The Scherman Foundation Inc
The Scherman Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in New York, NY. It supports work advancing economic, political, and cultural transformation for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), with an emphasis on racial justice, organizing, power shifting, and movement building.
Key facts about The Scherman Foundation Inc
In short: The Scherman Foundation Inc gave $6.7M across 130 grants in 2024 (avg $52K), mostly in New York. 19% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 13-6098464
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $6,720,617
- Grants made (2024)
- 130
- Average grant
- $51,697
- Median grant
- $50,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (20 of 107, 2024)
- Total assets
- $111,698,013
- Primary geography
- New York (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to apply
- The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests in the form of Letters of Intent (LOIs); it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Full details ↓
- Deadline
- The stated 2026 LOI window is February 2 through April 17, 2026.
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
$111.7M
+3.6% YoY
Annual Giving
$6.7M
-4.6% YoY
Grant Count
130
-11.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$52K
+7.1% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Scherman Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $6.8M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is The Scherman Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 20 of 107 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $44K; repeat grants $67K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $60K repeat.
- 31% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+18%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 120% 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.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation’s mission is to invest in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for BIPOC communities to reclaim and build power. Its vision is a society that cultivates collective liberation and provides historically oppressed communities with the resources, autonomy, and capacities to thrive.
Its guidelines prioritize organizations accountable to or directed by BIPOC communities, organizations with intersectional work and practices, and organizations that collaborate to build movements toward racial justice. The Foundation describes political transformation in terms of racial justice movements, democratic participation, organizing, and policy change; economic transformation includes access to capital, economic security, and systemic change; and cultural transformation includes supporting BIPOC artists and communities to express themselves and tell their own stories.
The Foundation’s 2024 grants illustrate support for a range of organizations. For example, State Voices describes its work as using data, technology, nonpartisan campaigns, and leadership building to advance a multiracial democracy. BVM Capacity Building Institute says it provides information, training, and resources to build the capacity of community-based organizations working toward social justice. North Star Fund describes itself as supporting community organizing in New York and grassroots groups. LatinoJustice PRLDEF says it uses and challenges laws to advance racial justice and works on voting rights, immigrant rights, economic justice, criminal legal system reform, and leadership development.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the Foundation reported 130 grants totaling $6,720,617. Individual grants ranged from $34 to $225,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed awards included $225,000 to Tides Foundation for program/project support; $200,000 each to Arabella Advisors’ Windward Fund, In Our Own Voice National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice, and United Way of NYC, all for program/project support; and $150,000 to BVM Capacity Building Institute for general operating support.
Review Cycle
** The stated 2026 LOI window is February 2 through April 17, 2026. LOI decision notifications are scheduled for June 2026.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from The Scherman Foundation Inc
Scherman Foundation: Arts Program Grant
The Scherman Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Scherman Foundation: Democracy Program Grant
The Scherman Foundation Inc
Amount
US $40,000 - US $200,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Scherman Foundation: Environmental & Climate Justice Program Grant
The Scherman Foundation Inc
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Ready to take the next step with The Scherman Foundation Inc?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation is based in New York, and its Arts program supports organizations in New York City. Its Strengthening New York Communities program focuses on work in New York. In 2024, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in New York, followed by recipients in Washington, DC (14%), California (6%), Georgia (4%), and Pennsylvania (4%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 130 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
740 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| TIDES FOUNDATION San Francisco, CA | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT | $225,000 |
| ARABELLA ADVISORS' WINDWARD FUND Washington, DC | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| IN OUR OWN VOICE NATIONAL BLACK WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE Washington, DC | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| UNITED WAY OF NYC New York, NY | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT | $200,000 |
| BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE Atlanta, GA | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION New York, NY | YOUTH ORGANIZING & CULTURE CHANGE FUND | $150,000 |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION New York, NY | NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST FUND | $150,000 |
| STATE VOICES Washington, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $150,000 |
| NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS Chicago, IL | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT | $125,000 |
| NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE Brooklyn, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $125,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $111,698,013 | $13,319,729 | $9,456,059 | $6,720,617 |
| 2023 | $107,834,343 | $8,828,702 | $9,630,177 | $7,044,472 |
| 2022 | $108,635,818 | $1,302,378 | $9,382,866 | $6,688,060 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $111,698,013 | $107,834,343 | $108,635,818 |
| Revenue | $13,319,729 | $8,828,702 | $1,302,378 |
| Expenses | $9,456,059 | $9,630,177 | $9,382,866 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,132,024 | $8,443,655 | $7,936,120 |
| Net Investment Income | $12,146,512 | $7,720,418 | $70,472 |
| Distributable Amount | $6,756,021 | $6,147,205 | $6,778,077 |
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 Mitchell C. Pratt as President & CEO. Directors listed are Alexis Anderson-Reed, Rini Banerjee, Amy Bergtold, Miriam Buhl, Steven K. Choi, Rasu Jilani, Miles S. Rapoport, Marianna Schaffer, and Dr. Peter K. Sollins. Banerjee is also Treasurer, Schaffer is Chair, and Sollins is Secretary.
