Silver Valley Research Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: ~$12 million (based on 2021 documented activity)
• Success Rate: Not applicable (no public application process)
• Decision Time: Board discretion (no public timeline)
• Grant Range: Unknown (one documented $12 million grant in 2021)
• Geographic Focus: International (primarily Israel-focused based on documented grants)

Contact Details

• Website: None found
• Phone: Not publicly available
• Email: Not publicly available
• Management Firm: Sterling Foundation Management, LLC (Reston, VA)

Overview

Silver Valley Research Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public foundation established in 2021 and based in McLean, Virginia. With tax-exempt status granted in September 2021, the foundation operates under the management of Sterling Foundation Management, LLC. The foundation's stated mission focuses on furthering medical research and education while providing grants to other nonprofit organizations as determined by its board of directors. In 2021, the foundation channeled approximately $12 million from U.S. donors to international organizations, primarily through the Central Fund of Israel. The foundation operates without a public-facing presence and appears to function as a grant-making conduit for specific donor interests rather than maintaining traditional open grant programs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not maintain publicly advertised grant programs. All grants are made at board discretion without a public application process.

Priority Areas

Based on their mission statement and documented activities:

• Medical research advancement
• Public education for medical research
• Support for other nonprofit organizations (board-determined)

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are published due to the absence of public application guidelines.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is overseen by Sterling Foundation Management, LLC, described as "the oldest national private foundation management firm in the country." Sterling's employees serve on the Silver Valley board of directors, which makes all grant decisions. The foundation operates without independent staff, relying entirely on Sterling Foundation Management for administrative and governance functions. The board exercises complete discretion over grant allocations, with no published criteria or guidelines for funding decisions.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This funder does not have a public application process. Grants are awarded entirely at the board's discretion, likely based on donor direction or pre-existing relationships. The foundation provides no public contact information, application guidelines, or submission procedures.

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept public applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

As this foundation operates without a public application process and provides no contact information or guidelines, traditional application success factors do not apply. The foundation appears to function as a pass-through entity for specific donor interests, with all grant decisions made internally by the board without external input or solicitation.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Silver Valley Research Foundation is not accessible to grant writers through traditional application methods
• The foundation operates as a grant-making conduit without public-facing operations
• No website, contact information, or application guidelines are available
• All grants appear to be made through board discretion, potentially at donor direction
• The foundation's documented activity shows international grant-making, particularly to Israeli organizations
• Grant writers should not invest time pursuing funding from this foundation as there is no mechanism for unsolicited applications
• The foundation is managed by a third-party firm rather than having independent operations

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Silver Valley Research Foundation Profile. Accessed March 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/854350357
• Cause IQ - Silver Valley Research Foundation Overview. Accessed March 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/silver-valley-research-foundation,854350357/
• GuideStar - Silver Valley Research Foundation Profile (EIN: 85-4350357). Accessed March 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/85-4350357
• Shomrim Investigation - "Danchik and Kohelet: The Money Trail". Accessed March 2026. https://www.shomrim.news/eng/danchik-kohelet
• Sterling Foundation Management Website. Accessed March 2026. https://www.sterlingfoundations.com/
• Bizapedia - Silver Valley Research Foundation Virginia Corporation Record. Accessed March 2026. https://www.bizapedia.com/va/silver-valley-research-foundation.html