Sethness Arnold Foundation
This organization is a private foundation dedicated to supporting educational initiatives and institutions. Its mission reflects a commitment to enhancing educational opportunities, as evidenced by its funding of various schools, universities, and scholarship programs. The foundation prioritizes unrestricted grants, allowing recipients flexibility in their use of funds, and also supports specific causes such as military family assistance and food security. It serves a diverse range of educational entities, including high schools and colleges, and demonstrates a strong focus on improving access to education for various populations.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Independent schools, universities, or scholarship funds (and similar education-focused nonprofits) with either an existing relationship to the foundation or a credible referral and capacity to manage mid-sized one-time grants.
Good Fit
- • Mission aligned with K–12 schools, preparatory schools, higher education, or scholarship programs.
- • Track record of previous support from similar private foundations or a referral from an existing grantee or trustee.
- • Ability to absorb unrestricted or scholarship-focused grants in the historical range (~$5K–$40K).
- • Organizational profile similar to the foundation's top grantees (independent schools and universities).
Geography
In the latest year grants went to organizations across nine states and roughly 84% of dollars were paid to out-of-state recipients, indicating a multi-state/national footprint rather than a strictly local funder.
Recipient Variety
Each observed year shows about 20 distinct grantees (many independent organizations) with a mix of repeat recipients (15 across years) and several new grantees added, so the portfolio funds a broad set of institutions for a foundation of this size.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of turnover exists (new recipients were added each year), but the foundation explicitly declares it funds 'only preselected' organizations and there is no public application pathway or contact details; that combination makes it unlikely an unfamiliar applicant can enter the portfolio through an unsolicited submission.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
