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Sage Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$22.4M
000

Sage Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $22,413,262 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: Varies widely by program area
  • Geographic Focus: National, with priorities in Bay Area (Northern California), New York City metro area, and Greenwich, CT
  • Application Method: Invitation only - does not accept unsolicited proposals

Contact Details

Address: 16 Khakum Drive, Greenwich, CT 06831
EIN: 06-1478711
Website: Not publicly available
Email: Not publicly available
Phone: Not publicly available

Overview

The Sage Foundation Inc was established in 1997 as a private family foundation managed by Steven A. Denning of Greenwich, Connecticut, who is Chair Emeritus of General Atlantic, a global private equity firm with $60 billion in assets under management. The foundation distributed $22,413,262 in grants during 2023, representing a significant increase from earlier giving levels of approximately $12.1 million in 2017. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on supporting organizations in higher education, arts and culture, environmental conservation, public health, and economic development. Geographic priorities include the San Francisco Bay Area and the New York City metropolitan area, including Greenwich, Connecticut, reflecting Denning's personal and professional connections to these regions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Sage Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with defined application cycles. Instead, grants are awarded at the discretion of the foundation's trustees, primarily Steven A. Denning, based on his personal interests and affiliations.

Priority Areas

Higher Education: This is the foundation's largest giving area. Major recipients include:

  • Stanford University (where Denning earned his MBA and served as Board Chairman from 2012-2017)
  • Georgia Tech (Denning's undergraduate alma mater, home to the Steven A. Denning Technology & Management Program)
  • Columbia University
  • Yale University
  • California College of the Arts
  • MIT
  • The Juilliard School
  • University of the People

Arts & Culture: Grantmaking focuses on organizations in the Bay Area and NYC metro area, including:

  • Asian Art Museum (San Francisco)
  • San Francisco Zoo
  • American Conservatory Theater
  • Stanford Historical Society
  • American Museum of Natural History
  • Greenwich Historical Society
  • National Sawdust (Brooklyn)
  • Storm King Art Center
  • Studio Museum of Harlem

Public Health: Recipients include:

  • Center for Reproductive Rights
  • Hospital for Special Surgery (New York)
  • Plan A Health of Mississippi
  • Greenwich Hospital
  • Sister Love, Inc.
  • Alzheimer's Disease Resource Center
  • Calvary Hospital
  • Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health
  • Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Environment & Climate: The foundation supports organizations focused on environmental conservation, climate mitigation, and clean energy:

  • Climate Reality Project
  • Grand Teton National Park Foundation
  • Jackson Hole Land Trust
  • American Bird Conservatory

Education & Youth Development:

  • Boys & Girls Club of Greenwich
  • Classroom Inc.
  • American Federation of Children
  • College Summit (now PeerForward)
  • Teach for America

Policy & Think Tanks:

  • Brookings Institution (where Denning is an honorary trustee)
  • Council on Foreign Relations (recipient of a seven-figure gift)

Animal Welfare:

  • Dogs Trust USA
  • Muddy Paws Rescue (New York)

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions are not publicly documented, but the foundation's giving pattern indicates:

  • Organizations without connection to Steven Denning or his affiliated institutions
  • Unsolicited proposals from unknown organizations
  • Areas outside their established priority focus areas

Governance and Leadership

Steven A. Denning - Foundation Manager and Primary Decision-Maker

Steven A. Denning joined General Atlantic in 1980 as the firm's second investment professional and helped build it into a leading global growth equity firm. He served on Stanford's Board of Trustees for more than a decade, including as Chairman from 2012 to 2017. He is an honorary trustee of the Brookings Institution and serves on various boards including the Council on Foreign Relations, Columbia Climate Board of Advisors, and the National Council for the National Parks Conservation Association.

The foundation's grantmaking reflects Denning's personal interests, educational background (Georgia Tech undergraduate, Stanford MBA), professional network, and geographic connections to the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City, and Greenwich, Connecticut.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Sage Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are awarded based on trustee discretion, primarily through Steven A. Denning's personal knowledge of and connections to recipient organizations.

According to Inside Philanthropy, "Sage doesn't accept proposals, so a connection to Steve Denning or an organization with which he is involved will be important."

Getting on Their Radar

Given that the Sage Foundation has specific documented guidance about access, here are the funder-specific strategies:

  • Connection to Steven Denning: The most direct pathway is a personal or professional connection to Steven Denning himself, either through his business network at General Atlantic or through his extensive board service.

  • Affiliation with Supported Institutions: Organizations that can demonstrate existing relationships with institutions Denning already supports (Stanford University, Georgia Tech, Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations, etc.) may have opportunities for introduction.

  • Geographic Alignment: Organizations based in or serving the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City metro area, or Greenwich, Connecticut align with the foundation's documented geographic priorities.

  • Board and Trustee Networks: Given Denning's extensive board service, connections through fellow trustees or board members at organizations where he serves may provide pathways for introduction.

Decision Timeline

Decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. As grants are awarded at trustee discretion rather than through a formal review process, timing varies based on the foundation's internal considerations.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications, so traditional success rate metrics are not relevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. Organizations cannot apply or reapply without a direct connection to the foundation's leadership.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation does not accept applications, traditional success factors do not apply. However, analysis of the foundation's actual grantmaking reveals the following patterns:

Personal Connection is Essential: Every indicator points to grants being made to organizations with which Steven Denning has a direct personal connection, either through board service, educational affiliation, or professional network.

Long-term Institutional Relationships: The foundation demonstrates sustained giving to core institutions rather than one-off grants. Organizations like Stanford University, Georgia Tech, and the Brookings Institution receive ongoing support, suggesting that once a relationship is established, it tends to continue.

Geographic Clustering: The concentration of grants in the Bay Area, NYC metro area, and Greenwich reflects Denning's personal geography. Organizations outside these regions receive support primarily when connected to specific issue areas of interest (environment, climate) or through institutional affiliations.

Issue Area Alignment: While the foundation supports a diverse range of causes, there is clear prioritization of higher education (especially Denning's alma maters), arts and culture in the Bay Area and NYC, environmental conservation, and policy through major think tanks.

Scale and Prestige: Many grantees are major, well-established institutions (Stanford, Columbia, Yale, American Museum of Natural History, Council on Foreign Relations), suggesting that the foundation tends to support organizations with strong reputations and track records.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals to this foundation; they will not be reviewed.

  • Connection is Everything: Access to Sage Foundation funding requires a direct personal or professional connection to Steven A. Denning or organizations within his network.

  • Focus on Network Building: Rather than pursuing this foundation directly, organizations should focus on building relationships within the ecosystems where Denning is active (General Atlantic portfolio, Stanford community, Georgia Tech network, Brookings Institution, Council on Foreign Relations).

  • Geographic Priorities Matter: Organizations based in the San Francisco Bay Area, New York City metro area, or Greenwich, CT have a natural geographic alignment with the foundation's priorities.

  • Institutional Credibility: The foundation's giving pattern shows preference for established, prestigious organizations with proven track records rather than emerging or grassroots organizations.

  • Long-term Perspective: For organizations that do establish a relationship, the foundation appears to be a loyal, long-term supporter, making sustained engagement valuable.

  • Follow Denning's Interests: Organizations working in higher education, arts and culture, environmental conservation, public health, and policy/think tank work align with documented funding priorities.

References

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