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Scaife Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$7.8M
Grant Range
$2K - $1.5M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $7.8 million (2024)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Applications reviewed at bi-annual board meetings
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $1,500,000
  • Geographic Focus: National (historically prioritizes South Florida and Western Pennsylvania)

Contact Details

Address: 777 S Flagler Drive, Suite 909 East Tower, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

Phone: (561) 659-1188

Website: www.scaifefamily.org

Leadership: David Zywiec, President and Chairman

Overview

The Scaife Family Foundation was established in 1985 and has provided more than $180 million in donations for non-profit programs over nearly 40 years. Based in West Palm Beach, Florida, the foundation is currently led by President and Chairman David Zywiec. With assets of approximately $104.5 million, the foundation awarded $7.8 million in grants in 2024, making 79 awards to organizations across the United States. The foundation's mission centers on supporting vulnerable community members through programs that strengthen families, promote animal welfare, and address health and safety issues. Founded by Richard Mellon Scaife, the foundation was later led by his daughter Jennie Scaife until her death in 2018, during which time she shifted the foundation's focus toward animal welfare and humanitarian causes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation offers two types of grant support:

  • General Operating Support: Unrestricted funding for organizational operations ($2,000 - $1,500,000)
  • Program Support: Project-specific funding ($2,000 - $1,500,000)

Application Schedule: The foundation holds bi-annual board meetings with fixed deadlines:

  • Spring Board Meeting: February 1 submission deadline
  • Fall Board Meeting: August 1 submission deadline

Priority Areas

The foundation supports three primary focus areas:

Women's & Children's Health, Safety, and Welfare

  • Programs addressing the health and welfare of women and children
  • Organizations providing safety services and intervention

Human-Animal Interaction and Animal Welfare

  • Programs demonstrating beneficial interaction between humans and animals
  • Animal welfare organizations
  • Notable past recipients include Puppies Behind Bars ($250,000 in 2019), National Disaster Search Dog Foundation, and Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania

Early Intervention and Addiction Prevention

  • Drug and alcohol addiction prevention programs
  • Early intervention efforts
  • Past recipients include Hazelden Betty Ford Center ($305,000 in 2019) and Crime Victims Treatment Center ($1.5 million in 2019)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly declines:

  • Event sponsorship
  • Endorsement requests
  • Capital campaigns and renovation projects
  • Individual funding requests
  • Government agency requests
  • Letters of Intent (full proposals required)

Governance and Leadership

David Zywiec serves as President and Chairman of the Scaife Family Foundation. According to Florida corporate records, he also holds the positions of Treasurer and Director.

Zywiec has stated his pride in supporting organizations whose missions align closely with the foundation's focus areas. In reference to a major grant to Magee-Womens Research Institute & Foundation, he emphasized the foundation's commitment to supporting organizations working in areas that match their philanthropic priorities.

Historical Leadership: The foundation was controlled by Jennie K. Scaife (daughter of founder Richard Mellon Scaife) who served as Chairman until her death in 2018. Under her leadership, the foundation evolved from supporting conservative causes to becoming "almost exclusively a supporter of animal welfare and other humanitarian issues." The 2012 board also included Elizabeth H. Genter (Vice President), Mary T. Walton (Vice President), and Matthew A. Groll (Executive Director).

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts unsolicited applications through a formal proposal process. Complete proposal packages should include:

Required Documents:

  1. Proposal letter on organization letterhead containing:

    • Purpose and intent of the grant
    • Specific funding amount requested
    • Specific use of funds
    • Brief organizational history
    • Organization's mission statement
    • Clear indication of whether requesting operating or program support
    • Date and signature of an authorized representative, President, or Board Member

  2. Copy of 501(c)(3) designation certification

  3. Current total operating budget

  4. Most recently filed IRS Form 990

  5. Full listing of current Board of Directors

  6. Independent Audited Financial Statement and Annual Report

Submission Methods:

  • US Mail: 777 S. Flagler Dr., Suite 909 East Tower, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
  • Electronic: Contact foundation for email submission details

Submission Deadlines:

  • February 1: For consideration at the Annual Spring Board Meeting
  • August 1: For consideration at the Regular Fall Board Meeting

Important: Complete proposal packages received prior to submission cutoff dates receive priority processing. Proposals with missing or incomplete documentation may be delayed.

Decision Timeline

All grants are determined by the Directors on a case-by-case basis at bi-annual board meetings. The foundation holds:

  • Spring Board Meeting (following February 1 deadline)
  • Fall Board Meeting (following August 1 deadline)

Specific notification timelines are not publicly disclosed. Organizations should check the foundation website at www.scaifefamily.org for updated submission instructions and requirements.

Success Rates

Success rate statistics are not publicly disclosed. However, grant activity data shows:

  • 2024: 79 awards
  • 2023: 81 awards
  • 2022: 76 awards
  • 2021: 79 awards

The foundation averages approximately 76-81 grants annually. Since 2020, the foundation has awarded 225 individual grants totaling $15.8 million.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publicly disclose a specific reapplication policy for unsuccessful applicants. Organizations interested in reapplying should contact the foundation directly or review their website for current policies.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's stated priorities and requirements, successful applications demonstrate:

Alignment with Focus Areas: The foundation explicitly states that "all grant requests forwarded to the Scaife Family Foundation should align with at least one of these focus areas" (women's & children's health, human-animal interaction, or addiction prevention).

Geographic Consideration: While the foundation's service area is not limited to any particular geographic area within the United States, they "historically consider South Florida and Western Pennsylvania first." Organizations in these regions may have enhanced consideration.

Complete Documentation: The foundation emphasizes that "a proposal with missing or incomplete documentation may be delayed." Ensuring all required documents are included and submitted before the deadline is critical.

Clear Purpose and Specificity: Proposal letters must detail the purpose and intent of the grant and clearly indicate the specific funding amount requested and specific use of funds.

Case-by-Case Review: Since all grants are "determined by the Directors on a case-by-case basis," applications should make a compelling individual case for support rather than relying on precedent alone.

Recent Grant Examples that illustrate funding priorities:

  • Crime Victims Treatment Center: $1.5 million (2019) - women's and children's welfare
  • Hazelden Betty Ford Center: $305,000 (2019) - addiction prevention
  • Puppies Behind Bars: $250,000 (2019) - human-animal interaction
  • National Disaster Search Dog Foundation - animal welfare and human-animal interaction
  • Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania - animal welfare
  • Philanthropy Roundtable: $35,000 (2019) - supporting the philanthropic sector

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Bi-annual deadlines are firm: Submit complete packages by February 1 or August 1 to receive priority processing for the corresponding board meeting
  • Geographic preference matters: Organizations in South Florida (especially West Palm Beach area) and Western Pennsylvania (especially Pittsburgh area) are historically prioritized
  • Focus area alignment is essential: Ensure your proposal clearly demonstrates alignment with at least one of the three priority areas
  • Wide grant range allows flexibility: With grants ranging from $2,000 to $1,500,000, organizations of various sizes can apply for appropriate funding levels
  • Both operating and program support available: Organizations can request either unrestricted operating support or project-specific funding
  • Complete documentation is critical: Missing or incomplete documentation causes delays; ensure all six required components are included
  • Avoid automatic declines: Do not submit requests for event sponsorship, endorsements, capital campaigns, individual funding, or from government agencies

References

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