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Sarah Scaife Foundation Inc

Annual Giving
$43.5M
Grant Range
Up to $1.4M00
Decision Time
3mo
0

Sarah Scaife Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $43.5 million (2023)
  • Total Assets: $610.3 million (2023)
  • Number of Grants: 176 grants awarded (2023)
  • Decision Time: Quarterly board meetings (meets 4 times per year)
  • Grant Range: Varies widely; major grants of $1 million+ reported
  • Geographic Focus: National and international (no geographic restrictions)

Contact Details

Address: One Oxford Centre, 301 Grant Street, Suite 3900, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-6402

Phone: (412) 392-2900

Website: http://www.scaife.com/sarah.html

Primary Contact: Michael W. Gleba, Chairman and CEO

Overview

Established in January 1960, the Sarah Scaife Foundation is one of the major conservative philanthropic foundations in the United States. With total assets of $610.3 million and annual charitable disbursements of $45.7 million (91.8% of total expenses) as of 2023, the foundation has been a consistent supporter of public policy organizations at the national and international level. Founded by Sarah Mellon Scaife and later led by her son Richard Mellon Scaife until his death in 2014, the foundation focuses exclusively on supporting research, analysis, and advocacy related to major domestic and international policy issues. The foundation operates with a clearly defined conservative orientation, supporting organizations that promote limited government, economic freedom, and strong national defense. Under the current leadership of Michael W. Gleba as Chairman and CEO, and Montgomery Brown as Vice President, the foundation continues its long-standing commitment to shaping public policy discourse through strategic grant-making.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Sarah Scaife Foundation operates a single grant program focused on public policy:

  • Public Policy Program: Supports organizations addressing major domestic and international policy issues with no geographic restrictions. Grant amounts vary significantly, with major institutional grants of $1 million or more and smaller project-specific grants.

The foundation makes approximately 176 grants annually, with awards ranging from smaller project grants to major multi-year institutional support exceeding $1 million.

Priority Areas

The foundation concentrates its grant-making on politically conservative causes focused on public policy at national and international levels, including:

  • Economic Policy: Free market economics, limited government, fiscal policy research
  • National Security: Defense policy, international relations, strategic studies
  • Governance: Constitutional studies, regulatory reform, federalism
  • Higher Education: Support for conservative scholarship and policy centers at universities
  • Think Tanks and Policy Research: Major institutional support for established conservative research organizations

Recent grant recipients (2020 data) include major policy organizations such as the George Mason University Foundation ($1.4 million), American Enterprise Institute ($1.3 million), Heritage Foundation ($1.3 million), Center for Strategic and International Studies, Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education, and Hoover Institution. The foundation has also funded Capital Research Center, America's Future, The Council for National Policy, and DonorsTrust.

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly does not support:

  • Grants to individuals for any purpose
  • Nationally organized fundraising groups
  • Organizations that are not publicly-supported nonprofit charitable organizations
  • Event sponsorships
  • Endowment campaigns
  • Capital campaigns and building projects
  • Government-dependent organizations or government agencies
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • Michael W. Gleba - Chairman, CEO, and Trustee (Compensation: $721,600 in 2023)
  • Montgomery Brown - Vice President (Compensation: $405,450 in 2023)
  • Linda M. Buckley - Secretary (Compensation: $177,150 in 2023)

Board of Trustees:

The foundation's board includes prominent conservative leaders:

  • Michael W. Gleba (President and Trustee)
  • Edwin J. Feulner (former president of Heritage Foundation)
  • T. Kenneth Cribb (conservative activist and former aide to Ed Meese)
  • Christine Jack Toretti (Trustee)
  • James C. Roddey (Board Member)

The foundation was originally established by Sarah Mellon Scaife and was led by her son Richard Mellon Scaife until his passing in 2014.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Sarah Scaife Foundation operates a two-tier application system:

For Organizations WITH Previous Grants or Pre-Approval:

  • Use the online submission portal available to pre-vetted organizations

For Organizations WITHOUT Prior Grants (Unsolicited Applications):

  • Must submit applications in hard copy (physical mail) to the Pittsburgh address
  • Cannot access the online portal until pre-vetted by foundation staff

Required Application Materials:

  1. Cover letter signed by the organization's president or authorized representative
  2. Grant proposal narrative including an executive summary
  3. Most recent IRS determination letter evidencing 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  4. Audited financial statements
  5. IRS Form 990
  6. Annual report
  7. List of officers and directors
  8. List of key supporters/major donors

Application Timing:

  • The foundation accepts applications at any time on a rolling basis
  • Board meets quarterly (four times per year) to review and approve grants

Decision Timeline

The foundation's board meets four times per year to consider grant applications. While specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed, applicants should expect decisions to align with quarterly board meeting schedules. Typical foundation review processes range from 2-6 months depending on board meeting timing and proposal complexity.

