The Schleyer Foundation
The Schleyer Foundation is a private foundation established in 2002 and based in Rye Beach, New Hampshire. It operates as a family foundation governed by trustees including William T. Schleyer and his family members. The foundation supports area nonprofits, provides scholarships to students at private secondary schools and universities, and in recent years has expanded its mission to include historic preservation projects that benefit the nonprofit sector.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$19.9M
+14.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$964K
+6.7% YoY
Grant Count
45
+12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$21K
-5.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Schleyer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's initial focus areas include:
- Supporting area nonprofits
- Providing scholarships to students at private secondary schools and universities
- Relieving debt burdens of recent medical school graduates who commit to practicing in underserved urban areas
- Historic renovations that benefit the nonprofit sector and strengthen community vibrancy
- Preserving local history
Grantmaking
The foundation established the Schleyer Scholars Fund in 2007 through a gift from William T. Schleyer and his wife Mary. This fund supports undergraduate students with financial need, with preference for students in the College of Engineering at Drexel University. The fund has supported 30 students to date and provides assistance beyond tuition, including support for summer programs, tutoring, textbooks, computers, lab fees, and co-op living expenses.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in New Hampshire, Maine, and Pennsylvania, which account for 66% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states, with concentrated activity in New Hampshire.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total assets: $17,457,136
- Total revenues: $3,898,803
- Total expenses: $1,049,863
- Total grants, contributions, etc.: $2,232,745
- Investment income and dividends: $474,211
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $1,015,392
- Miscellaneous revenues: $176,455
Year-over-Year Changes (2023 vs. 2022):
- Total grants and contributions increased 158.7%
- Investment income and dividends increased 38.9%
- Net gain from asset sales increased 58%
Historical Assets: Total assets have grown from $9.5 million in 2011 to $19.9 million in 2024.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $19,925,726 | $17,457,136 | $14,361,669 |
| Revenue | $5,260,163 | $3,898,803 | $1,858,054 |
| Expenses | $1,109,933 | $1,049,863 | $704,658 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $971,500 | $923,054 | $573,275 |
| Net Investment Income | $3,099,511 | $2,613,408 | $913,542 |
| Distributable Amount | $1,410,694 | $1,152,060 | $1,065,381 |
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
192 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Drexel University ($300,000), GoodWork ($147,000), Berwick Academy ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Amherst College Amherst, MA | General | $20,000 |
| Arts in Reach Portsmouth, NH | General | $5,000 |
| Berwick Academy South Berwick, ME | General | $100,000 |
| Blue Ocean Society Portsmouth, NH | General | $20,000 |
| Cross Roads House Portsmouth, NH | General | $5,000 |
| Direct Relief Int'l Santa Barbara, CA | General | $5,000 |
| Drexel University Philadelphia, PA | General | $300,000 |
| Education for All Children (EFAC) Rye, NH | General | $2,000 |
| Exeter Hospital Exeter, NH | General | $25,000 |
| First Tee Monterey County Salinas, CA | General | $3,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Trustees:
- William T. Schleyer (Principal Officer) — Drexel University alumnus (BS in Mechanical Engineering, Class of '73; Honorary Doctorate, '06) with an MBA from Harvard Business School. He had a distinguished career in the cable television industry and held leadership positions at several media companies. He served on Drexel University's Board of Trustees.
- Mary Schleyer — Co-founder with William T. Schleyer
- Will Schleyer — Son, appointed as trustee in 2022
- Edward Schleyer — Son, appointed as trustee in 2022
- David Schleyer — Son, appointed as trustee in 2022
- Dave Schleyer — Trustee
The foundation was amended in 2022 to allow for the appointment of the Schleyers' sons as trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| William T Schleyer | Trustee | 2 | — |
| Mary Zygala | Trustee | 2 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has expanded its mission in recent years to include historic preservation projects. It submitted a proposal to the City of Portsmouth for the reuse of the South Meeting House, demonstrating its commitment to preserving local history while strengthening community vibrancy through historic renovations that benefit the nonprofit sector.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Schleyer Foundation fund?
The foundation's initial focus areas include: • Supporting area nonprofits • Providing scholarships to students at private secondary schools and universities • Relieving debt burdens of recent medical school graduates who commit to practicing in underserved urban areas • Historic renovations that benefit the nonprofit sector and strengthen community vibrancy • Preserving local history
How do I apply for a grant from The Schleyer Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 36 grants in 2023 • Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $300,000 • Average award: $18,000 • Median grant: $5,000 • Total grants made: 114 grants totaling $2 million (across available records) **Recent Grants (2023):** • Drexel University: $300,000 • GoodWork: $169,054 • Berwick Academy: $100,000 **Notable Initiatives:** The foundation established the Schleyer Scholars Fund in 2007 through a gift from William T. Schleyer and his wife Mary. This fund supports und…
Where does The Schleyer Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in New Hampshire, Maine, and Pennsylvania, which account for 66% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 12 states, with concentrated activity in New Hampshire.
What size grants does The Schleyer Foundation award?
In 2024, The Schleyer Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $964K — an average of about $21K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Schleyer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Schleyer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Schleyer Foundation's EIN?
The Schleyer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-6132358. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Schleyer Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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