The Scherman Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 13-6098464 · since 1943scherman.org·United States·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$6.7M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$550 to $100k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$50,000

Typical grant (median)

130 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

Fixed application deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The Scherman Foundation funds work across arts, democracy, environmental and climate justice, reproductive justice, and strengthening New York communities, with a strong focus on BIPOC-led or BIPOC-accountable organisations working through organising, advocacy and movement-building; its arts funding allows a wider range of approaches.
A realistic request would be modest: about 8 in 10 of its 412 grants to organisations fall between $550 and $100,000, the median grant is $50,000, and half of its 412 grants across its recent filings were $50,000 or less, though its largest grant was $250,000 to an organisation that regrants to others.
Applicants need 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor with that status, and must apply by submitting Letters of Intent during the February–April submission period, which the Foundation reviews afterwards.
With 95% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had also funded in its two prior filings, this looks like a relationship-led funder where most support goes to known grantees, so new applicants should expect it to be competitive.
The Foundation does not fund grants for specific events or productions, direct service work unless embedded in a larger organising and movement-building strategy, or organisations working primarily outside the U.S.

Overview

The Scherman Foundation is a US private foundation based in New York, NY.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The Scherman Foundation invests in economic, political and cultural transformation so Black, Indigenous and People of Color can reclaim and build power. It prioritises organisations accountable to or directed by BIPOC communities, with intersectional approaches that centre people most affected by multiple forms of oppression and build movements through grassroots leadership and coalitions. Its stated programme areas include arts, democracy, environmental and climate justice, reproductive justice, and strengthening New York communities. The Foundation supports organising and advocacy, while its arts funding allows a wider range of approaches. Applicants must have 501(c)(3) charitable status or a fiscal sponsor with that status.

Themes

Racial justice
Economic transformation
Arts and culture
Democracy
Environmental and climate justice
Reproductive justice
Movement-building

Geographic Focus

U.S.

What They Don't Fund

Grants to support specific events or productions
Direct service work unless embedded in a larger organizing and movement building strategy
Organizations primarily working outside of the U.S

How to apply

Unsolicited applicants submit Letters of Intent during the submission period; the Foundation reviews them afterwards.

Deadlines: Unsolicited Letters of Intent are accepted February–April and reviewed thereafter.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 95% 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 412 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Foundation prioritises BIPOC leadership and organisations where BIPOC communities have clear influence over strategy, direction, programme work and finances.
The Foundation looks for organisations that demonstrate an understanding of intersectionality and centre people affected by multiple forms of oppression.
Movement-building proposals should show grassroots leadership, coalition-building and a strategy for structural change.
Organisations should work with others to build movements towards racial justice.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

New York58%

District of Columbia17%

California7%

Georgia4%

Pennsylvania3%

Illinois3%

6 other states: 6%

Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 3%

The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations The Scherman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
22% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

130 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $50,000

How much do they typically give?

Share of 130 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k15%

$1k–$2.5k5%

$2.5k–$5k7%

$5k–$10k5%

$10k–$25k5%

$25k–$50k8%

$50k–$100k34%

$100k–$250k22%

Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

Tides Foundation · Program/project support
$225,0002024 tax year
In Our Own Voice National Black Women's Reproductive Justice · Program/project support
$200,0002024 tax year
United Way Of Nyc · Program/project support
$200,0002024 tax year
Windward Fund · Program/project support
$200,0002024 tax year
New York Foundation · Youth organizing & culture change fund
$150,0002024 tax year
State Voices · General operating support
$150,0002024 tax year
BVM Capacity Building Institute · General operating support
$150,0002024 tax year
New York Foundation · Neighborhoods first fund
$150,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

Mitchell C Pratt — President & CEO
Dr Peter K Sollins — Director, Secretary
Marianna Schaffer — Director, Chair
Miles S Rapoport — Director
Rasu Jilani — Director
Steven K Choi — Director
Miriam Buhl — Director
Amy Bergtold — Director
Rini Banerjee — Director, Treasurer
Alexis Anderson-Reed — Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$9,382,866	$6,688,060	$128,246,000	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$9,630,177	$7,044,472	$137,817,055	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$9,456,059	$6,720,617	$139,123,141	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.