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Claws Foundation

Annual Giving
$30.1M
Grant Range
$3K - $10.0M

Claws Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $30,145,000 (2023)
  • Grant Range: $3,000 - $10,000,000
  • Median Grant: $100,000
  • Number of Grants: 21 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Local, national, and international
  • Application Method: Invitation only/no unsolicited applications

Contact Details

CLAWS Foundation
12030 Sunrise Valley Drive, Suite 450
Reston, VA 20191
Phone: (703) 793-0775
Email: info@clawsfoundation.org
Grant inquiries: grants@clawsfoundation.org
Website: https://clawsfoundation.org

Administrative Contact:
Sterling Foundation Management LLC
Phone: (703) 437-9720

Overview

The CLAWS Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 2005 in Virginia. The foundation is the primary philanthropic vehicle of Arthur Dantchik and Jeffrey Yass, managing directors of Susquehanna International Group, an options-trading company based in Pennsylvania. With annual contributions of approximately $35-45 million in recent years, the foundation has built a focused portfolio centered on healthcare, medical research, social services, humanitarian relief, and the arts. The foundation is known for supporting both mainstream charitable causes—particularly children's hospitals and medical research—as well as libertarian policy organizations. Arthur Dantchik has contributed over $150 million to the foundation since 2017. The foundation emphasizes building "long and lasting relationships with charities that are making a real difference" rather than spreading resources thinly across many organizations.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The CLAWS Foundation does not operate formal grant programs with set amounts. Instead, grants are made by invitation based on trustee discretion, with significant variation in grant size:

  • Major Institutional Grants: $3,000,000 - $10,000,000 (e.g., Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Silver Valley Research Foundation)
  • Mid-Level Grants: $500,000 - $2,000,000 (e.g., Women in Need, RefugePoint)
  • Smaller Grants: $3,000 - $100,000 (median grant size)

The foundation accepts grant requests year-round but does not have a formal application form. Recommended submission materials include a project summary with objectives, detailed project budget with requested amount, and IRS documentation confirming 501(c)(3) status.

Priority Areas

Healthcare

  • Children's health, particularly childhood cancer and rare/complex diseases
  • Health services for underserved communities
  • Alzheimer's disease research and treatment

Medical Research and Innovation

  • Cancer research
  • Epilepsy research
  • Immunology and infectious disease research

Social Services

  • Programs supporting people with disabilities
  • Low-income individuals and families
  • Homelessness prevention and services
  • Human trafficking intervention
  • Workforce training programs

Humanitarian Relief

  • Refugee assistance
  • Disaster relief

Arts

  • Fine arts and performing arts, both local and national
  • Programs serving young artists
  • Arts programming for underserved children

Libertarian Policy and Civil Liberties

  • Public interest law firms focused on property rights and civil liberties
  • Free-market think tanks and policy research organizations
  • Educational choice and school choice initiatives

Jewish Charities

  • Various Jewish causes and organizations

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals (explicitly stated)
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors

Arthur Dantchik — Co-Founder and Director
Co-founder of Susquehanna International Group and sole listed donor to the Claws Foundation. Dantchik has given more than $150 million to the organization since 2017. He also serves on the board of the Institute for Justice, a libertarian public-interest law firm.

Jeffrey Yass — Co-Founder and Director
Co-founder of Susquehanna International Group and co-founder of the Claws Foundation.

Alan P. Dye — Co-Founder and Director
Co-founder and board member of the Claws Foundation.

Leadership Philosophy

According to Christine C. Quinn, CEO of Women in Need (WIN), a grantee organization: "The CLAWS Foundation provides funding with flexibility and latitude to expand programs—be on the cutting edge."

Monica Taylor Lotty, Chief Development Officer at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, stated: "The CLAWS Foundation partnership has been saving countless lives across our community and the world."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

CRITICAL: The CLAWS Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Grants are made by invitation only or through established relationships.

