The Sellier Family Foundation concentrates almost all of its giving on Catholic education and local Catholic institutions in the Washington, D.C./Northern Virginia area. Their grants fund parish infrastructure (notably cathedral renovations), college and university scholarship programs, and secondary school scholarship/endowment support, typically through repeated, sizable donations to the same institutions.
A defining feature of the Sellier Family Foundation is its repeated support for Catholic education and Catholic institutions in the Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia area. The largest recent grants center on the Cathedral of St Thomas Moore renovations through the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, including awards of $250,000 in both 2024 and 2025 and $100,000 in 2023. That same multi-year pattern appears in school giving: The Heights School received support for the Crescite Fund and Cavalier Scholarship Program in 2023, 2024, and 2025, while Catholic University of America received annual Impact Scholarships grants across those same years. The foundation’s portfolio also includes smaller grants for community-based Catholic and faith-related organizations, along with event sponsorships tied to fundraising and local engagement. Across the recent grants list, the pattern is consistent: recurring awards, institution-specific purposes, and a concentration on scholarship support, parish facilities, and affiliated Catholic programming.
A major share of the foundation’s giving goes to Catholic school scholarships. The Heights School in Potomac received $205,000 in 2023 and $195,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for the Crescite Fund and Cavalier Scholarship Program. Catholic University of America in Washington, DC received $100,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for Impact Scholarships, and Marquette University in Milwaukee received $5,000 in 2024 and $5,000 in 2025 for scholarships. The foundation also funds parish and cathedral capital work. Catholic Diocese of Arlington in Arlington received $100,000 in 2023 and $250,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for Cathedral of St Thomas Moore renovations. Beyond education and facilities, it supports community-facing Catholic organizations and events, including Youth for Tomorrow in Bristow for Heart to Heart and Country Fair sponsorships and Divine Mercy Care in Fairfax for annual gala sponsorships.
Typical grant size ranges from $7,250 at the 25th percentile to $19,500 at the median and $100,000 at the 75th percentile, showing a mix of smaller operating or sponsorship gifts and larger institutional awards. The foundation gives repeatedly to the same recipients across multiple years, especially in education and cathedral renovation. It uses a family foundation structure and also funds individuals. Grant purposes include capital improvements, scholarships, general operations, and event sponsorships; the recent record does not show an application process.
$573K
$8.7M
$950K
$607K
Most grants fall between $7K and $100K, with a median of $20K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$20K
75th Percentile
$100K
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Highly concentrated giving: a small number of large, repeat grants to a few longtime Catholic grantees rather than many small or geographically diverse awards.
Notable grantees: Catholic Diocese of Arlington, The Heights School, Catholic University of America
Grant recipients are concentrated in the Washington, DC region and nearby Virginia and Maryland communities. Arlington, VA appears multiple times, along with Potomac, MD; Washington, DC; Bristow, VA; Fairfax, VA; Bethesda, MD; Herndon, VA; Leesburg, VA; and Reston, VA. Virginia is the top state by grant count, and 44% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. All recent grants in the provided list are to US recipients.
Its recent grants focus on Catholic education and local Catholic institutions. The clearest patterns are scholarship support for schools and universities, cathedral and parish renovation work, and sponsorships or operating support for faith-based organizations in the Washington, DC and Northern Virginia area.
Yes. The Heights School, Catholic University of America, and the Catholic Diocese of Arlington each received grants in multiple years. The Heights School was funded in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Catholic University of America in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and the diocese in 2023, 2024, and 2025.
The 25th percentile is $7,250, the median is $19,500, and the 75th percentile is $100,000. That spread indicates the foundation makes both modest support grants and larger awards for scholarship and capital projects.
Virginia receives the most grants, and 44% of grants go to recipients in Virginia. Recent recipients are also in nearby Washington, DC and Maryland communities such as Potomac, Arlington, Fairfax, Bethesda, Herndon, Bristow, Leesburg, and Reston.
