The Scherman Foundation invests in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to reclaim and build power.
The Scherman Foundation Inc channels most of its recent grantmaking toward BIPOC-led organizations building political, economic, and cultural power, with a strong emphasis on reproductive justice, democracy, environmental justice, and New York community organizing. Among its larger recent awards, it gave $250,000 to the Progressive Multiplier Fund for building power for reproductive justice through independent revenue generation, and another $250,000 the prior year for a reproductive justice cohort. That pattern sits alongside support for collaborative intermediaries and community funds rather than only single-site projects. The foundation also uses multi-year, recurring support to back organizations working across New York City and the state. Recent awards include $225,000 to Tides Foundation for program/project support, $200,000 to United Way of NYC for program/project support, and $150,000 to the New York Foundation for the Neighborhoods First Fund. Its portfolio shows a mix of general operating support, pooled funds, and project support, with many grants aimed at movement infrastructure, voter engagement, climate resilience, and cultural change.
In reproductive justice, the foundation backed In Our Own Voice National Black Women's Reproductive Justice with $200,000 for program/project support in 2025 and also supported the Progressive Multiplier Fund's reproductive justice cohort and independent revenue work. In democracy work, it gave $200,000 to the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health for the National Reproductive Justice Voter Mobilization Collaboration, and $150,000 to State Voices for general operating support. Its environmental and climate justice grantmaking reached The Climate and Clean Energy Equity Fund with $225,000 for general operating support, and the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance with $125,000 for general operating support. In housing and tenant-rights work, the fund made a $150,000 grant to the Fund for the City of New York for the Right to Counsel NYC Coalition, reflecting support for coalition-based advocacy.
Typical grants cluster around a middle of $47,500, with a lower quartile of $5,000 and an upper quartile of $73,750. The recent list also shows repeated support to the same intermediaries and coalitions across multiple years, including New York Foundation, State Voices, and United Way of NYC. The Scherman Foundation Inc is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it funds individuals. Core support appears alongside project grants, pooled funds, and change-capital style awards. The foundation accepts unsolicited LOI requests through its Core Grantmaking stream, while several program areas do not accept unsolicited applications.
$6.7M
$111.7M
$13.3M
$9.5M
Most grants fall between $5K and $74K, with a median of $48K.
25th Percentile
$5K
Median
$48K
75th Percentile
$74K
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Grants are heavily concentrated in New York, which accounts for 67% of recipients in the HQ state and is also the top state by grant count. Recent New York recipients include United Way of NYC in New York City, the New York Foundation in New York, the Fund for the City of New York in New York City, Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition in the Bronx, and New York City Environmental Justice Alliance in Brooklyn. Outside New York, the foundation has supported groups in Washington, DC, San Francisco, Chicago, and Atlanta. All recorded recipient-country data is in the United States.
Its active programs center on Arts, Democracy, Environmental & Climate Justice, Reproductive Justice, and Strengthening New York Communities. The foundation’s stated strategy emphasizes economic, political, and cultural transformation for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color, with support for BIPOC-led or BIPOC-accountable organizations.
Yes, through Core Grantmaking, which is described as the foundation’s primary grantmaking stream and accepts unsolicited LOI requests. Several other active programs, including Democracy, Environmental & Climate Justice, Reproductive Justice, and Arts, are marked as not accepting unsolicited requests.
The grant-size distribution centers at a median of $47,500, with a lower quartile of $5,000 and an upper quartile of $73,750. Recent awards also show larger support for coalitions and intermediaries, including multiple $150,000, $200,000, $225,000, and $250,000 grants.
New York is the top state by grant count, and 67% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent New York recipients include organizations in New York City, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and New York more broadly.
The recent grants list shows repeat support for New York Foundation, State Voices, United Way of NYC, and Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition across multiple years. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships and continued support for coalition-based work rather than one-time awards only.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Scherman Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Organizations must have 501(c)(3) charitable status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. The foundation does not consider grants for specific events or productions, direct service work unless embedded in organizing and movement building, or organizations primarily working outside the U.S.
Deadline: LOI process next opens in February 2027.
Who can apply: Organizations should be locally based, rooted in their communities, trusted sources of information, and building year-round civic engagement infrastructure. National and multi-state organizations may be considered if they provide essential capacity-building or unique policy, narrative, advocacy, or financial support to local grassroots organizations. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status.
Deadline: LOI process next opens in February 2027.
Who can apply: Organizations must have 501(c)(3) charitable status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status. The foundation does not consider organizations primarily working outside the U.S. or direct service work unless embedded in movement building.
Deadline: LOI process next opens in February 2027.