The Scherman Foundation Inc is led by Mitchell C. Pratt, President & CEO since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mitchell C. Pratt
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$268K (2020) → $335K (2024)
Marianna Schaffer
Director & Chair
Director & Board Chair-Elected June → Director & Board Chair, 2022
Director & Board Chair → Director & Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Bergtold
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miles S. Rapoport
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Miriam Buhl
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter K. Sollins
Director & Secretary
Director → Director & Secretary-Elected June, 2021
Director & Secretary-Elected June → Director & Secretary, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rini Banerjee
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven K. Choi
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexis Anderson-Reed
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rasu Jilani
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: Ibrahim Abdul-Matin (2023) — Director
- Former: Hillary Brown (2020–2022) — Director-
- Former: David R. Jones (2020–2021) — Director-
- Former: John Wroclawski (2020–2021) — Director-
- Former: Karen R. Sollins (2020–2021) — Director & Board Chair-
- Former: Susanna Bergtold (2020–2021) — Director & Secretary-
- Former: Gordon N. Litwin Esq. (2020) — Director
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
Application contact: Sami Stern
Mailing address: 16 E 52Nd St Ste 601, New York, NY 10022
Phone: (212) 832-3086
Email: info@scherman.org
Website: https://scherman.org
Frequently asked questions about The Scherman Foundation Inc
How much does The Scherman Foundation Inc give each year?
The Scherman Foundation Inc gave $6.7M across 130 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $7.0M across 146 grants.
What is The Scherman Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
The Scherman Foundation Inc's median grant in 2024 was $50,000, and its average grant was $51,697, across 130 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Scherman Foundation Inc that year got $44K on average.
Where does The Scherman Foundation Inc give grants?
The Scherman Foundation Inc gives mostly in New York: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and California (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (46 grants), Brooklyn, NY (21 grants), Washington, DC (9 grants) and Bronx, NY (8 grants).
Does The Scherman Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 77% of The Scherman Foundation Inc's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (100 of 130) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Recurring purposes include "Program/Project Support" (26 grants).
Who are The Scherman Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
The Scherman Foundation Inc's largest 2024 grantees include New York Foundation ($400,000 across 3 grants), Arabella Advisors' Windward Fund ($250,000 across 2 grants) and Tides Foundation ($225,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 13% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Scherman Foundation Inc?
The Scherman Foundation Inc reported $111.7M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $8.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $6.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Scherman Foundation Inc fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to invest in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for BIPOC communities to reclaim and build power. Its vision is a society that cultivates collective liberation and provides historically oppressed communities with the resources, autonomy, and capacities to thrive. Its guidelines prioritize organizations accountable to or directed by BIPOC communities, organizations with intersectional work and practices, and organizations that collaborate t…
How do I apply for a grant from The Scherman Foundation Inc?
The Foundation accepts unsolicited requests in the form of Letters of Intent (LOIs); it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Scherman Foundation Inc's EIN?
The Scherman Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-6098464. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does The Scherman Foundation Inc 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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