Mann-Paller Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,469,237 (2024)
• Total Assets: $90,911,799 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: Varies by program (individual cybersecurity scholarships ~$25,000/year)
• Geographic Focus: U.S.-based with some international components

Contact Details

Address: 5404 Falmouth Rd, Bethesda, MD 20816-2917

Website: No public website identified

Email/Phone: Not publicly available

Note: Contact information may be available through the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings

Overview

The Mann-Paller Foundation Inc was established in 1985 as a private grant-making foundation based in Bethesda, Maryland. With total assets of approximately $90.9 million and annual charitable disbursements of $3.5 million (2024), the foundation honors the legacy of Alan Paller, the late founder of the SANS Institute who passed away in 2021. Alan Paller was a pioneer in cybersecurity education who, together with his wife Marsha Mann Paller in 1989, founded the SANS Institute, one of the world's leading nongovernmental cybersecurity research and training organizations. The foundation is led by Marsha Paller as President/Secretary/Treasurer and Channing Paller (daughter of Alan and Marsha) as Vice President. The foundation has significantly expanded its cybersecurity education initiatives in recent years while also supporting arts and cultural organizations. Known grant recipients have included The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and the University of Tulsa's Alan Paller Cyber Scholars program.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Alan Paller Cyber Scholars Program at University of Tulsa

• Annual scholarships of $10,000 for tuition, room and board, fees, books, and educational costs
• Up to $10,000 in SANS training and GIAC certifications
• Up to $4,500 for attendance at the Alan Paller Cyber Scholars event in Washington, D.C., and travel to onsite cyber research projects/conferences
• Total annual support per scholar: approximately $25,000
• 21 inaugural scholars selected in 2023-24

Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship (through SANS Technology Institute)

• Fully funded international scholarship for non-U.S. citizens from at-risk regions
• Full coverage of all tuition, materials, and GIAC certification exams
• Named in honor of Alan Paller
• Supports world-class cybersecurity education programs

Priority Areas

Based on identified grant recipients, the foundation supports:

• Cybersecurity Education: Scholarships and training programs for developing cybersecurity talent
• Arts & Culture: Support for performing arts organizations (e.g., Kennedy Center)
• Educational Research: Classified activity includes "Study and research (non-scientific)"

What They Don't Fund

Not publicly disclosed. As a private foundation without published guidelines, specific exclusions are not available.

Governance and Leadership

Marsha Mann Paller - President, Secretary, and Treasurer

• Wife of the late Alan Paller and co-founder of the SANS Institute in 1989
• Leads the foundation's strategic direction and grantmaking activities
• Commented on the launch of the Alan Paller Cyber Scholars program: The program continues Alan Paller's mission of preparing highly skilled defenders against today's complex cyber threats

Channing Paller - Vice President

• Daughter of Alan and Marsha Paller
• Medical oncologist at Johns Hopkins University

Alan Paller (1945-2021) - Founder's Legacy

• Died November 9, 2021, at age 76 at his home in Bethesda, MD
• Founded SANS Institute with wife Marsha in 1989
• Described as "a pioneer in the cybersecurity industry, championing the need for greater education and knowledge for practitioners"
• Also founded the National Cyber Scholarship Foundation to identify cybersecurity talent in high schools and colleges
• Washington Post obituary noted his legacy "in medical research and in the cyber workforce will be felt by many"

Leadership receives no compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Mann-Paller Foundation operates as a private foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion and established partnerships rather than accepting unsolicited applications.

Grants appear to be made through:

• Direct partnerships with institutions (e.g., University of Tulsa, SANS Technology Institute)
• Named programs established by the foundation
• Board-identified beneficiaries aligned with the foundation's mission

Getting on Their Radar

Cybersecurity Education Institutions: The foundation has established specific partnerships with universities and training institutes for cybersecurity programs. The University of Tulsa program demonstrates the foundation's interest in comprehensive cybersecurity scholarship programs that include not only tuition support but also professional development through SANS training, certifications, and networking opportunities.

SANS Institute Connection: Given the Paller family's founding role in SANS Institute, organizations with connections to SANS training programs or the cybersecurity education community may have pathways to the foundation's attention.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available due to the private nature of the foundation's grantmaking process.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. As the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable due to the invitation-only nature of the foundation's grantmaking.

Application Success Factors

Since the Mann-Paller Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following represents what can be inferred about their funding approach:

Cybersecurity Education Focus: The foundation's major identified initiative—the Alan Paller Cyber Scholars program—demonstrates a commitment to comprehensive support for cybersecurity students. The program goes beyond basic scholarships to include professional certifications (GIAC), industry training (SANS), and networking opportunities, suggesting the foundation values holistic talent development.

Legacy-Driven Mission: The foundation continues Alan Paller's work in cybersecurity education. As noted in his obituary, Paller's "combination of passion, intellect, and ethical rigor was instrumental in bringing more skilled people into the profession." Programs that align with this mission of developing skilled, ethical cybersecurity professionals appear to resonate with the foundation's values.

International Reach with Focused Impact: The Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship specifically targets "exceptionally talented people who are non-U.S. citizens from at-risk regions," indicating interest in global cybersecurity capacity building in vulnerable areas.

Multi-Year Commitment: The University of Tulsa program was described as a "two-year pilot," suggesting the foundation is willing to make sustained commitments to promising initiatives rather than one-time grants.

Established Institutional Partners: Known grants have gone to major institutions (Kennedy Center, University of Tulsa) and established organizations (SANS Technology Institute), suggesting preference for proven entities with strong track records.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No Public Application Process: This is not a foundation that accepts unsolicited proposals. Do not submit cold applications.

• Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Access to funding appears to require pre-existing relationships with foundation leadership or partnerships established through the cybersecurity education community.

• Cybersecurity Education is Primary Focus: The most visible and substantial grants support cybersecurity talent development, particularly through comprehensive scholarship programs.

• Legacy-Oriented: Programs that honor Alan Paller's mission of bringing more skilled, ethical practitioners into cybersecurity are likely to align with foundation priorities.

• Substantial Assets, Strategic Deployment: With nearly $91 million in assets and $3.5 million in annual giving, the foundation has significant resources but appears to deploy them strategically through selected partnerships rather than broad grantmaking.

• SANS Connection Matters: Given the family's founding role in SANS Institute and the integration of SANS training/GIAC certifications in scholarship programs, connections to the SANS ecosystem may be relevant.

• International Dimension: The foundation supports international students from at-risk regions, indicating global perspective in cybersecurity workforce development.

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Mann Paller Foundation Inc (Form 990 data, 2024 fiscal year): https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521316829 (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• University of Tulsa, "TU launches Alan Paller Cyber Scholars program": https://utulsa.edu/news/tu-launches-alan-paller-cyber-scholars-program/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• SANS Institute, "Paller Cybersecurity Scholarship Opens Doors to Global Cybersecurity Talent": https://www.sans.org/press/announcements/paller-cybersecurity-scholarship-opens-doors-global-cybersecurity-talent (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Federal News Network, "Obituary: Alan Paller": https://federalnewsnetwork.com/people/2021/11/obituary-alan-paller/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• The Washington Post, "Alan Paller, early leader in cybersecurity awareness, dies at 76" (November 2021): https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/alan-paller-early-leader-in-cybersecurity-awareness-dies-at-76/2021/11/29/845c2d50-46ea-11ec-b8d9-232f4afe4d9b_story.html (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Cause IQ - Mann-Paller Foundation profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/mann-paller-foundation,521316829/ (Accessed January 18, 2026)

• Candid Foundation Directory - Mann-Paller Foundation Inc: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=MANN032 (Accessed January 18, 2026)