Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its grant program is primarily directed toward public policy programs addressing major domestic and international issues, and it makes grants to publicly supported nonprofit charitable organizations.
Key facts about Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
In short: Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated gave $45.3M across 176 grants in 2024 (avg $257K), top state District of Columbia. 4% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 25-1113452
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $45,317,615
- Grants made (2024)
- 176
- Average grant
- $257,486
- Median grant
- $200,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (6 of 151, 2024)
- Total assets
- $588,176,917
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (37% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Full details ↓
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$588.2M
-3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$45.3M
+4.1% YoY
Grant Count
176
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$257K
+4.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated reported a distributable amount of $48.7M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated open to new grantees?
4%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 151 grantees (4%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $187K; repeat grants $305K. How we count
Medians: $127K first-time, $220K repeat.
- 91% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 98% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation describes its grant program as primarily supporting public policy programs that address major domestic and international issues. Its grants show support for organizations working in areas including tax policy, law and economics, national security, and foreign policy.
Among its 2024 grantees, the Tax Foundation says it works to advance simple, sensible tax policy through information and analysis. The American Foreign Policy Council says its purpose is to inform people who make or influence U.S. national security and foreign policy and to facilitate dialogue. The Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education describes its work as funding and advising university programs to advance academic and cultural renewal. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 176 grants totaling $45,317,615. Grants ranged from $27,000 to $1,200,000, with a median award of $200,000.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
Ready to take the next step with Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to recipients in Washington, DC (37%) and Virginia (18%), followed by California (8%), New York (6%), and Pennsylvania (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 176 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
898 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| HERITAGE FOUNDATION Washington, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,200,000 |
| BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE LELAND STANFORD JUNIOR UNIVERSITY THE Stanford, CA | HOOVER INSTITUTION ON WAR, REVOLUTION AND PEACE | $1,000,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR EXCELLENCE IN HIGHER EDUCATION INC Princeton, NJ | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $1,000,000 |
| FOUNDATION FOR GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY INC Naples, FL | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $800,000 |
| GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY FOUNDATION INC Fairfax, VA | LAW & ECONOMICS CENTER | $750,000 |
| COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC POLICY ALTERNATIVES THE Harrisburg, PA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| MANHATTAN INSTITUTE FOR POLICY RESEARCH INC New York, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| TAX FOUNDATION Washington, DC | PROGRAM SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| VICTIMS OF COMMUNISM MEMORIAL FOUNDATION INC Washington, DC | PROGRAM AND PROJECT SUPPORT | $600,000 |
| FEDERALIST SOCIETY FOR LAW & PUBLIC POLICY STUDIES Washington, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $550,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grant total | Grant count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $588,176,917 | $28,045,542 | $49,783,784 | $45,317,615 | 176 |
| 2023 | $610,288,544 | $40,773,564 | $49,769,077 | $43,533,180 | 176 |
| 2022 | $617,875,069 | $22,349,073 | $50,322,247 | $46,017,955 | 184 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $588,176,917 | $610,288,544 | $617,875,069 |
| Revenue | $28,045,542 | $40,773,564 | $22,349,073 |
| Expenses | $49,783,784 | $49,769,077 | $50,322,247 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $47,573,428 | $45,705,809 | $48,049,518 |
| Net Investment Income | $26,701,679 | $38,901,849 | $19,824,837 |
| Distributable Amount | $48,676,414 | $43,418,257 | $44,789,216 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Michael W. Gleba as Chairman/CEO, Treasurer, and Trustee; Montgomery B. Brown as Vice President; and Linda M. Buckley as Secretary and Assistant Treasurer. Trustees listed are T. Kenneth Cribb Jr., Edwin J. Feulner Jr., Roger Kimball, Eugene B. Meyer, Roger W. Robinson Jr., Christine J. Toretti, and Matthew A. Groll.
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated is led by Michael W. Gleba, Chairman, CEO, Treasurer & Trustee since 2021 (on filings since 2020); all 10 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Michael W. Gleba
Chairman, CEO, Treasurer & Trustee
Chairman, CEO & Trustee → Chairman, CEO, Treasurer & Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$607K (2020) → $747K (2024)
Christine J. Toretti
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $15K (2024)
Edwin J. Feulner Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Eugene B. Meyer
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Roger Kimball
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Roger W. Robinson Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $15K (2024)
T. Kenneth Cribb Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$12K (2020) → $20K (2024)
Matthew A. Groll
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$4K (2021) → $20K (2024)
Linda M. Buckley
Secretary & Assistant Treasurer
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$131K (2020) → $185K (2024)
Montgomery B. Brown
Vice President
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$296K (2020) → $422K (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: James C. Roddey (2020–2023) — Trustee
- Former: James M. Walton (2020–2021) — Trustee
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
Contact
Mailing address: 301 Grant St Ste 3900, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-6402
Phone: (412) 392-2900
Website: https://scaife.com
Frequently asked questions about Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
How much does Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated give each year?
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated gave $45.3M across 176 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $43.5M across 176 grants.
What is Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's typical grant size?
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's median grant in 2024 was $200,000, and its average grant was $257,486, across 176 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated that year got $187K on average.
Where does Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated give grants?
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's top state is District of Columbia, with 37% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Virginia (18%) and California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (62 grants), Arlington, VA (13 grants), New York, NY (9 grants) and Fairfax, VA (5 grants).
Does Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated give general operating support?
Yes: 52% of Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (91 of 176) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program Support" (21 grants) and "Project Support" (8 grants).
Who are Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's largest grantees?
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's largest 2024 grantees include Heritage Foundation ($1,950,000 across 3 grants), George Mason University Foundation Inc ($1,555,000 across 4 grants) and American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research ($1,500,000 across 5 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated?
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated reported $588.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $47.6M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $48.7M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated fund?
The Foundation describes its grant program as primarily supporting public policy programs that address major domestic and international issues. Its grants show support for organizations working in areas including tax policy, law and economics, national security, and foreign policy. Among its 2024 grantees, the Tax Foundation says it works to advance simple, sensible tax policy through information and analysis. The American Foreign Policy Council says its purpose is to inform people who make or …
How do I apply for a grant from Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's EIN?
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1113452. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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