The Seaver Institute - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• EIN: 30-1322696
• Annual Giving: $1,721,700 (2023)
• Total Assets: $40.3 million
• Grant Range: $100,000 - $400,000
• Typical Duration: 2-3 years
• Number of Awards (2023): 79 grants
• Geographic Focus: Primarily California, New York, and District of Columbia
• Founded: 1955

Contact Details

President: Victoria Seaver Dean

Email: vsd@theseaverinstitute.org

Address: 12400 Wilshire Blvd, Ste. 1240, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1058

Website: No public website available

Note: The Institute does not have a public website. All inquiries must be made by sending a letter to President Victoria Seaver Dean requesting application guidelines.

Overview

The Seaver Institute was founded in 1955 by Frank Roger Seaver and has established a distinctive niche in American philanthropy through its "seed money for research" program, introduced in 1983. Led by Victoria Seaver Dean, the foundation occupies a unique place in the philanthropic landscape by providing early-stage funding for innovative, direction-defining individuals and projects that have the potential to significantly influence their fields. With assets totaling $40.3 million and annual giving of approximately $1.7 million, the Institute makes selective investments in high-risk, high-reward research and educational initiatives. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on providing the first two years of support to prove novel concepts, expecting that successful projects will then attract larger funders for expansion. Recent recognition includes significant gifts to educational institutions like Scripps College ($1 million scholarship gift).

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Seaver Institute operates primarily through a single seed funding program:

• Seed Money for Research: $100,000 - $400,000 per grant, typically for 2-3 year periods
• Application method: No open application process; send letter requesting guidelines to President

Priority Areas

Innovation and High-Risk Research

• Cutting-edge projects in science and the arts
• Novel ideas that are catalysts for change
• Projects with potential to significantly alter the direction of their fields
• Research that opens new fields of study

Education

• Private higher education institutions
• Scholarship programs
• Educational innovation projects

Primary Focus Areas:

• Education
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
• Human Services
• Scientific research (marine science, musicology, molecular biology, etc.)
• Health concerns (including autism research through related foundations)

Philosophy: The Institute prefers to support creative individuals with new ideas rather than adding to successful, existing projects. They encourage beneficiaries to explore beyond their core activity, use expertise in new ways, or combine disciplines.

What They Don't Fund

While the Institute does not publish explicit exclusions, their funding philosophy indicates they avoid:

• Existing, successful projects without innovative elements
• Long-term operational support (they provide seed funding only)
• Conservative, low-risk projects
• Projects seeking to scale proven concepts (they seek to prove unproven concepts)
• Ongoing support beyond the initial 2-3 year seed phase

Governance and Leadership

President: Victoria Seaver Dean

Victoria Seaver Dean leads the foundation and is also a life trustee of Scripps College. She has been instrumental in shaping the Institute's distinctive seed funding approach. According to Dean: "In 1983, The Seaver Institute introduced a program that I call 'seed money for research,' where we give money to start a project to see if a novel idea will work. If it works, we know that other people will fund it and ramp it up from its seed phase into a larger phase."

Dean emphasizes the importance of this approach: "That's important because the government doesn't really support research at that stage anymore."

Governance Structure: The Institute has a board of directors and officers who serve without compensation. Specific names of other board members beyond Victoria Seaver Dean are not publicly disclosed.

Legacy: The foundation continues the philanthropic vision of founder Frank Roger Seaver, who also supported institutions including Scripps College, Claremont McKenna College, Loyola Marymount University, USC, and Pepperdine University.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Seaver Institute does not have an open application process or public website. Interested organizations must:

1. Send a letter addressed to President Victoria Seaver Dean requesting application guidelines
2. Contact via email: vsd@theseaverinstitute.org
3. Mail to: 12400 Wilshire Blvd, Ste. 1240, Los Angeles, CA 90025-1058

Note: There are "0 live grant opportunities" indicated in public databases, suggesting the Institute works primarily through solicited proposals and partnerships with established organizations rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Getting on Their Radar

The Seaver Institute actively seeks out innovative individuals and projects through partnerships with well-respected organizations. Their approach involves:

• Partnerships with Established Institutions: The Institute identifies promising projects through relationships with highly regarded organizations. For example, they have supported nine MIT projects since 1983 involving basic research in fields ranging from marine science to musicology to molecular causes of aging.

• Sector Expertise: They look for "the best and brightest" within partner organizations and support their innovative ideas.

• Track Record of Impact: Several projects funded in their early stages have launched distinguished careers. Two recipients have won the National Medal of Science, and one became an MIT Institute Professor.

• Direct Outreach: While not accepting general applications, organizations can express interest by writing to President Victoria Seaver Dean. The letter should demonstrate how the project aligns with the Institute's seed funding philosophy: novel, high-risk, potentially field-changing research.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. Given the selective nature of their grantmaking (79 grants to 89 organizations over 5 years) and the personalized approach, timeline likely varies by project.

Success Rates

Over the past 5 years: 116 grants to 89 organizations totaling $3,852,200

• 2023: 79 awards ($1,721,700)
• 2022: 78 awards
• 2021: 77 awards

The foundation makes approximately 75-80 grants annually from what is likely a small pool of solicited and invited proposals, though exact application numbers are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is publicly available. Contact the Institute directly for guidance on resubmissions or future applications.

