OVERVIEW: Sidgmore’s disease-related grantmaking focuses on the fields of audiology and cardiology.
IP TAKE: Sidgmore seeks organizations that can demonstrate replicability as well as measurable and sustainable results for their work. This may make it difficult for groups conducting innovative or unproven work to gain funding.
PROFILE: The Sidgmore Family Foundation was established in 1996 to honor the legacy of internet entrepreneur John Sidgmore, who passed away at the age of 52. Some may recall that it was Sidgmore who disclosed WorldCom’s multi-billion dollar accounting fraud scandal, regarded as one of the worst corporate crimes and largest bankruptcy filings in history. The foundation aims to “to find creative and innovative solutions so that people may achieve their full potential and become responsible, healthy and productive members of society.” Its four main areas of interest are education, medicine, entrepreneurship, and Washington, D.C.
Grants for Diseases
Sidgmore’s disease funding has a “special emphasis on hearing and cardiology,” although the foundation occasionally awards grants related to diseases outside these fields. Sidgmore’s grantmaking heavily prioritizes research rather than direct health care. Past grantees include the Keck School of Medicine, for research into “problems associated with inner ear hair cell death and hearing loss,” St. Francis Hospital for a “specialty designated cardiac center,” and the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America for general program support.
Grants for Education
The Sidgmore Family Foundation primarily supports education-related nonprofits that promote access to quality education for underserved and minority students. It does not generally support individual schools, but prefers to provide project-specific funding to groups that offer programs and services in and out of school, such as literacy and reading programs, STEM outreach, college prep, alternative learning, and expanded educational opportunities for underserved students. Grantees include Room to Read, Citizen Schools, Girls on the Run, Mentors Inc., DC Scores, and the Latino Student Fund.
Grants for Work and Opportunity
The Sidgmore Family Foundation provides grants for entrepreneurship and innovation. It funds a range of nonprofits that support small-business owners, entrepreneurs, and other nonprofits conducting innovative work, such as Foundation Center, Venture Philanthropy Partners, Greater Washington Philanthropy, Unreasonable Institute, and Village Capital.
Important Grant Details:
Sidgmore Foundation grant amounts range from around $2,000 to $300,000, tending to favor organizations located in the metro D.C. area, including parts of Maryland and Virginia. However, the foundation does award some grants outside this region, typically to larger outfits. To learn more about the organizations receiving support from Sidgmore, explore its recent grant recipients.
The Sidgmore Family Foundation accepts unsolicited letters of inquiry throughout the year. If an applicant is invited to submit a full proposal, Sidgmore suggests the use of the Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers’ Common Grant Application.
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