people, and our communities through industry-focused wealth advisory, digital, audit, tax, consulting, and outsourcing services. With nearly 9,000 people, more than 130 locations, and a global vision, we promise to know you and help you. CLA (CliftonLarsonAllen LLP) is an independent network member of CLA Global. See CLAglobal.com/disclaimer. Investment advisory services are offered through CliftonLarsonAllen Wealth Advisors, LLC, an SEC-registered investment advisor.