DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
DSF Charitable Foundation is the charitable-giving organization of the David Scaife family. The 2024 filing lists the foundation in Vero Beach, Florida, and identifies its filing type as a private foundation. The foundation says it seeks to promote excellence in health, human services, and education.
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: DSF Charitable Foundation Inc gave $6.3M across 25 grants in 2024 (avg $252K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,311,693
- +22.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 25
- -3.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $252,468
- +27.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $100,000
- Total assets
- $117,842,807
- +0.7% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 50% first-time grantees (12 of 24, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (70% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Initial inquiries may be submitted at any time by email as a signed letter from the applicant organization’s executive director or authorized representative, with no more than five additional pages of supporting material. The inquiry should provide general programmatic and financial information and a concise project description. Full proposals, when requested, must include a narrative, project budget, current operating budget, audited financial statements, and tax-exempt-status documentation; additional public-support-test documentation is required for organizations that do not qualify as statutory public charities. The foundation does not consider requests for individuals or endowments. It generally requires two years between the end of a grant period and consideration of a new request from the same organization, and between a declined request and a new submission.
- Review Cycle
- Inquiries may be submitted at any time; the Board of Trustees acts on requests three times per year.
- Deadline
- Inquiries may be submitted at any time; the Board of Trustees acts on requests three times per year.
- Contact
Application contact: Megan A Collins Senior Program Offi
Mailing address: 5846 Ellsworth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15232
Phone: (412) 362-6000
Email: info@dsfcf.org
Website: https://www.dsfcf.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
DSF Charitable Foundation: Education Grant
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
DSF Charitable Foundation: Health Grants
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
DSF Charitable Foundation: Human Services Grant
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who DSF Charitable Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Vincent College ($3.3M). Together the top 10 received $5.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
132 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 45 grants of 132 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its support as focused primarily on southwestern Pennsylvania. In 2024, 70% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 22% to recipients in Florida; recipients in North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Texas received the remainder.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 25 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is DSF Charitable Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 12 of 24 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 24 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $321K; repeat grants $205K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $100K repeat.
- 33% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 92% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.2M (2020) to $6.3M (2024). In 2024 it made 25 grants totaling $6.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Vincent College Lotrobe, PA | Bachelor of science in nursing program, nursing education building | $3,250,000 |
| East Coast Zoological Society Melbourne, FL | Program Support | $1,250,000 |
| Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens Pittsburgh, PA | Tropical Forest Hawai'i Exhibit | $204,193 |
| Wake Forest University Winston-Salem, NC | Engineering Scholarship Support | $150,000 |
| Verland Sewickley, PA | Capital Support | $145,500 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul Council of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Purchase of Box Truck | $120,000 |
| Leadership Pittsburgh Inc Pittsburgh, PA | Program Support | $107,000 |
| Mainstay Life Services Pittsburgh, PA | Capital Support | $100,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Disaster relief in Florida communities affected by hurricane helen | $100,000 |
| Samaritan's Purse Boone, NC | Disaster relief in Georgia and North Carolina communities affected by hurricane helen | $100,000 |
Ready to take the next step with DSF Charitable Foundation Inc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2023 and 2022 grant totals were reported across 26 and 27 grants, respectively.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $117,842,807 | $4,921,343 | $7,545,087 | $6,311,693 | 25 | $6,847,507 | $5,069,050 | $5,771,264 |
| 2023 | $117,000,454 | $2,637,616 | $8,143,892 | $5,154,916 | 26 | $5,753,881 | $2,883,138 | $5,626,901 |
| 2022 | $111,963,963 | $1,718,874 | $4,760,576 | $3,820,753 | 27 | $4,414,199 | $2,565,146 | $5,755,284 |
| 2021 | $128,062,886 | $3,512,807 | $5,196,227 | $3,290,125 | 28 | $3,863,572 | $9,971,816 | $5,864,948 |
| 2020 | $117,007,192 | $2,846,675 | $3,089,756 | $3,186,024 | 26 | — | $3,162,878 | $5,110,441 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, DSF Charitable Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $5.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated aim is to promote excellence in health, human services, and education. Its grants have included nursing education, engineering scholarships, program and capital support, disaster relief, and research related to progeria.
The grantees’ own descriptions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Saint Vincent College describes itself as an educational community providing undergraduate and graduate education; Verland says it supports residences and programs for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities; and the Progeria Research Foundation describes its mission as finding treatments and a cure for progeria and related aging disorders.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 25 grants totaling $6,311,693. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $3,250,000, with a median of $100,000.
The largest 2024 grant was $3,250,000 to Saint Vincent College for a bachelor of science in nursing program and nursing education building. Other notable awards included $1,250,000 to the East Coast Zoological Society for program support; $204,193 to Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens for a tropical forest Hawai‘i exhibit; $150,000 to Wake Forest University for engineering scholarship support; and $145,500 to Verland for capital support. The foundation also made two $100,000 grants to Samaritan’s Purse for disaster relief following Hurricane Helene, one for Florida communities and one for Georgia and North Carolina communities.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists David N. Scaife as chairman, Sanford B. Ferguson as vice chairman, Edward J. Goncz Sr. as treasurer, Sara D. Scaife as secretary, J. Nicholas Beldecos as executive director, and David G. Scaife and Sarah M. Scaife as trustees.
The foundation’s website lists David N. Scaife, David G. Scaife, Sanford B. Ferguson, Sara D. Scaife, Sarah M. Scaife, and Edward J. Goncz as trustees. It identifies David N. Scaife and Sara D. Scaife as co-executive directors and Megan A. Collins as senior program officer.
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc is led by J. Nicholas Beldecos, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; all 6 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
J. Nicholas Beldecos
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$255K (2020) → $268K (2024)
David G. Scaife
Chairman & Trustee
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Sarah M. Scaife
Trustee
On filings since 2022
3 hrs/week
$7K (2022) → $8K (2024)
Edward J. Goncz Sr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$24K (2020) → $24K (2024)
Sanford B. Ferguson
Vice Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$18K (2020) → $14K (2024)
Sara D. Scaife
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $8K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $268K, to J Nicholas Beldecos (Executive Director). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about DSF Charitable Foundation Inc
How much does DSF Charitable Foundation Inc give each year?
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc gave $6.3M across 25 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $5.2M across 26 grants.
What is DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $100,000, and its average grant was $252,468, across 25 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from DSF Charitable Foundation Inc that year got $321K on average.
Where does DSF Charitable Foundation Inc give grants?
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 70% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Florida (22%) and North Carolina (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (10 grants), Boone, NC (2 grants), Sewickley, PA (2 grants) and Vero Beach, FL (2 grants).
Does DSF Charitable Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Occasionally: 8% of DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (2 of 25) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (8 grants).
Who are DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include Saint Vincent College ($3,250,000), East Coast Zoological Society ($1,250,000) and Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens ($204,193), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 75% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is DSF Charitable Foundation Inc?
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc reported $117.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $6.8M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $5.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does DSF Charitable Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s stated aim is to promote excellence in health, human services, and education. Its grants have included nursing education, engineering scholarships, program and capital support, disaster relief, and research related to progeria. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from DSF Charitable Foundation Inc?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN?
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1847237. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does DSF Charitable Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). DSF Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dsf-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_5df0ba09d5bf4e1ebfd05060568771f2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251847237_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{DSF Charitable Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dsf-charitable-foundation-inc-morg_5df0ba09d5bf4e1ebfd05060568771f2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from DSF Charitable Foundation Inc's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
DSF Charitable Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?