Quick Stats
- Annual Giving: $4,196,256 (2024)
- Success Rate: Not publicly available
- Decision Time: Varies by program cycle
- Grant Range: $5,000 - $50,000
- Geographic Focus: Greater Philadelphia area (priority), with flexibility for programs with national impact
Contact Details
- Website: www.scattergoodfoundation.org
- Phone: 215-831-3000
- Email: info@scattergoodfoundation.org
- Grant Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SGF
- Location: Philadelphia, PA
The Foundation provides virtual information sessions for each grantmaking opportunity.
Overview
Founded in 2005, the Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation takes its name from Philadelphia Quaker Thomas Scattergood (1748-1814), who struggled with depression and advocated for "moral treatment" centered on dignity and respect for individuals with mental illness. The Foundation was established when a new partnership was developed to manage Friends Hospital. With annual giving of $4.2 million and 145 awards made in 2024, the Foundation aims to challenge and change how behavioral healthcare is viewed, organized, and practiced. The Foundation believes major disruption is needed to build a stronger, more effective, compassionate, and inclusive society where behavioral health is central. Under President Joe Pyle's leadership, the Foundation has focused on evaluation, design thinking, and community participation in programming.
Funding Priorities
Grant Programs
General Grantmaking: $5,000 - $50,000
- Two annual cycles with deadlines typically in February and November
- Letters of inquiry submitted through Foundant Grant Portal
- Supports pilot projects, early adoption of programs, or novel policy/advocacy efforts
Participatory Funds: Varies by program
- Community Fund for Immigrant Wellness: Shifts decision-making power to immigrant community members
- Kensington Community Resilience Fund: $360,000 in recent rounds, focuses on community empowerment, neighborhood investment, and economic opportunity in Kensington neighborhood
- Overdose Prevention and Community Healing Fund: $3.5 million fund in partnership with City of Philadelphia
Policy Meets Practice: $5,000 - $50,000
- Supports community-serving organizations with budgets under $5 million
- Focuses on expanding community behavioral health workforce
- Philadelphia-based organizations only
Program Related Investments (PRIs):
- Below-market interest rate loans to start, grow, or sustain behavioral health programs
- Not currently accepting applications
Priority Areas
The Foundation prioritizes requests that meet one or more of these criteria:
- Viability: Activities that promise to become economically independent and viable or are replicable
- Collaboration: Organizations that invest their own resources, leverage third-party funds, and/or partner with other organizations
- Innovation: Activities that are innovative and additive to the field of behavioral health
- Leadership: Requests that nurture and develop individual or institutional leadership development, promoting reasoned advocacy and de-stigmatization
Equity Focus: Strongly prioritizes supporting organizations that serve and are led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Programs must incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles and trauma-informed practices.
Impact Levels: Funds projects that disrupt the current behavioral health space and create impact at individual, organizational, and societal levels.
What They Don't Fund
Specific exclusions are not publicly listed. The Foundation prioritizes Greater Philadelphia, though funding outside the area is possible if the program has national implications.
Governance and Leadership
Leadership Team
Joe Pyle, MA - President
- More than 30 years experience in philanthropy and behavioral health care leadership
- Previously served as CEO at multiple behavioral health institutions including Friends Hospital, Northwestern Institute of Psychiatry, and Malvern Institute
- Master's Degree in School Psychology from Glassboro State College
- Serves on boards of Family Planning Council (former President), Bartram Gardens, and Friends Behavioral Health System
- Member of Philadelphia Mayor's Office Food Access Collaborative
Alyson Ferguson, MPH - Chief Operating Officer
- Oversees operations, grant, and project portfolios
- Master of Public Health from Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health
- Lebow Leading for Change Fellow
- Recognized by Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter as emerging public sector leader
- Grantmakers In Health Terrance Keenan Institute Fellow
- Named one of Main Line Today's Women on the Move
Caitlin O'Brien, MPH - Director of Learning & Community Impact
- Provides support and technical assistance to organizations throughout Greater Philadelphia
- Coordinates initiatives including Community Fund for Immigrant Wellness, Philadelphia ACE Task Force, and Pottstown Trauma-Informed Community Connection
- Master of Public Health from Drexel University
- Background in community organizing and direct service
Board of Directors
In 2020, the Foundation appointed five new board members representing diverse perspectives from financial, legal, philanthropic, healthcare, and community-serving sectors, including:
- Chris Arlene (Principal, Chris Arlene Consulting)
- John Church (Managing Director, Glenmede Trust Company)
- Steven Larín (Deputy Director, Nationalities Service Center)
Leadership Perspectives
Joe Pyle on participatory grantmaking: "We can't have a one-size-fits-all approach to reducing overdose in Black, Indigenous, and communities of color; this work requires deep engagement, relationship-building, and collaboration."
On equity in philanthropy: "A lot of funders have been talking about doing this work on their own, and we felt strongly that discussions around equity shouldn't happen in isolation. By supporting this cohort model, we can more effectively advance our shared understanding of how philanthropy must change and adapt to build an equitable system, and hold each other accountable for making that change happen."
On innovation: "Quality outcomes are extremely important to me. To explore the tension between two different perspectives… to listen to one another, find common ground, and move forward together. To me, that's innovative."