The listed purposes include cathedral renovations, scholarship programs, general operations, annual gala sponsorships, country fair sponsorships, and general contributions. Education and parish-related work make up the most visible recurring purposes.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL | POTOMAC, MD | $195,000 | 2026 | CRESCITE FUND AND CAVALIER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2026 | IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| YOUTH FOR TOMORROW | BRISTOW, VA | $75,000 | 2026 | BURGUNDY AND GOLD APPEAL BID AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIP |
| FOCUS MISSION FOUNDATION | GOLDEN, CO | $75,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| AMBASSADOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | HUNTERSVILLE, NC | $50,000 | 2026 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| A WOMAN'S CHOICE | FALLS CHURCH, VA | $28,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY | LEESBURG, VA | $25,000 | 2026 | ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP |
| SCHOLAR CHIPS | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| AMURT FOOD FOR ALL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $7,000 | 2026 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2026 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| HOPE CAM | RESTON, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL PURPOSES |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2025 | CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS MOORE RENOVATIONS |
| THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL | POTOMAC, MD | $195,000 | 2025 | CRESCITE FUND AND CAVALIER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| YOUTH FOR TOMORROW | BRISTOW, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | HEART TO HEART AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIPS |
| AMBASSADOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL | HUNTERSVILLE, NC | $50,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| SCHOLAR CHIPS | WASHINGTON, DC | $12,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY | LEESBURG, VA | $7,500 | 2025 | ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP |
| AMURT FOOD FOR ALL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $7,000 | 2025 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON | ARLINGTON, VA | $250,000 | 2024 | CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS MOORE RENOVATIONS |
| THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL | POTOMAC, MD | $195,000 | 2024 | CRESCITE FUND AND CAVALIER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2024 | IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| YOUTH FOR TOMORROW | BRISTOW, VA | $50,000 | 2024 | HEART TO HEART AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIPS |
| A WOMANS CHOICE | HERNDON, VA | $19,500 | 2024 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| OUR LADY OF BETHESDA RETREAT CENTER | BETHESDA, MD | $8,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| AMURT FOOD FOR ALL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $7,000 | 2024 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY | MILWAUKEE, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | SCHOLARSHIPS |
| DIVINE MERCY CARE | FAIRFAX, VA | $2,000 | 2024 | ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP |
| THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL | POTOMAC, MD | $205,000 | 2023 | CRESCITE FUND AND CAVALIER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2023 | IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS |
| CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON | ARLINGTON, VA | $100,000 | 2023 | CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS MOORE RENOVATIONS |
| YOUTH FOR TOMORROW | BRISTOW, VA | $60,000 | 2023 | HEART TO HEART AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIPS |
| AMURT FOOD FOR ALL | ROCKVILLE, MD | $12,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| DIVINE MERCY CARE | FAIRFAX, VA | $10,000 | 2023 | ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP |
| OUR LADY OF BETHESDA RETREAT CENTER | BETHESDA, MD | $8,000 | 2023 | GENERAL CONTRIBUTION |
| A WOMANS CHOICE | HERNDON, VA | $3,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
| HOPECAM FOR KID WITH CANCER | RESTON, VA | $1,000 | 2023 | GENERAL OPERATIONS |
THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL
$195,000CRESCITE FUND AND CAVALIER SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
$100,000IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS
YOUTH FOR TOMORROW
$75,000BURGUNDY AND GOLD APPEAL BID AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIP
FOCUS MISSION FOUNDATION
$75,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
AMBASSADOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
A WOMAN'S CHOICE
$28,000GENERAL PURPOSES
TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY
$25,000ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP
SCHOLAR CHIPS
$12,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
AMURT FOOD FOR ALL
$7,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
HOPE CAM
$1,000GENERAL PURPOSES
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
$250,000CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS MOORE RENOVATIONS
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
$100,000IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS
YOUTH FOR TOMORROW
$50,000HEART TO HEART AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIPS
AMBASSADOR CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
$50,000GENERAL OPERATIONS
SCHOLAR CHIPS
$12,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
TRINITY HOUSE COMMUNITY
$7,500ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP
AMURT FOOD FOR ALL
$7,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
$250,000CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS MOORE RENOVATIONS
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
$100,000IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS
YOUTH FOR TOMORROW
$50,000HEART TO HEART AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIPS
A WOMANS CHOICE
$19,500GENERAL OPERATIONS
OUR LADY OF BETHESDA RETREAT CENTER
$8,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
AMURT FOOD FOR ALL
$7,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
DIVINE MERCY CARE
$2,000ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP
CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA
$100,000IMPACT SCHOLARSHIPS
CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF ARLINGTON
$100,000CATHEDRAL OF ST THOMAS MOORE RENOVATIONS
YOUTH FOR TOMORROW
$60,000HEART TO HEART AND COUNTRY FAIR SPONSORSHIPS
AMURT FOOD FOR ALL
$12,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
DIVINE MERCY CARE
$10,000ANNUAL GALA SPONSORSHIP
OUR LADY OF BETHESDA RETREAT CENTER
$8,000GENERAL CONTRIBUTION
A WOMANS CHOICE
$3,000GENERAL OPERATIONS