For organizations that align with the foundation's focus areas, an initial inquiry may be sent to grants@clawsfoundation.org, but there is no guarantee of response or consideration.

When invited to submit a grant request, the foundation recommends including:

  • A summary of the project and its objectives
  • A project budget including the amount requested
  • A copy of the IRS letter confirming the organization's tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3)

The foundation has no formal application form or standardized format, allowing flexibility in how proposals are structured.

Getting on Their Radar

Note: The following strategies are based on documented patterns of the CLAWS Foundation's grantmaking approach:

Align with Focus Networks: The foundation trustees, Arthur Dantchik and Alan P. Dye, oversee grantmaking directly without formal staff. Organizations that can connect through Susquehanna International Group (SIG) employees or Sterling Foundation Management contacts may have better access.

Previous Grantee Connections: Networking with organizations that have previously received CLAWS Foundation grants may provide pathways to introduction. Major grantees include Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Women in Need, RefugePoint, Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Jefferson Health.

Deep Mission Alignment: The foundation seeks organizations making "a real difference" in their priority areas. Demonstrated impact in children's health, medical research innovation, homelessness services, refugee support, or libertarian policy work is essential.

Policy Network: For libertarian-focused organizations, connections through the Institute for Justice (where Dantchik serves on the board), Cato Institute, Reason Foundation, Mercatus Center, or similar organizations in the foundation's portfolio may be valuable.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation accepts grant requests throughout the year on a rolling basis, but decisions are made at the discretion of the board of directors.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. With 21 grants made in 2023 from what is likely a much larger pool of organizations in their network, the foundation is highly selective.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly documented. However, the foundation emphasizes building "long and lasting relationships" with grantees, suggesting repeat funding for organizations that demonstrate impact.

Application Success Factors

Given the invitation-only nature of CLAWS Foundation grantmaking, the following factors appear most critical based on their documented giving patterns:

Demonstrated Impact at Scale: Major grants go to established organizations with proven track records. Children's Hospital of Philadelphia received $5 million, suggesting preference for institutions with significant infrastructure and measurable outcomes.

Innovation and Flexibility: As noted by WIN's CEO, the foundation values organizations that are "on the cutting edge" with programs that can expand and evolve. Proposals should emphasize innovative approaches rather than maintenance of existing operations.

Focus on Children and Vulnerable Populations: The foundation's largest grants consistently support children's health, rare disease research, and services for vulnerable populations including homeless families, refugees, and trafficking survivors.

Alignment with Trustee Values: The foundation's dual focus on mainstream charitable work (healthcare, arts) and libertarian causes (civil liberties, free-market policy, educational choice) reflects the personal interests of its founders. Organizations should clearly articulate how their work aligns with these values.

Long-term Partnership Potential: The foundation explicitly states it prefers "long and lasting relationships" over one-time grants. Proposals should demonstrate sustainability and potential for ongoing partnership.

Efficient Use of Resources: As a foundation managed directly by trustees without extensive staff, they likely favor organizations with strong financial management and clear budgeting.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • This is an invitation-only funder — Do not submit unsolicited proposals; focus on relationship-building through networks connected to Susquehanna International Group, Sterling Foundation Management, or previous grantees
  • Dual mission alignment required — Most successful applicants align with either healthcare/children's causes OR libertarian policy work; understand which track fits your organization
  • Think big and long-term — Grants range from $3,000 to $10 million with a median of $100,000; the foundation prefers significant, multi-year partnerships over small one-time grants
  • Emphasize innovation and cutting-edge work — The foundation values organizations that are expanding programs and trying new approaches, not just maintaining existing services
  • Demonstrate measurable impact — Major institutional grants go to organizations with proven track records; be prepared to show concrete outcomes
  • Network strategically — With no formal staff and trustee-led grantmaking, personal connections matter significantly; cultivate relationships with Institute for Justice, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, and other major grantees
  • Be patient and persistent — This is a highly selective funder; even aligned organizations may need multiple touchpoints before receiving consideration

References

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