Sidgmore Family Foundation

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OVERVIEW: The Sidgmore Family Foundation supports education, entrepreneurship and the Washington, D.C. area.

IP TAKE: The Sidgmore Family Foundation does most of its giving through the D.C. grant administrator Spur Local. Additional grantmaking addresses education and economic opportunity. If your organization does not have a direct connection to Sidgmore, getting to know Spur can help you get on this and other D.C. funders’ radars.

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 main areas of interest are education, entrepreneurship and “support and services to those in need in the Washington, D.C. area.”

Grants for Education

The Sidgmore Family Foundation names education as a main area of grantmaking interest and aims to support initiatives that “improve the quality of education and teacher training.” Giving in this area appears to have dropped off recently. Past grantees include Room to Read, Citizen Schools, the Apple Tree Institute for Education Innovation and Girls on the Run, which runs after school programs for girls in grades three through eight.

Grants for Work and Opportunity

The Sidgmore Family Foundation’s grantmaking for economic opportunity aims to “utilize entrepreneurial skills to explore and develop creative, scalable, and sustainable solutions to critical social problems.” However, the foundation does not name specific priorities in this area.

One past grantee, Village Capital, “finds, trains and funds entrepreneurs solving global problems.” Another grant supported the Unreasonable Institute, “an international accelerator & investor in high-impact entrepreneurs.” Other recipients include Oxford Jam, Second Chances Employment Services and Strive DC.

During the COVID-19 crisis, the foundation worked collaboratively to launch Split the Bill NY, an initiative to help restaurants stay in businesses.

Grants for Housing, Community Development and Public Health

The Sidgmore Foundation works broadly to “provide support and services to those in need in Washington, D.C.” The foundation does not articulate specific goals for its D.C. grantmaking but appears to prioritize housing, community development and health care access.

The foundation has provided ongoing support to Spur Local, which vets organizations and administers community grants for Washington D.C. Other housing and community development grants have supported Yachad, the Dwelling Place and Rebuilding Together Washington D.C. Grantees working in public health include the Healthy Babies Project and the Teen and Young Adult Health Connection.

Important Grant Details:

With the exception of its ongoing relationship with Spur Local, Sidgmore Foundation grants are awarded in amounts of up to $35,000.

  •  This funder prioritizes the greater Washington, D.C. area, which is its largest giving area.

  • A significant portion of Sidgmore’s recent funding has gone to Spur Local, a D.C. organization that vets organizations and administers grants to community development and social service organizations.

  • This funder does not accept unsolicited proposals.

  • Information about Sidgmore’s past grantees is available here.

Direct general inquiries to the foundation’s staff via email at manager@sidgmorefoundation.com.

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