Application Process & Timeline
How to Apply
Step 1: Review Eligibility
- Must be 501(c)(3) organization (or have fiscal sponsor)
- Program addresses mental health and/or substance use issues
- Pilot project, early adoption of program, or novel policy/advocacy effort
- Serves Greater Philadelphia or has national impact
Step 2: Create Account
- Create account on Foundant Grant Portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SGF
Step 3: Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI)
- Foundation runs two annual grantmaking cycles
- Deadlines typically fall in February and November
- LOI reviewed by Program Committee
Step 4: Full Application (If Invited)
- Staff schedules meeting if LOI is accepted
- Invitation to submit full application
- Must provide demographics of executive leadership, board, and staff
Step 5: Due Diligence and Decision
- Staff conducts final due diligence
- Program Committee/Board makes final decision
Current Status: As of recent information, the Foundation does not currently have any funding requests available. Subscribe to their newsletter for updates on grant opportunities.
Decision Timeline
Specific timelines from submission to decision are not publicly available and likely vary by program cycle and grant program. The Foundation operates on a two-cycle annual schedule.
Success Rates
The Foundation made 145 awards in 2024, an increase from 106 awards in 2023 and 68 awards in 2022, indicating growing grant activity. Specific application success rates are not publicly available.
Reapplication Policy
Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not publicly documented. Contact the Foundation directly for clarification.
Application Success Factors
Based on the Foundation's documented priorities and approach, successful applications should:
Demonstrate Innovation: The Foundation has made a conscious decision to prioritize innovative strategies that disrupt the current behavioral health space. As President Joe Pyle emphasizes, innovation isn't just about new ideas—it's about finding common ground between different perspectives and moving forward together.
Show Collaboration and Sustainability: Applications should demonstrate how the organization will invest its own resources, leverage additional third-party funds, and/or partner with other organizations. The Foundation values activities that promise to become economically independent and viable or are otherwise replicable.
Center Equity and Community Voice: The Foundation prioritizes organizations led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and expects all programs to incorporate diversity, equity, and inclusion principles. As the Foundation states, "it is critical for organizations to make decisions using both community voice and data."
Address Multiple Impact Levels: Strongest applications create impact at individual, organizational, and societal levels rather than just one dimension.
Incorporate Trauma-Informed Practice: All programs should demonstrate trauma-informed approaches to behavioral health.
Focus on Leadership Development: Projects that nurture individual or institutional leadership, promote reasoned advocacy, and work to de-stigmatize behavioral health conditions are favored.
Align with Think Bigger Do Good Series: For Policy Meets Practice grants, applications should connect to the Foundation's policy paper series, particularly around workforce development and capacity building.
Demonstrate Philadelphia Connection: While national programs are considered, the Foundation strongly prioritizes work centering around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Key Takeaways for Grant Writers
- Innovation is key: The Foundation explicitly prioritizes innovative, disruptive approaches over traditional programming—demonstrate how your project challenges the status quo in behavioral health
- Equity-centered approach required: Organizations led by and serving BIPOC communities are prioritized; all applicants must show commitment to DEI principles and provide leadership demographics
- Multiple funding mechanisms available: Beyond traditional grants, explore participatory funds (if community-led), Policy Meets Practice grants (for smaller Philadelphia organizations), and PRIs for capital needs
- Two-stage process: Plan ahead for the LOI-to-full-application process; successful LOIs lead to staff meetings before full application invitations
- Stay connected: With no current funding requests available and rolling availability, subscribe to their newsletter and attend virtual information sessions when offered
- Show collaboration: Demonstrate partnerships, leveraged funding, and pathways to sustainability—the Foundation values collaboration over siloed work
- Think community participation: The Foundation's shift toward participatory grantmaking reflects their values—show how impacted communities inform your work
References
- Scattergood Foundation Official Website - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Scattergood Foundation Grantmaking Page - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/support/grant-making/ (Accessed January 2026)
- "The Scattergood Foundation" About Page - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/about/the-scattergood-foundation/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Joe Pyle Leadership Profile - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/staff_members/joe-pyle/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Alyson Ferguson Profile - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/staff_members/alyson-ferguson/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Caitlin O'Brien Profile - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/staff_members/caitlin-obrien/ (Accessed January 2026)
- "Daring to Do Good: Reflecting on 20 Years" - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/daring-to-do-good-reflecting-on-20-years/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Inside Philanthropy - Thomas Scattergood Foundation Profile - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant/grants-s/thomas-scattergood-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
- "Power moves: Five new board members for Scattergood Foundation" - Generocity Philly, August 2020 - https://generocity.org/philly/2020/08/21/power-moves-five-new-board-members-for-scattergood-foundation/
- Philanthropy Network Greater Philadelphia - Thomas Scattergood Foundation Profile - https://philanthropynetwork.org/redhen/org/172 (Accessed January 2026)
- Instrumentl 990 Report - Scattergood Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/thomas-scattergood-behavioral-health-foundation (Accessed January 2026)
- ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Thomas Scattergood Behavioral Health Foundation (EIN: 23-1352178) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/231352178 (Accessed January 2026)
- Community Fund for Wellness - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/support/participatory-funds/community-fund-for-wellness/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Program Related Investments - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/support/program-related-funding/ (Accessed January 2026)
- Policy Meets Practice Program - https://www.scattergoodfoundation.org/support/policy-meets-practice/ (Accessed January 2026)