Building the world that we want to live in is our responsibility — and this goes far beyond constructing buildings. If we only focus on creating opportunities for ourselves alone, the industry and the community suffer, which in turn limits the potential for everybody. This next chapter — Bob Clark Beyond — is about using the success created at Clayco to fuel something larger: meaningful, long-lasting impact that lifts others up.
One of the most personal dimensions of Bob Clark's philanthropy is his commitment to RVCL research — Retinal Vasculopathy with Cerebral Leukoencephalopathy, a rare and devastating genetic disease. Through The Clayco Foundation's annual Illumination Gala and related fundraising, the community has raised over $12.4 million to fund research. That includes a $4.1 million gift to Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine in 2016.
Today, thanks to the work of Dr. Jonathan Miner and his team at the University of Pennsylvania's RVCL Research Center, in collaboration with Dr. Nouri Neamati's team at the University of Michigan, the world now has two promising drug candidates that can target and neutralize the mutant protein behind RVCL. As Bob has written: "This is a scientific breakthrough that many once thought impossible. This progress was made possible through private funding, grassroots advocacy, and the determination of families and researchers who refused to give up."
In 2021, the Clayco Foundation endowed a $500,000 scholarship in Penn State's Department of Architectural Engineering to help make the student body more diverse and support full-time undergraduate students with financial need. The Foundation also gave to the Savannah College of Art and Design, which renamed one of its building complexes Clark Hall — a National Historic Landmark.
Bob and Jane Clark support a wide range of arts institutions: The Studio Museum Exhibition Fund, The Contemporary Art Museum St. Louis, The Aspen Art Fair, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Saint Louis Art Museum, and Anderson Ranch Arts Center. Their Clark Collection is dedicated to elevating emerging artists of color as a public resource.
The Clark Family Branch is part of the St. Louis County Library system — a space Bob has described as a place where people feel welcome, supported, and inspired. The branch includes the Emerson History and Genealogy Center, where people digitize old photos and trace where they come from; the Unity Foundation Teen Lab, where students record audio, build with 3D printers, and design on Macs; a Small Business Center for entrepreneurs; and children's and event spaces. As Bob has written: "Literacy has always meant more than reading to me. It's about access. Dignity. Possibility. When someone learns to read, it unlocks something. They can apply for a job. Help with homework. Understand a lease. Start a business. Write their story down."
When Clayco team member Taylor Spinks walked into Bob's office and explained that she and many colleagues were suffering under crushing student loan debt, Bob listened. The result: Clayco launched a Student Loan Repayment Program that has enrolled 351 employees, helped 13 pay off their loans entirely, and contributed over $450,000 to date. Participants are shaving up to 60% off their repayment timelines. As Bob wrote: "This isn't just a benefit. It's a mindset shift. It's telling people: 'We see you. We hear you. And we've got your back.'"
Bob has been one of the most active private-sector voices in St. Louis civic life for decades — advocating for downtown revitalization, backing Cara Spencer's 2025 mayoral campaign ("Leadership isn't about titles or degrees — it's about taking action when it matters"), and playing a significant civic role in recovery from the 2025 St. Louis tornado. He received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2023 — an honor that reflects his belief that diversity fuels innovation and that the American dream is inseparable from immigrants' contributions to society.
Bob Clark's philanthropic work spans medical research, arts and culture, education, employee wellbeing, and civic engagement. Through the Clayco Foundation, he has raised over $12.4 million for RVCL research, endowed a $500,000 scholarship at Penn State for underrepresented architecture students, and supported SCAD (which named a National Historic Landmark building Clark Hall). He co-founded The Clark Collection, established the Clark Family Branch of the St. Louis County Library, launched a Clayco student loan repayment program, and sponsors the International Mentoring Program in St. Louis.
The Clayco Foundation has been the primary funding vehicle for RVCL research, a rare genetic disease. Through events including the annual Illumination Gala, the Foundation has raised over $12.4 million. This funding supported the work of researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Michigan who have now identified two promising drug candidates to target the mutant protein behind RVCL — a breakthrough that was once considered impossible.
The Clark Family Branch is a community library branch in the St. Louis County Library system, supported by Bob Clark. It includes the Emerson History and Genealogy Center, the Unity Foundation Teen Lab (with 3D printers, audio recording, and Macs), a Small Business Center, event space, and children's spaces. Bob Clark has described literacy as being about access, dignity, and possibility — and the library as a place where people can try, learn, and grow no matter who they are or where they're starting from.
Clayco launched a Student Loan Repayment Program after a team member informed Bob Clark about the burden student debt was placing on employees. The program has enrolled 351 employees, contributed over $450,000 to date, helped 13 employees pay off loans entirely, and allowed participants to reduce their repayment timelines by up to 60%. Employees who contribute to their 401(k) can redirect those dollars toward loan payments while still receiving Clayco's match.
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