The Seaman Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $9,848,000 (2023)
• Grant Range: $18,000 - $3,000,000
• Total Assets: $1,343,223 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 10-12 annually
• Geographic Focus: Primarily Atlanta, GA metropolitan area; also Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania
• Founded: 2000

Contact Details

Address: Seffner, FL

Note: Contact information is not publicly available. This is a private family foundation.

Overview

The Seaman Foundation Inc (also known as The Seaman Family Foundation) is a private family foundation established in 2000 and based in Seffner, Florida. With total assets of approximately $1.3 million and annual giving of nearly $10 million in 2023, the foundation operates with significant contributions flowing through to charitable distributions. The foundation is led by Jeffrey Seaman (founder and CEO of Rooms To Go), his wife Julie Seaman (an associate professor emerita at Emory University School of Law), and Jamie Sheer. The foundation focuses its giving on education, healthcare, Jewish community organizations, civil rights and social justice, and uses golf to improve life outcomes for young men of color. Despite being based in Florida, the foundation's grantmaking is heavily concentrated in the Atlanta, Georgia metropolitan area, reflecting the family's connections to that region.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not have named grant programs but makes discretionary grants across several priority areas. Grants typically range from $18,000 to $3,000,000, with a median grant size of approximately $75,000.

Priority Areas

Healthcare: Major support for healthcare institutions, particularly neuroscience services

• Recent example: Piedmont Healthcare Foundation ($3,000,000) to enhance neuroscience services throughout Georgia

Education: Universities and law schools, particularly institutions with family connections

• Recent examples: University of Pennsylvania ($2,080,000), Emory University Law School ($18,000 for public interest committee)

Jewish Community Organizations: Significant ongoing support for Jewish community services

• Recent example: Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta ($990,000-$2,150,000) for community services and critical needs

Civil Rights and Social Justice: Organizations working to prevent wrongful convictions

• Recent example: Georgia Innocence Project ($300,000-$600,000) to support prevention of wrongful conviction

Youth Development Through Golf: Programs using golf to improve life outcomes for young men of color (stated mission, specific recipients not publicly documented)

Geographic Focus

• Primary: Atlanta, GA metropolitan area
• Secondary: Other parts of Georgia, Florida, Pennsylvania, California, Texas
• Concentrated: Southeastern United States

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not appear to fund:

• International programs (U.S.-focused giving)
• Individual scholarships or financial aid to individuals
• Political campaigns or lobbying organizations

Governance and Leadership

Jeffrey Seaman - President and Director

• Founder, President, and CEO of Rooms To Go (nation's largest independent furniture retailer)
• 1983 graduate of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
• Known philanthropist supporting healthcare, education, and community causes
• Made a $1 million personal gift to Piedmont Healthcare in 2020 to support COVID-19 response
• Resides in Atlanta, Georgia

Julie Seaman - Secretary and Director

• Associate Professor of Law Emerita, Emory University School of Law
• Former Associate Dean for Academic Affairs at Emory Law
• 1986 graduate of University of Pennsylvania College of Arts & Sciences
• Long-time board member and former chair of Georgia Innocence Project (served since 2008)
• University of Pennsylvania Trustee and Chair of Board of Advisors for School of Arts and Sciences
• Established with Jeffrey the Seaman Family University Professorship at University of Pennsylvania

Jamie Sheer - Treasurer and Director

• Also serves as officer of the Rooms to Go Foundation
• Family connection to the Seamans

Compensation: No officers receive compensation from the foundation.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. The foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds, though they may be open to introductory materials.

Grants appear to be awarded at the discretion of the board of directors, with a strong preference for organizations with which the family has existing relationships or personal connections (particularly through Jeffrey Seaman's business connections, Julie Seaman's academic and legal networks, and the family's involvement in the Atlanta community).

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. The foundation appears to make grants on a rolling basis throughout the year rather than following fixed deadlines.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - grants are made by invitation or trustee discretion only.

Application Success Factors

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, their giving patterns reveal clear priorities:

Strong Personal Connections: The foundation heavily supports organizations where family members have direct involvement:

• Julie Seaman's long-term board service to Georgia Innocence Project correlates with substantial ongoing funding
• Both Jeffrey and Julie's connections to University of Pennsylvania result in major gifts
• Julie's position at Emory Law School aligns with grants to Emory programs
• Jeffrey's healthcare philanthropy through personal gifts extends to foundation grants to Piedmont Healthcare

Atlanta-Area Focus: Despite being based in Florida, the vast majority of grants support Atlanta-area institutions, reflecting where the family resides and maintains professional/community ties.

Large-Scale Impact: The foundation appears to favor significant grants that can make transformative impact rather than many small grants. Recent grants have ranged from $18,000 to $3,000,000, with major recipients receiving six- and seven-figure support.

Mission Alignment with Personal Values:

• Social justice (reflected in Georgia Innocence Project support)
• Healthcare advancement (neuroscience services)
• Jewish community strengthening (Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta)
• Education and public interest law (Emory Law School, University of Pennsylvania)

Institutional Credibility: All documented recipients are well-established, reputable institutions with track records of impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process: This foundation operates on trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships only. Unsolicited proposals are not accepted.
• Personal connections are essential: Grants appear closely tied to board members' professional networks, community involvement, and institutional affiliations.
• Atlanta focus despite Florida location: The foundation's grantmaking heavily favors Atlanta-area organizations, where the Seaman family resides and maintains deep community ties.
• Capacity for major gifts: The foundation makes relatively few grants but can provide substantial funding ($300,000 to $3,000,000+) to priority organizations.
• Multi-year relationships likely: Recipients like Georgia Innocence Project and Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta appear to receive repeated support, suggesting the foundation values ongoing partnerships.
• Strategic philanthropy: Grants align with board members' expertise and involvement (law, education, healthcare, social justice, Jewish community).
• Consider the Rooms to Go Foundation: Organizations seeking support from the Seaman family might also research the separate Rooms to Go Foundation (EIN 65-0878894), which Jeffrey Seaman also directs and which focuses on health organizations and children/youth services.

References

1. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Seaman Foundation Inc (EIN 59-3631102), accessed January 20, 2026: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/593631102
2. Cause IQ - The Seaman Family Foundation profile, accessed January 20, 2026: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-seaman-family-foundation,593631102/
3. Grantmakers.io - The Seaman Foundation Inc Profile, accessed January 20, 2026: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/593631102-the-seaman-foundation-inc/
4. GrantStation - The Seaman Family Foundation, accessed January 20, 2026: https://grantstation.com/grantmakers/seaman-family-foundation
5. University of Pennsylvania - Julie Breier Seaman and Jeffrey Seaman Endowed Professors page, accessed January 20, 2026: https://web.sas.upenn.edu/endowed-professors/julie-breier-seaman-jeffrey-seaman/
6. Emory University School of Law - Julie Seaman faculty profile, accessed January 20, 2026: https://law.emory.edu/faculty/faculty-profiles/seaman-profile.html
7. Piedmont Healthcare - "Rooms to Go Founder Jeff Seaman Makes $1 Million Gift," accessed January 20, 2026: https://www.piedmont.org/about-piedmont-healthcare/media-room/stories/news-article?story=4400&type=1
8. Georgia Innocence Project - Our Team page (Julie Seaman board service), accessed January 20, 2026: https://www.georgiainnocenceproject.org/about/our-team/
9. Emory Lawyer - "Evidence of Innocence" (Julie Seaman profile), Fall 2019, accessed January 20, 2026: https://law.emory.edu/lawyer/issues/2019/fall/features/evidence-of-innocence/index.html