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Schooner Foundation

Annual Giving
$9.6M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M

Schooner Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $9,646,986 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $195.8 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed (invitation-only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000
  • Median Grant: $50,000
  • Typical Range: $10,000 - $100,000
  • Number of Grants: 122 grants (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: U.S. and international, with preference for Boston-based organizations

Contact Details

Address: c/o Schooner Capital LLC, Boston, MA 02111

General Inquiries: Isabel Vinson, Associate
Email: isabel@schoonerfoundation.org

Website: https://www.schoonercapital.com/the-foundation

Note: The foundation does not accept unsolicited grant proposals. Grants are made by invitation only.

Overview

Established in 1996 by Vin Ryan, founder of Schooner Capital LLC, and his wife Carla Meyer, the Schooner Foundation is the charitable arm of the Boston-based investment firm. With total assets of $195.8 million and annual giving of approximately $9.6 million, the foundation operates as a family foundation with the Ryan family serving as trustees. The foundation's core belief is that everyone deserves "a life with dignity, opportunity, and access to resources." The foundation seeks to advance human rights by leveraging funds where there is the greatest need and opportunity, both domestically and internationally, investing in what they describe as "equitable, replicable, and scalable solutions" across four primary areas.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Schooner Foundation provides three types of support:

  • General Operating Support: Core funding for organizational operations
  • Project-Based Grants: Funding for specific initiatives and programs (typical range: $10,000 - $100,000)
  • Fellowships: Support for individual fellows and residency programs (e.g., $500,000 to Brigham and Women's Hospital for Hiatt Residency in Global Health Equity)

Application Method: Invitation only - the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals

Priority Areas

The foundation focuses on four core areas:

1. Human Rights & Social Justice

  • Racial and Indigenous justice initiatives
  • Criminal justice reform
  • LGBTQ+ rights
  • Civil liberties
  • Grassroots organizing for social change

Recent recipients include: Tennessee Innocence Project, ACLU Foundation of Tennessee, Brennan Center for Justice ($200,023), Sicangu Community Development Corporation (supporting Rosebud Reservation communities in South Dakota), Center for Community Change ($75,000), Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, and Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

2. Global Health Equity

  • Access to healthcare in underserved communities
  • Health systems strengthening
  • Global health training and capacity building

Recent recipients include: Brigham and Women's Hospital ($500,000 for Hiatt Residency in Global Health Equity), Fund for Global Human Rights.

3. Education & Economic Empowerment

  • Educational access and opportunity
  • Economic development initiatives
  • Community capacity building

4. Environment

  • Conservation efforts, both local and international
  • Environmental protection

Recipients include: Nature Conservancy (annual support), Conservation International, Ocean Research and Conservation Association, Global Greengrants Fund, Indian River Land Trust.

Additional Focus Areas (secondary priorities):

  • Peace & Security
  • Investigative Journalism (past recipients: New Media Ventures, The Progressive)
  • Campaign Finance Reform

What They Don't Fund

The foundation has indicated it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations." While specific exclusions are not publicly listed, the invitation-only model means they do not fund organizations outside their pre-identified networks.

Governance and Leadership

Trustees:

  • Vin Ryan, Founder and Primary Trustee - Chairman of Schooner Capital LLC (founded 1971), established the foundation in 1996
  • Carla Meyer, Trustee - Social worker, philanthropist, and member of Boston University Board of Trustees; co-founder of the foundation with her husband Vin Ryan
  • Ryan Children, Trustees - The Ryan family children also serve as trustees

Staff:

  • Isabel Vinson, Associate - Contact for general inquiries and student internship program

The foundation operates as a family foundation with decision-making authority resting with the Ryan family trustees.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Schooner Foundation does not have a public application process. Grants are made by invitation only to preselected charitable organizations.

The foundation explicitly states: "Proposals are accepted by invitation only" and "does not accept unsolicited requests for funding."

General Inquiries: While unsolicited proposals are not accepted, general inquiries may be directed to Isabel Vinson at isabel@schoonerfoundation.org. However, potential applicants should not expect this to result in grant consideration, as the foundation works exclusively with preselected organizations.

Getting on Their Radar

The Schooner Foundation identifies grantees through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships within their networks. The foundation shows some preference for organizations based in Boston, Massachusetts, though they fund both domestically and internationally.

For Boston-area organizations: Given the foundation's Boston base and preference for local organizations, being active and visible in the Boston philanthropic and nonprofit community may be beneficial.

For organizations in the foundation's focus areas: The foundation partners with what they describe as "exemplary organizations" in their priority areas. Building a strong track record and reputation in human rights, global health equity, education and economic empowerment, or environmental conservation may position organizations as potential future partners.

Note on the invitation process: The foundation's 990 forms show 111-122 grants annually across a diverse range of organizations, suggesting an active trustee-led identification process for new partners.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As an invitation-only funder, the foundation operates on its own timeline for identifying and approaching potential grantees.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given the invitation-only model, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept applications. Organizations that receive grants may be invited for continued support at the trustees' discretion.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept applications, understanding their approach can help organizations assess alignment:

Mission Alignment: The foundation's core belief centers on "dignity, opportunity, and access to resources." Organizations whose work directly addresses these themes across the foundation's four priority areas align with their mission.

Scale and Replicability: The foundation explicitly seeks "equitable, replicable, and scalable solutions." They prioritize interventions that can be expanded or adapted to benefit broader populations.

Geographic Connection: While funding both domestically and internationally, the foundation shows preference for Boston-based organizations. For international work, they generally support U.S.-based organizations implementing global programs.

Systems Change Approach: Grant recipients suggest the foundation favors organizations working on systemic issues - criminal justice reform, health equity, economic empowerment - rather than direct service alone.

Established Track Record: As an invitation-only funder partnering with "exemplary organizations," the foundation appears to prioritize organizations with proven effectiveness and strong reputations in their fields.

Examples of Recently Funded Work:

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital: $500,000 for the Hiatt Residency in Global Health Equity - a fellowship program building global health capacity
  • Vet Voice Foundation: $400,000 (program details not specified, but aligns with social justice and civic engagement)
  • Brennan Center for Justice: $200,023 for criminal justice reform and democracy protection work
  • Center for Community Change: $75,000 for grassroots organizing supporting social welfare and immigration reform
  • ACLU Foundation of Tennessee: $20,000 for civil liberties and criminal justice work

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-only model: The Schooner Foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals. Grants are made to preselected organizations identified by trustees.

  • Family foundation structure: Decision-making rests with the Ryan family trustees, suggesting a relationship-driven approach to philanthropy.

  • Focus on systems change: The foundation prioritizes "equitable, replicable, and scalable solutions," not one-time interventions or direct services alone.

  • Four core areas: Human Rights & Social Justice, Global Health Equity, Education & Economic Empowerment, and Environment. Additional support for peace & security, investigative journalism, and campaign finance reform.

  • Boston preference: While funding nationally and internationally, the foundation shows preference for Boston-based organizations.

  • Significant grant range: While median grants are $50,000, the foundation has awarded grants ranging from $1,000 to $500,000, suggesting flexibility based on project scope and organizational capacity.

  • Consistent grantmaking: With 111-122 grants annually and nearly $10 million in annual giving, the foundation maintains an active grantmaking portfolio with room for new partnerships each year.

References

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