The Sylvan C Herman Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to organisations it preselects and does not accept unsolicited requests, so an unsolicited application will not be considered and an existing connection is the realistic route in.
- Its work fits organisations offering residential therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation for adults with mental illness, and research or advocacy on psychiatric care for people with serious mental illness.
- Most of its grants are small: half of its grants to organisations were $15,000 or less, and the median grant was $15,000, so a modest request matches its pattern better than a large one.
- Only 1% of its grant dollars in its latest filing went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so renewal should not be assumed.
Overview
The Sylvan C Herman Foundation is a US private foundation based in Washington, DC.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and web pages about the foundation (clearviewcommunities.org, tac.org), with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation was formed to provide residential therapeutic treatment and rehabilitation services for adults suffering from mental illness. Its founder described establishing it to seek a cure while also finding ways to help people immediately, and accounts of its giving describe support for psychiatric research and efforts to improve access to treatment. Its work therefore spans direct residential care and rehabilitation as well as research and advocacy addressing psychiatric care for people with serious mental illness. It has supported a therapeutic community and projects intended to improve mental health care.
Themes
- Residential mental health care
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in the United States and Virginia.
How to apply
It makes contributions to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 1% 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 25 grants to organisations were $15,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 34% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, <1% of grant dollars went to organisations The Sylvan C Herman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 90% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 5 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $2,500 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Morgan Stanley Global Impact Funding Trust · To fulfill charitable purpose$1,999,6242024 tax year
- Mental Health Association · To fulfill charitable purpose$15,0002024 tax year
- Frederick Rescue Mission · To fulfill charitable purpose$2,5002024 tax year
- Save a Limb Foundation · To fulfill charitable purpose$2,5002024 tax year
- Hope Connections · To fulfill charitable purpose$2,1002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Dr Michael Knable — Director
- Caroline Cantrell — Director
- Beth Stone — Director
- J Scott Ogden — Director
- Richard F Levin — Director
- Gary Levine — Director
- Dwayne Holt — Director
- Mindy Herman — Director & Secretary
- Robert B Herman — Director & President From 10/24
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $8,477,469 | $2,267,090 | $75,654,388 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,029,298 | $1,665,180 | $80,593,727 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $9,649,131 | $2,021,724 | $87,136,569 | 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 Sylvan C Herman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
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Contact
- Washington, DC
Applying to The Sylvan C Herman Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Washington, DC