Application Success Factors

What the Seaver Institute Values

1. Innovation and Risk-Taking

Victoria Seaver Dean states: "We would rather support creative individuals with a new idea that is a catalyst for change than add to a successful, existing project." The Institute specifically seeks:

• Novel ideas that haven't been tested
• High-risk concepts that other funders avoid
• Projects that could open new fields of study or significantly alter existing ones

2. Early-Stage Proof of Concept

The Institute's funding model is explicitly designed for initial testing: "We give money to start a project to see if a novel idea will work." Successful applications should:

• Clearly identify the novel hypothesis or approach
• Explain why seed funding is needed (government or other funders won't support at this stage)
• Demonstrate how 2-3 years of support will prove the concept
• Show potential for attracting larger funders if successful

3. Institutional Credibility

The Institute provides "seed money to highly regarded organizations for particular projects." This suggests:

• Applications from established, respected institutions have an advantage
• Individual innovators should partner with recognized organizations
• Track record and reputation matter for institutional applicants

4. Cross-Disciplinary Thinking

The Institute "encourages beneficiaries to explore beyond their core activity, use expertise in new ways, or combine disciplines." Successful projects might:

• Apply methodologies from one field to another
• Bridge traditional disciplinary boundaries
• Use existing expertise in entirely new contexts

5. Clear Exit Strategy

Dean explains: "Our support provides the research necessary to prove an idea and is not expected to continue after a preliminary two- to three-year partnership. With the proof of concept complete, the risk is removed, and we know that the success and excitement of the idea will attract other funding sources."

Applications should clearly articulate:

• What will be proven in 2-3 years
• How success will be measured
• What larger funders might support the scaled project
• Why the project won't need ongoing Seaver support

Examples of Funded Projects

• MIT Research: Nine MIT projects since 1983 in fields including marine science, musicology, and molecular causes of aging. Recipients have gone on to win National Medals of Science.

• University of Hawaii: $100,000 for comparative reef research using advanced rebreather technology to discover and document deep coral reefs (up to 165 meters) across three Pacific locations—a three-year study of previously unexplored terrain.

• Scripps College: $1 million for scholarship support (though this appears to be a departure from typical seed research grants).

Common Characteristics

Based on the Institute's philosophy and funded projects:

• Projects at the cutting edge of their fields
• Research that couldn't proceed without seed funding
• Potential for significant impact on the field
• Led by creative, capable individuals
• Structured for 2-3 year proof-of-concept phase

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Don't apply broadly: The Seaver Institute does not accept unsolicited applications in the traditional sense. Contact President Victoria Seaver Dean directly with a compelling case for why your innovative project needs seed funding.

2. Emphasize innovation over track record: Unlike most funders, Seaver actively seeks unproven, high-risk ideas. Your application strength comes from the novelty and potential impact of the concept, not from demonstrating that it already works.

3. Frame it as seed funding, not long-term support: Make crystal clear that you need 2-3 years to prove a concept, after which other funders will support scaling. The Institute will not continue funding beyond the seed phase.

4. Demonstrate the funding gap: Explain specifically why government funders or traditional sources won't support this work at this stage—that's exactly the gap Seaver fills.

5. Think $100K-$400K for 2-3 years: Structure your budget accordingly. This is not microgrant funding, but it's also not multi-million dollar support.

6. Leverage institutional credibility: If you're an individual researcher with a novel idea, partner with a highly regarded organization. The Institute funds "the best and brightest" within established institutions.

7. Show potential for field-changing impact: Successful Seaver projects have launched careers of National Medal of Science winners. Articulate how your work could significantly alter your field's direction, even if it's currently unproven.

8. Be prepared for a relationship-based process: With no website, no application portal, and selective invitation-based grantmaking, success requires building a relationship with the Institute over time. Start with an introductory letter to Victoria Seaver Dean.

References

1. The Seaver Institute — Organ Preservation Alliance: https://www.organpreservationalliance.org/the-seaver-institute (Accessed February 25, 2026)

2. MIT Spectrum - Investments in the Future: https://betterworld.mit.edu/spectrum/issues/spring-2014/investments-in-the-future/ (Accessed February 25, 2026) - Contains direct quotes from Victoria Seaver Dean

3. Seaver Institute | Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/seaver-institute (Accessed February 25, 2026) - Financial and grant statistics

4. The Seaver Institute | Foundation Directory | Candid: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=SEAV001 (Accessed February 25, 2026)

5. Exploratory deep sea reef research gets funding from Seaver Institute | University of Hawaiʻi Foundation: https://www.uhfoundation.org/news/exploratory-deep-sea-reef-research-gets-funding-seaver-institute (Accessed February 25, 2026) - Example funded project

6. The Seaver Institute Gifts $1M to Scholarships at Scripps College: https://www.scrippscollege.edu/news/giving/the-seaver-institute-gifts-1m-to-scholarships-as-scripps-access-initiative-matching-challenge (Accessed February 25, 2026)

7. Seaver Institute - Nonprofit Explorer - ProPublica: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/301322696 (Accessed February 25, 2026) - IRS Form 990 data

8. Seaver Institute | Cause IQ: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/seaver-institute,301322696/ (Accessed February 25, 2026) - Organization details and EIN verification