DSF Charitable Foundation: Grants for Pennsylvania
/OVERVIEW: The DSF Charitable Foundation supports health, human services and education in Southwestern Pennsylvania.
FUNDING AREAS: Health, human services, education
IP TAKE: This foundation is rooted in a very powerful Pittsburgh family, which is a great one to know in the region for various nonprofit efforts.
PROFILE: Established in 2000, the DSF Charitable Foundation is a private family foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is the foundation of the David Scaife family. David Scaife is the son of Richard Mellon Scaife, who was a newspaper publisher, businessman and philanthropist. This foundation formed when the assets of an existing foundation were divided. The foundation “has a particular interest in helping to create or sustain models of excellence that have potential to be replicated elsewhere and may therefore be of more general benefit to the nation.” It funds local efforts for health, human services and education.
The DSF Charitable Foundation awards health grants for research related to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative conditions. It also supports cancer research for early detection strategies, biomedical engineering programs, computational biology and clinical care. Human services grants support childcare for low-income families, construction projects, end-of-life care residences, children’s homes, programs for senior citizens and people with disabilities. DSF’s education grants support both in-school and out-of-school programs and especially making high-quality education programs more accessible. Literacy programs, summer camps, tutoring and career development are interests of this funder.
Grants range between about $5,000 and $1 million. Learn more about this funder’s local giving by examining its recent tax records. Grantmaking focuses on Pittsburgh and other parts of Southwestern Pennsylvania. Past local grantees include Access Abilities, Construction Junction and Hosanna Industries.
It has also given grants around the country, including $5 million to help build a new aquarium and conservation center in Port Canaveral, Florida in 2023.
This foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications from nonprofits. The foundation board reviews grant requests three times per year but accepts inquiries at any time. DSF accepts the common grant application format of Grantmakers of Western Pennsylvania but does not require this form. Grantseekers may submit application materials in electronic or paper format. Direct general questions to the staff at info@dsfcf.org or 412-362-6000.
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