The Schleyer Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation accepts no unsolicited requests and gives by invitation only, as its filing states, so a small charity without an existing connection should not send it a cold proposal.
- Where a relationship exists, a modest request fits best: about 8 in 10 of its 122 grants to organisations fall between $500 and $30,000, and the median grant was $5,000, though its largest was $300,000.
- Most of its grant dollars go to organisations it has funded before, with 96% of grant dollars in the most recent filing going to groups it had also funded in earlier filings, so relationships matter more than anything else.
- Its recorded grants cover education, arts, health and human services, and environmental organisations, and its purposes are described as general, so fit is hard to judge from the filing.
- Its grants have mainly gone to New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Maine, but no geographic focus is stated, and any recipient must document 501(c)(3) status.
Overview
The Schleyer Foundation is a US private foundation based in Rye Beach, NH.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation's recorded grants go to a varied range of public charities, including educational institutions, arts and cultural organisations, health and human-services charities, and environmental organisations. Its filings describe the purposes simply as general, rather than identifying a particular field of support. The grant record is geographically broad, with the largest recorded shares going to organisations in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Maine. The foundation says it may not acknowledge or make awards to unsolicited grant requests, and requires grant recipients to provide documentation of 501(c)(3) status.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Maine.
How to apply
The foundation states that it does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 122 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 5%
- The largest single recipient received 25% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations The Schleyer Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 45 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Drexel University · General$300,0002024 tax year
- GoodWork · General$147,0002024 tax year
- Berwick Academy · General$100,0002024 tax year
- Lydia's House of Hope · General$50,0002024 tax year
- Wheaton College · General$50,0002024 tax year
- Music Hall · General$30,0002024 tax year
- Exeter Hospital · General$25,0002024 tax year
- Vanderbilt University · General$20,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Mary Zygala — Trustee
- William T Schleyer — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $704,658 | $573,200 | $20,937,251 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,049,863 | $903,054 | $26,054,575 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,109,933 | $963,500 | $31,079,046 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Schleyer Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (732) 295-1000
- Rye Beach, NH
Applying to The Schleyer Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (732) 295-1000
- Rye Beach, NH