Success Rates

Specific acceptance rates are not publicly available. However, the foundation made 176 grants in 2023 from total assets of $610 million, suggesting a selective and focused grant-making strategy. Given the foundation's preference for established policy organizations and its relatively small number of annual grants compared to many foundations, the application process should be considered highly competitive.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies are not publicly documented. Many grantees appear to receive ongoing multi-year support, suggesting that successful organizations often develop long-term relationships with the foundation.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and grant-making patterns, applicants should consider the following factors:

Mission Alignment is Critical: The foundation has a clearly defined conservative policy focus. Organizations must demonstrate alignment with principles of limited government, free markets, strong national defense, and constitutional governance. Applications from organizations that do not share this philosophical orientation are unlikely to succeed.

Established Organizations Preferred: Grant recipients include major, well-established institutions like the Heritage Foundation, American Enterprise Institute, Hoover Institution, and Center for Strategic and International Studies. The foundation appears to favor organizations with proven track records, established reputations, and demonstrated impact on public policy.

Policy Impact Focus: Applications should emphasize how the proposed work will influence public policy debates, inform policymakers, or advance research on significant national or international issues. The foundation is interested in organizations that produce research, analysis, and advocacy that shapes policy discussions.

National or International Scope: While the foundation is based in Pittsburgh, it explicitly states there are no geographic restrictions. Successful applications typically address issues of national or international significance rather than local or regional concerns.

No Public Charity or Service Provision: The foundation does not fund direct service programs, healthcare, education (except policy-oriented higher education programs), arts, or social services. Focus exclusively on policy research, analysis, and advocacy.

Strong Governance and Financial Stability: Required submission of audited financial statements, Form 990, and lists of officers and supporters suggests the foundation carefully evaluates organizational capacity, governance, and financial health.

First-Time Applicants Face Higher Bar: The two-tier application system (hard copy for new applicants, online portal for previous grantees) indicates that organizations without prior relationships face additional scrutiny. Building awareness of your organization before applying may be beneficial.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Conservative Policy Focus: This foundation exclusively supports conservative public policy organizations. Do not apply unless your organization aligns with principles of limited government, free markets, and strong national defense.

  • Institutional Scale Matters: The foundation makes significant grants to major established institutions. Smaller or newer organizations should be prepared to demonstrate exceptional potential for policy impact.

  • Hard Copy Required for New Applicants: First-time applicants cannot use the online portal and must submit physical applications, which may indicate a preference for organizations the foundation already knows.

  • Rolling Applications, Quarterly Decisions: While you can apply anytime, decisions occur quarterly. Time your application to allow adequate review before board meetings.

  • No Event Sponsorships or Capital Campaigns: Focus grant requests exclusively on programmatic work related to policy research, analysis, and advocacy.

  • Build Relationships First: The foundation's structure suggests that personal connections and awareness of your work may be important. Consider connecting with foundation leadership or board members through the conservative policy network before applying.

  • Demonstrate Policy Impact: Applications must clearly articulate how your work will influence policy debates, inform decision-makers, or advance conservative principles in public discourse.

References

  1. Sarah Scaife Foundation - GuideStar Profile (Accessed December 2024)
  2. Sarah Scaife Foundation | Cause IQ (Accessed December 2024)
  3. Scaife Foundations > Sarah Scaife Foundation (Accessed December 2024)
  4. Sarah Scaife Foundation | Candid Foundation Directory (Accessed December 2024)
  5. Sarah Scaife Foundation Inc - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (Accessed December 2024)
  6. Scaife Foundations - Wikipedia (Accessed December 2024)
  7. Sarah Scaife Foundation Grant Program | GrantExec (Accessed December 2024)
  8. Sarah Scaife Foundation - InfluenceWatch (Accessed December 2024)
  9. Sarah Scaife Foundation | The Grantsmanship Center (Accessed December 2024)
  10. Sarah Scaife Foundation - SourceWatch (Accessed December 2024)
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