Schleyer Foundation Under Declaration Of Tr 12022002

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $903,054 (FY 2023)
• Total Assets: $17.5 million (FY 2023)
• Geographic Focus: National, with strong focus on education and New Hampshire/Massachusetts region
• Application Method: Invitation only/trustee discretion

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 222, Rye Beach, NH 03871
Phone: (732) 295-1000
EIN: 05-6132358

Note: This foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests.

Overview

The Schleyer Foundation Under Declaration Of Tr 12022002 was established in 2002 and received tax-exempt status in April 2004. As of 2023, the foundation holds assets totalling $17.5 million and distributed $903,054 in charitable grants. The foundation is managed by two trustees: William T. Schleyer and Mary Zygala. William T. Schleyer is a 1973 graduate of Drexel University (BS in Mechanical Engineering) who earned an MBA from Harvard Business School and had a distinguished career in the cable television industry. The foundation operates as a private family foundation, focusing primarily on educational institutions and charitable organisations, with particular emphasis on higher education, especially Drexel University, and regional non-profits in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The foundation does not operate formal grant programmes with published guidelines. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion to selected organisations. Recent funding demonstrates the following patterns:

Major Educational Support

• Drexel University: $300,000 (2023) - ongoing major beneficiary
• Berwick Academy: $100,000 (2023)

Regional Non-profit Support

• GoodWork: $169,054 (2023) - a Portsmouth, NH non-profit incubator co-founded by Mary Zygala Schleyer
• Various other organisations receiving grants ranging from smaller amounts to six figures

Priority Areas

Based on documented grantmaking activity:

• Higher Education: Primary focus on Drexel University, including scholarship programmes and medical school support
• K-12 Independent Education: Support for preparatory schools like Berwick Academy
• Non-profit Capacity Building: Support for organisations that strengthen the non-profit sector
• Regional Community Organisations: Organisations serving New Hampshire and Massachusetts communities
• Healthcare/Medical Education: Historical support for medical students and healthcare initiatives

What They Don't Fund

As the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, there are no published exclusions. However, the grantmaking pattern suggests:

• The foundation focuses on pre-selected organisations with which trustees have established relationships
• Grants appear limited to educational institutions and established charitable organisations
• International organisations do not appear in recent grantmaking

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (both uncompensated):

William T. Schleyer - Trustee and primary contact

• Drexel University Class of 1973 (BS Mechanical Engineering), Honorary Doctorate 2006
• Harvard Business School MBA
• Distinguished career in cable television industry
• Former Drexel University Board of Trustees member (8 years)
• Member of Drexel 100 (University's alumni hall of fame)
• Father of two Drexel College of Medicine graduates: Edward Schleyer, MD '12 (orthopaedic surgeon) and William T. Schleyer Jr., MD '14 (psychiatrist)

Mary Zygala - Trustee

• Co-founder of GoodWork, a Portsmouth, NH non-profit incubator focused on strengthening Greater Seacoast non-profits

The foundation has zero employees and is managed entirely by the two trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. According to foundation records, the Schleyer Foundation does not acknowledge or make awards based on unsolicited grant requests. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to organisations with which they have established relationships.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following represents specific information about this foundation's connections and approach:

• Drexel University Connection: The strongest connection is through Drexel University, where William Schleyer is a distinguished alumnus and long-time major donor. Organisations affiliated with Drexel or recommended through Drexel networks may have pathways to consideration.

• Regional Non-profit Sector: Through Mary Zygala's role as co-founder of GoodWork in Portsmouth, NH, the foundation has demonstrated interest in supporting non-profit capacity-building organisations. Organisations working in the Greater Seacoast New Hampshire region and connected to the non-profit infrastructure community may be on the foundation's radar.

• Educational Institutions: The foundation has shown consistent support for educational institutions, particularly those in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Independent schools and higher education institutions with board members or development staff who have connections to the Schleyer family may have opportunities for relationship building.

• Board and Trustee Networks: Given that this is a family foundation with discretionary grantmaking, relationships through board networks, alumni connections (particularly Drexel), and regional philanthropic circles appear to be the primary pathway to funding.

Decision Timeline

No public information available. As a private foundation with trustee-discretion grantmaking, decisions are likely made on an ongoing basis throughout the year rather than on fixed cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Application Success Factors

Given the foundation's invitation-only approach, traditional "application success factors" do not apply. However, the grantmaking pattern reveals the following insights:

Trustee Connections Matter Most The foundation's grantmaking is entirely relationship-driven. Organisations that receive funding either have direct connections to the Schleyer family or align closely with the trustees' personal philanthropic interests.

Long-term Institutional Relationships Drexel University has received substantial, sustained support from the foundation, including the establishment of the Schleyer Scholars Fund in 2007 and multiple subsequent major gifts. In late 2020, the Schleyer family pledged an additional $4 million to support medical students. This demonstrates that the foundation favours long-term partnerships with institutions where they can see sustained impact.

Education-Focused Mission Alignment The overwhelming majority of documented grants support educational institutions and programmes. Organisations with strong educational components or student support missions align with demonstrated priorities.

Regional Focus on New Hampshire While Drexel University in Philadelphia receives major support due to the personal connection, the foundation also demonstrates interest in New Hampshire-based organisations, particularly those in the Seacoast region where the foundation is located.

Capacity Building and Leverage The significant grant to GoodWork ($169,054 in 2023) suggests interest in organisations that multiply impact by building capacity across the non-profit sector rather than just providing direct services.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Do not submit cold applications.

• Relationship-Driven Grantmaking: All funding decisions are made through trustee discretion based on existing relationships and personal knowledge of organisations.

• Drexel University Connection: The strongest institutional relationship is with Drexel University, where William Schleyer is a distinguished alumnus and major donor spanning multiple decades.

• Education is Primary Focus: Educational institutions, particularly higher education and independent schools, represent the core of the foundation's grantmaking portfolio.

• Significant Multi-Year Commitments: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make substantial, sustained investments in institutions (e.g., $4 million pledge to Drexel medical school, ongoing support for scholarship programmes).

• Regional Non-profit Interest: Through Mary Zygala's involvement with GoodWork, the foundation has shown interest in strengthening non-profit infrastructure in the New Hampshire Seacoast region.

• Family Foundation Model: With only two trustees and zero staff, this is a classic family foundation where personal values, connections, and philanthropic interests drive all funding decisions.

References

• Cause IQ: The Schleyer Foundation Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-schleyer-foundation,056132358/ (Accessed December 16, 2025)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: Schleyer Foundation Under Declaration Of Tr 12022002. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/56132358 (Accessed December 16, 2025)
• Grantmakers.io: Schleyer Foundation Profile. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/056132358-schleyer-foundation-under-declaration-of-tr-12022002/ (Accessed December 16, 2025)
• Drexel University Giving: Schleyer Family Scholarship Fund. https://giving.drexel.edu/stories/schleyer-family/ (Accessed December 16, 2025)
• Drexel University College of Medicine: "A Gift and a Challenge: William T. Schleyer, DU '73, Hon. '06," Alumni Magazine, Winter 2012
• GoodWork Staff Page. https://goodworkseacoast.org/staff/ (Accessed December 16, 2025)