Who can apply: Supports multi-issue, BIPOC, community-based organizations or coalitions with a primary focus on racial justice and climate sustainability; also supports a limited number of policy, legal, and technical support organizations allied with frontline groups. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status.
Deadline: LOI process next opens in February 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TIDES FOUNDATION | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $225,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF NYC | NEW YORK, NY | $200,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| IN OUR OWN VOICE NATIONAL BLACK WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| ARABELLA ADVISORS' WINDWARD FUND | WASHINGTON, DC | $200,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST FUND |
| BVM CAPACITY BUILDING INSTITUTE | ATLANTA, GA | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| STATE VOICES | WASHINGTON, DC | $150,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $150,000 | 2025 | YOUTH ORGANIZING & CULTURE CHANGE FUND |
| NEW YORK CITY ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ALLIANCE | BROOKLYN, NY | $125,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR NEW AMERICANS | CHICAGO, IL | $125,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NORTHWEST BRONX COMMUNITY AND CLERGY COALITION | BRONX, NY | $110,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| DEMOS | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE NATIONAL LATINA INSTITUTE FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| URGE UNITE FOR REPRODUCTIVE & GENDER EQUITY (FKA CHOICE USA) | WASHINGTON, DC | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PRATT INSTITUTE DBA PRATT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE NEW YORK IMMIGRATION COALITION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE NEW YORK COMMUNITY TRUST | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NORTH STAR FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NEW YORK FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | ENGAGE NEW YORK |
| ALIGN | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| PUBLIC POLICY AND EDUCATION FUND OF NEW YORK | ALBANY, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL ASIAN PACIFIC AMERICAN WOMEN'S FORUM | CHICAGO, IL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE ADVOCACY INSTITUTE | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| FLORIDA RISING (DBA NEW FLORIDA MAJORITY EDUCATION FUND INC) | MIAMI, FL | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ASSOCIATION FOR NEIGHBORHOOD & HOUSING DEVELOPMENT (ANHD) | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| VOICES OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND LEADERS | BROOKLYN, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| MINKWON CENTER FOR COMMUNITY ACTION | FLUSHING, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| SISTERSONG WOMEN OF COLOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE COLLECTIVE | ATLANTA, GA | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| LATINOJUSTICE PRLDEF | NEW YORK, NY | $100,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| POWER (PHILADELPHIANS ORGANIZED TO WITNESS EMPOWER & REBUILD) | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| AFRICAN COMMUNITIES TOGETHER | NEW YORK, NY | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| EARTHJUSTICE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $80,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK | BEMIDJI, MN | $80,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| KENTUCKY COALITION | LONDON, KY | $75,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| NEW SETTLEMENT APARTMENTS | BRONX, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| MAKE THE ROAD NEW YORK | BROOKLYN, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE POINT COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION | BRONX, NY | $75,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL | BROOKLYN, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BOLD FUTURES (FORMERLY YOUNG WOMEN UNITED) | ALBUQUERQUE, NM | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| WEST VIRGINIA FREE | CHARLESTON, WV | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEW VOICES FOR REPRODUCTIVE JUSTICE | PITTSBURGH, PA | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| NEO PHILANTHROPY INC | NEW YORK, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| LONG ISLAND PROGRESSIVE COALITION | MASSAPEQUA, NY | $70,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| HI-ARTS | NEW YORK, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| MEDICAL STUDENTS FOR CHOICE | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| COMMUNITIES RESIST | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT |
| PREGONES THEATER PUERTO RICAN TRAVELING THEATER | BRONX, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRANDWORKERS | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ENVIRONMENTAL ADVOCATES OF NEW YORK | ALBANY, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
| THE LAUNDROMAT PROJECT | BROOKLYN, NY | $60,000 | 2025 | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT |
UNITED WAY OF NYC
$200,000PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT
PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$150,000NEIGHBORHOODS FIRST FUND
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$150,000YOUTH ORGANIZING & CULTURE CHANGE FUND
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
PRATT INSTITUTE DBA PRATT CENTER FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
NEW YORK FOUNDATION
$100,000ENGAGE NEW YORK
ALIGN
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
THE ADVOCACY INSTITUTE
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LATINOJUSTICE PRLDEF
$100,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
POWER (PHILADELPHIANS ORGANIZED TO WITNESS EMPOWER & REBUILD)
$80,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BROOKLYN ARTS COUNCIL
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
BOLD FUTURES (FORMERLY YOUNG WOMEN UNITED)
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
WEST VIRGINIA FREE
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
LONG ISLAND PROGRESSIVE COALITION
$70,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
HI-ARTS
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
COMMUNITIES RESIST
$60,000PROGRAM/PROJECT SUPPORT
PREGONES THEATER PUERTO RICAN TRAVELING THEATER
$60,000GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT
