The Scherman Foundation Awards $1.6 M in September 2026 Grantmaking
Today, the Scherman Foundation is pleased to announce a total of $1.6 million as part of a special September docket. Funding supports organizations in three core program areas—Arts, Environmental and Climate Justice, and Strengthening New York Communities. Organizations are also receiving support through the Response Fund and Future Fund, which were both launched in August 2025.
In total, Scherman made six core grants totaling $625,000. All six are receiving multi-year funding, including one four-year grant. While two of the grants are project-specific, the majority are receiving general operating support. This portfolio reflects Scherman’s commitment to funding partners focused on movement building and leveraging the arts to create vibrant, inclusive communities.
The Foundation is also supporting 11 organizations through the Response Fund and Future Fund. With these two funds, Scherman increased its payout to 10% and streamlined grantmaking processes to meet a difficult moment in U.S. history rife with unprecedented attacks on civil society.
A total of $925,000 is being distributed to 11 Response Fund grantees who are confronting significant challenges, battling unfounded accusations of bias, and working diligently to protect democracy. Most of these grantees are also receiving support as core grantees. This cycle also includes one Future Fund grantee as part of a time-limited portfolio that invests in movement-building and seeding the innovation and adaptation required to create lasting, sustainable change. With the current awards, Scherman has allocated nearly $8.3 million of a $10 million, two-year pledge.
This was the last grantmaking round for our former president and CEO Mike Pratt, who officially retired on September 13th and is succeeded by George Suttles.
“These grants reinforce Scherman’s commitment to invest in organizations that are on the ground, protecting communities every day,” said program officer Kristen Chin. “Our partners are grassroots organizers and movement builders who do the bold work of demonstrating how we resist, fight back, and challenge formidable threats to historically marginalized communities. Their bravery allows us to re-imagine and build a collective future that includes everyone.”
The full list of September 2026 grantees is as follows:
Core Grants
ARTS
The Billie Holiday Theater
The Center for Urban Pedagogy
Jack
ENVIRONMENTAL AND CLIMATE JUSTICE
The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
STRENGTHENING NEW YORK COMMUNITIES
Engage New York
Statewide Organizing and Infrastructure Fund, Engage NY
RESPONSE FUND GRANTS
The Billie Holiday Theater
The Center for Urban Pedagogy
Hands Off NYC
The New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
New York Immigration Coalition
New York Renews
Ohio Democracy Defense Fund, Movement Voter Project
Heartland Fund
Sweat Variant
Urban Word
We the People NJ
FUTURE FUND
East New York CLT
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The Scherman Foundation invests in the economic, political, and cultural transformation necessary for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color to reclaim and build power. Learn more about our vision and current grantmaking priorities.
While our Response and Future Fund grants are by invitation only, the LOI process for our Core Grantmaking will next open in February 2027. More information will be posted to our website. We invite funding partners and press to contact us with questions at info@scherman.org.