Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its grant program is primarily directed toward public policy programs addressing major domestic and international issues.
Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated at a glance
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.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $45,317,615
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 176
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $257,486
- +4.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $200,000
- Total assets
- $588,176,917
- -3.6% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 4% first-time grantees (6 of 151, 2024)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (37% 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 Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from organizations that have not previously received a grant, but requires them to be submitted in hard copy; it does not consider electronic requests from these applicants. Organizations that have previously received a grant or have been pre-vetted by foundation staff must use the online submission portal. Applications should include a cover letter signed by the organization’s president or authorized representative confirming board approval, the requested amount, and a concise description of the organization and any proposed project; a proposal narrative with a one-page executive summary; and, when applicable, a narrative and financial report on a prior grant. Other required materials include the organization’s current annual budget, project budget and timetable if applicable, audited financial statements, unaudited balance sheet and revenue-and-expense statement for the most recently concluded fiscal year when needed, current Form 990, most recent annual report, a list of officers and directors with affiliations, a list of key or major supporters, and the most recent IRS evidence of 501(c)(3) status. The foundation may request additional information. It routinely declines requests for event sponsorships, endowments, capital campaigns, building projects, government agencies, and organizations primarily dependent on government funds.
- Review Cycle
- The foundation meets four times a year to consider applications. Proposals may be submitted at any time.
- Deadline
- The foundation meets four times a year to consider applications.
- Contact
Application contact: Michael W Gleba Chairman And Ceo
Mailing address: 301 Grant St One Oxford Ctr Ste3900, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-6402
Phone: (412) 392-2900
Website: https://scaife.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated
Who Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Heritage Foundation ($1.9M across 3 grants). Together the top 10 received $11.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
898 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $100–250K range: 392 grants of 898 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing shows grant dollars going to recipients in multiple states and the District of Columbia. The largest reported shares were DC (37%), Virginia (18%), California (8%), New York (6%), and Pennsylvania (5%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 176 itemized grants.
States
Cities
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.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $39.2M (2020) to $46.0M (2022). In 2024 it made 176 grants totaling $45.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Heritage Foundation Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $1,200,000 |
| The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University 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 |
| The Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives 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 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $588,176,917 | $28,045,542 | $49,783,784 | $45,317,615 | 176 | $47,573,428 | $26,701,679 | $48,676,414 |
| 2023 | $610,288,544 | $40,773,564 | $49,769,077 | $43,533,180 | 176 | $45,705,809 | $38,901,849 | $43,418,257 |
| 2022 | $617,875,069 | $22,349,073 | $50,322,247 | $46,017,955 | 184 | $48,049,518 | $19,824,837 | $44,789,216 |
| 2021 | $645,014,499 | $79,121,296 | $50,116,578 | $44,882,983 | 180 | $46,767,204 | $78,149,332 | $48,908,682 |
| 2020 | $615,861,048 | $67,893,408 | $43,048,268 | $39,226,079 | 182 | — | $66,792,863 | $41,048,690 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that its grant program primarily supports public policy programs addressing major domestic and international issues. Its 2024 grants included general operating support and projects in areas such as national security, law and economics, tax policy, and the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace.
Grantees describe their own work in varied terms. The Tax Foundation says it works to improve lives through tax policies that promote economic growth and opportunity. The Federalist Society says it promotes principles concerning freedom, separation of powers, and the role of the judiciary. The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation says it educates future generations about communism and advocates for people held captive by communist regimes.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 176 grants totaling $45,317,615. Itemized grants ranged from $27,000 to $1,200,000, with a median of $200,000.
Among the largest 2024 awards were $1,200,000 to the Heritage Foundation for general operating support; $1,000,000 to the Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University for the Hoover Institution on War, Revolution and Peace; and $1,000,000 to the Foundation for Excellence in Higher Education for general operating support. Other awards included $800,000 to the Foundation for Government Accountability for general operating support, $750,000 to George Mason University Foundation for its Law & Economics Center, and $600,000 each to the Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, Tax Foundation, and Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation.
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
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $747K, to Michael W Gleba (Chairman/CEO, Treasurer & Trustee). 10 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
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). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated fund?
The foundation states that its grant program primarily supports public policy programs addressing major domestic and international issues. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests from organizations that have not previously received a grant, but requires them to be submitted in hard copy; it does not consider electronic requests from these applicants. 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 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). Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sarah-scaife-foundation-incorporated-morg_7a1b836197e1454aa491797f57fa5551
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_251113452_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sarah-scaife-foundation-incorporated-morg_7a1b836197e1454aa491797f57fa5551},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 Sarah Scaife Foundation Incorporated'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.
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