“Everyone is a unique individual, and government often forgets that.”
That conviction drives Clark DenUyl’s work as a philanthropist, advocate of liberty and co-founder of the RB DenUyl Family Foundation. For DenUyl, preserving individual freedom is a guiding principle as well as a deeply personal mission rooted in family, legacy and a belief in the power of ideas to shape lives.
Raised in Wilmette, Illinois, just outside of Chicago, Clark credits much of his early education to late-night conversations with his father, discussions they called “solving the world’s problems.” Those conversations laid the groundwork for a lifelong interest in free-market philosophy.
The DenUyl family has longstanding ties to Michigan. Clark is a fourth-generation summer resident of Macatawa, where his family has maintained cottages for decades. “Michigan means a lot to us,” he says.
Clark studied philosophy at Washington and Lee University in Virginia, a decision shaped in part by his uncle, Doug DenUyl, a philosopher who has written extensively on liberty. Clark later earned both an MBA and a master’s in sports business management from the University of Central Florida. He spent 13 years in sports marketing, working his way up at an experiential marketing firm and helping to lead campaigns for major brands like Pepsi, AT&T, and Nissan.
The loss of Clark’s brother in 2015 and his father in 2018 marked a turning point. In 2021, he and his mother founded the RB DenUyl Family Foundation, naming it in honor of his father. “We started the foundation to give back to the doctors and health organizations who helped them,” he says. What began as an expression of gratitude soon evolved into a way to continue the family’s longstanding commitment to philanthropy.
Two priorities guide the foundation: health care and pursuit of liberty. The foundation focuses on organizations where contributions have a significant impact. While the medical side of the family’s giving is deeply rooted in personal loss, the liberty side is where Clark has found his greatest passion. He actively engages with the organizations the foundation supports, attending conferences, studying policy, and seeking out leaders who share his values.
After his uncle mentioned the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Clark wanted to support its publications and legal cases, expanding freedom at the state level. The Mackinac Center’s efforts to combat forced unionization, in particular, resonated with him, as did its work to protect individual rights through litigation. “If the government tells you what to do, a private citizen usually can’t fight back unless it’s through the legal system,” Clark says. This reality has informed his philanthropic strategy.
In addition to valuing legal advocacy, Clark sees education as a critical part of cultural renewal. The family foundation works to introduce younger generations to the principles of free markets. Partnering with the Mackinac Center is one way it does that.
As he looks ahead, Clark hopes to grow the foundation by strengthening its partnerships with a core group of highly effective liberty-focused organizations. What matters to him is preserving freedom and ensuring the next generation understands just how much it matters. The foundation is, above all, a tribute to Clark’s father and brother. Their lives and values continue to inspire him. “It’s really about honoring their legacy. That’s what drives me,” he says.
One lesson from his father continues to guide Clark’s life. “Respect every individual,” he says. “Don’t assume where someone’s coming from. Ask questions. Try to understand people before making statements. My dad never preached that. He lived it. That’s something I carry with me every day.”
That respect for the individual, paired with a belief in limited government, is what drew Clark DenUyl to the liberty movement, and it fuels his support for the Mackinac Center today.
