OVERVIEW: The Scherman Foundation supports efforts to promote government transparency and accountability, as well as other civic issues in New York and the United States. It focuses its environmental grantmaking on climate change, sustainability, a green economy, and sustainable drinking water. It invests in organizations and projects that support girls and women and advocate for reproductive rights and justice. It also supports creator-driven performing arts and visual arts organizations in New York City.
IP TAKE: This modest, long-standing funder is highly accessible and accepts inquiries throughout the year. It typically awards general operating support grants; however, it does consider awards to support specific projects.
This funder does not award grants for direct service delivery; research not directly connected to policy outcomes; projects outside of the U.S.; medical research; or scholarships or grants to individuals.
PROFILE: The Scherman Foundation was established in 1941 by American publisher Harry Scherman, co-founder of the Book of the Month Club. The foundation’s grantmaking is driven by the belief that “an engaged population creates multiple paths to equitable, sustainable, and structural social change.” It provides long-term, general operating support to organizations in the fields of the Arts, Environment, Governmental Transparency & Accountability, Human Rights & Liberties, Reproductive Rights & Justice, and NY Communities.
The foundation’s main grantmaking vehicle is its Core Fund, which awards modest grants under $100,000 for up to two year periods in any of its main focus areas. The foundation also operates the Rosin Fund, named after Scherman’s daughter Katharine Rosin, which awards grants of $250,000 to $400,000 over two to three years for “innovative, short-term and high-impact projects” in the arts, environment, or New York City.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
The Scherman Foundation’s Governmental Transparency & Accountability program works to “strengthen democracy in the US by increasing transparency and accountability and by promoting policies and practice.” It supports a wide range of programs related to issues such as government spending, government transparency, money in politics, and accountability. Its strategies include advocacy, research, communications, litigation, legal advocacy, public awareness, and “engaging new voices and constituencies.” Past grantees include Demos, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, and Taxpayers for Common Sense.
Grants for Climate Change and Environmental Conservation
The foundation’s Environment program commits its grantmaking to organizations that “present holistic, integrated solutions and address multiple problems” related to urban sustainability, building a green economy, and sustainable drinking water. Over the past 15 years, the Scherman foundation has increased its grantmaking to address climate change, which includes reducing greenhouse gas emissions, decreasing fossil fuel usage, encouraging renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency, as well as mitigating suburban sprawl, mass transit, green jobs, and biodiversity. Lastly, the Scherman Foundation emphasizes efforts that mobilize local residents to “identify and advocate for community-initiated sustainable advances.” Past environment program grantees include the Asian Pacific Environmental Networks, Earthjustice, Earthworks, and the Environmental Grantmakers Association
Grants for Women and Girls and Public Health
The Scherman Foundation’s Reproductive Rights and Justice program dedicates itself to programs that “protect and advance the rights of all women in the United States to access a full range of reproductive health care services, including abortion.” Scherman funds groups whose work aligns with this mission, particularly those disproportionately impacted by what the foundation refers to as “regressive policies” regarding sexual and reproductive health justice and rights. As such, the foundation backs organizations running advocacy campaigns, leadership development, legal advocacy and litigation, and projects that leverage new and existing sexual and reproductive rights resources. Scherman supports nonprofit organizations that advocate for systemic change, and focus on policies that disproportionately impact underserved female groups, such as women of color and low-income women. Scherman typically awards general operating support grants; however, it does consider awards to support specific projects. Past reproductive rights and justice grantees include the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which received an award for its Reproductive Freedom Project and the Center for Reproductive Rights, which received a grant for general operating support.
Grants for Security and Human Rights
The Scherman Foundation’s Human Rights and Liberties program broadly supports organizations that work to “protect and advance human rights and liberties in the U.S.” It funds a wide range of approaches, including “litigation, advocacy, fact-finding, public education, and organizing.” Past grantees include the Center for Constitutional Rights, Human Rights First, LatinoJustice, and New York Civil Liberties Foundation.
Grants for Arts and Culture and New York City
The Scherman Foundation’s Arts grantmaking primarily supports New York City arts organizations and collectives that create enriching, sustainable communities by “impacting social wellbeing and cohesion, serving as economic engine, and attracting emerging and established artists.” It mainly supports performing arts and some visual arts organizations, and it prioritizes groups that promote diversity and are “led by and serving BIPOC constituencies.” It generally prefers to support creator-driven arts organizations that promote the creation of new work. Grantees include Bronx Museum of the Arts, Brooklyn Academy of Music, Dance/NYC, New York Theater Workshop, Harlem Stage Gatehouse, Playwright’s Horizon, and Symphony Space.
Important Grant Details:
Grants generally range from $30,000 to $50,000 for the Core Fund grantees, and $250,000 to $400,000 for Rosin Fund grantees. These grants are typically awarded for a two- to three-year period. While the foundation does fund work throughout the United States, it strongly prioritizes New York City in certain of its focus areas. Grantees may review the foundation’s Current Grantees for more information on the kinds of organizations it supports.
The Scherman Foundation accepts letters of inquiry throughout the year. Applicants whose work aligns with the foundation’s mission may be invited to submit a full proposal.
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