The Schaffner Family Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting a diverse range of causes, including global education, habitat conservation, human rights, environmental protection, and medical care. Its mission reflects a commitment to promoting education, protecting the environment, and supporting humanitarian efforts. The foundation funds organizations that focus on wildlife conservation, scientific research, and the arts, particularly music and theater. It actively contributes to initiatives aimed at fighting climate change and enhancing government oversight. The foundation's grants indicate a strong interest in both local and global issues, serving various populations and sectors.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A mission-aligned nonprofit with an established track record (often national or regional), working in environment, conservation, human rights, global education, or international relief, and connected to the foundation’s networks or prior grantees.
Good Fit
- • Work in environmental conservation, wildlife/land protection, or human rights/global humanitarian relief.
- • Programs sized to match typical grants ($10K–$100K).
- • Existing relationships or introductions into the trustees’ network or visibility with prior grantees.
- • Operations or presence in New York, DC, or other states the foundation has funded.
Geography
Observed grants in the latest year reached seven states (multi-state footprint) even though New York received the largest single-state share (about 40%).
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows 19 distinct recipients (and prior years show 23–26), indicating a broadly distributed recipient set rather than funding a tiny closed circle.
New Applicants
The foundation explicitly funds only preselected applicants and filings show a small number of new grantees each year (about three in the latest year), so unsolicited applicants appear unlikely to enter the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
