The Scherman Foundation is a left-of-center foundation based in New York City. The foundation focuses its giving in the areas of public policy advocacy and community organizing, predominantly to left-of-center causes and left-leaning constituencies. The foundation has six program areas: Arts, Environment, Governmental Transparency and Accountability, Human Rights and Liberties, Reproductive Rights and Justice, and Strengthening New York Communities. ¹  According to the organization’s 2017 tax return, the foundation’s assets were valued in excess of $100,000,000. ²

History & Funding

The Scherman Foundation was founded by Harry Scherman in 1941. ¹ During Scherman’s nearly 30-year tenure as the organization’s chief executive, the foundation provided support to organizations such as the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. ¹ The founder’s family has predominantly maintained control throughout the foundation’s history, with several early bequests significantly increasing the foundation’s capacity for grantmaking. ¹ Scherman was succeeded by his daughter’s husband, Axel Rosin, in 1969, who was succeeded by his daughter and the foundation’s current board chair, Karen R. Sollins, in 1993. ¹

Personnel

The foundation is currently operated by the organization’s board and small internal staff. Staff include president Mike Pratt, program director Alexa Aviles, director of operations Catherine Porter, and grants and communications manager Naiche Parker. ³ Board members include Karen R. Sollins, Susanna Bergtold, Rini Banerjee, Amy Bergtold, Hillary Brown, Miriam Buhl, Steven K. Choi, David R. Jones, Gordon Litwin, Miles Rapoport, and Marianna Schaffer. ⁴Advocacy Grantmaking

Pro-Abortion

The foundation currently provides funding for several pro-abortion advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) Reproductive Freedom Project ($75,000); Advocates for Youth ($50,000); California Latinas for Reproductive Justice ($40,000); Center for Reproductive Rights ($60,000); Center on Reproductive Rights and Justice at UC Berkeley School of Law ($45,000); Forward Together ($45,000); Funders for Reproductive Equity ($4,375); Girls for Gender Equity ($45,000); If/When/How ($50,000); Medical Students for Choice ($40,000); National Abortion Federation ($27,500); National Advocates for Pregnant Women ($60,000); National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum ($50,000); National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health ($55,000); National Women’s Health Network ($55,000); New Voices for Reproductive Justice ($45,000); Rewire ($40,000); SisterSong ($45,000); Physicians for Reproductive Health ($50,000); URGE: Unite for Reproductive & Gender Equity ($50,000); West Virginia Free (stylized WV Free) ($55,000); and Young Women United ($40,000). ⁵

1. “History and Mission.” The Scherman Foundation. Accessed November 19, 2019. http://scherman.org/about-us/history-and-mission/.
2. The Scherman Foundation, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax (Form 990), 2017, Section I.
3. “Staff.” The Scherman Foundation. Accessed November 19, 2019. http://scherman.org/about-us/staff/.
4. “Board of Directors.” The Scherman Foundation. Accessed November 19, 2019. http://scherman.org/about-us/board-of-directors/.
5. “Reproductive Rights and Justice.” The Scherman Foundation. Accessed November 19, 2019. http://scherman.org/current-grantees/reproductive-rights-and-justice/.