Robert I Schattner Foundation Inc.

## How to Approach the Robert I. Schattner Foundation

### Critical Context: Invitation-Only Grantmaking The Schattner Foundation operates on an invitation-only model — it does not accept unsolicited grant applications. The foundation's board proactively identifies organizations aligned with its mission, meaning traditional application strategies do not apply here. Success depends on relationship-building and visibility within the foundation's priority areas.

### Foundation Philosophy and Values Dr. Robert I. Schattner (1925–2017) was a serial inventor-entrepreneur who sold his dental practice in 1958 to develop Chloraseptic, sold it to Norwich Pharmacal in 1962, then spent seven years developing Sporicidin (patented 1978, sold 2008). His 70 patents reflect a problem-solver's mentality, and the foundation mirrors this: it favors organizations that solve concrete, measurable problems rather than those pursuing abstract or diffuse missions.

Dr. Schattner's own death from kidney failure complications deeply informs the foundation's emphasis on kidney disease programs. His dental background explains the strong interest in dental care access. His Jewish identity and involvement with JPDS-NC (now Milton Gottesman Jewish Day School) and the University of Pennsylvania Dental School drives the Jewish services portfolio.

### Board Composition and Decision-Making The four-person board controls all funding decisions: - Sidney Bresler (Chairman/President) — lifelong friend and confidant of Dr. Schattner, the primary strategic voice - Robert T. Schattner (Vice President) — the founder's nephew, real estate/construction background - Robert H. Sievers (Treasurer) — CPA and former controller/accountant for Dr. Schattner - Maria Gomez (Secretary, since January 2023) — founder and former CEO of Mary's Center, a major grantee

This is a tight, trust-based board. Maria Gomez's dual role as board member and leader of a grantee organization signals that the foundation builds deep, long-term relationships with its partners.

### How to Get on Their Radar 1. Operate in their geographic sweet spot: Maryland, DC, Virginia (the DMV region) is where the foundation concentrates domestic giving. Israel is the primary international focus. 2. Align with a core program area: Kidney disease, dental care access, Jewish education/services, food security, or emergency medical services. 3. Demonstrate measurable impact: The foundation's featured grants showcase concrete outcomes (15,000 meals delivered, third clinic location opened, safety net grants distributed). Lead with numbers. 4. Build visibility through shared networks: The foundation's grantee ecosystem includes organizations like Mary's Center, American Kidney Fund, Kennedy Krieger Institute, and United Hatzalah. Connections to these organizations or shared funders may create introduction pathways. 5. Contact strategically: Email info@schattnerfoundation.org to introduce your organization. Keep it concise, outcome-focused, and aligned with their stated focus areas.

## Funding Patterns

### Annual Giving Volume The Schattner Foundation distributes approximately 7.5–8.2 million dollars annually across 89–97 grants, drawn from assets of approximately 150 million dollars. The foundation has given over 50 million dollars since its founding in 1992.

### Grant Size Distribution - Range: 2,500 to 750,000 dollars - Median: approximately 50,000 dollars - Average: approximately 92,000 dollars - Top-tier grants (500K+): 3–5 per year, reserved for anchor relationships (United Hatzalah, Hebrew University, Kennedy Krieger, Montgomery College) - Mid-tier grants (100K–499K): 10–15 per year (American Kidney Fund, Save the Children, Casa Ruben, Birthright Israel) - Small grants (2,500–99K): The majority of grants by count, funding a diverse array of local and national organizations

### Sector Allocation Based on 2024 grant data, approximate allocation: - Jewish Services / Israel: ~35% (United Hatzalah 535K, Hebrew University 500K, Birthright 250K, plus smaller Jewish education grants) - Health and Human Services: ~35% (American Kidney Fund 275K, Kennedy Krieger, Casa Ruben 250K, Girl Scouts dental 275K, Food and Friends) - Education and Workforce: ~20% (Montgomery College 500K, Society for Science 225K) - Humanitarian / Other: ~10% (Save the Children 330K, Henry Schein Cares 310K)

### Geographic Distribution The vast majority of domestic grants serve the DMV region (DC, Maryland, Virginia), though national organizations are also funded. International giving flows primarily through Israel-focused intermediaries (Friends of United Hatzalah, American Friends of Hebrew University, Birthright Israel Foundation). Secondary states include New York, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.

### Multi-Year Relationships The foundation strongly favors sustained, multi-year partnerships over one-time grants. American Kidney Fund has received over 1 million dollars since 2018. United Hatzalah receives 500K+ annually. Hebrew University receives 500–700K annually. These anchor relationships consume a significant share of the annual budget.

## Peer Comparison

### Asset Class and Focus Positioning The Robert I. Schattner Foundation occupies a distinctive niche as a mid-size private foundation (150M assets) with a highly personal grantmaking philosophy rooted in its founder's biography.

### Comparative Analysis 1. Invitation-only model: Like Zanvyl Krieger Fund and Stulman Foundation, Schattner does not accept unsolicited applications. This contrasts with peers like Cafritz and Meyer that run open competitive processes. 2. Founder-driven identity: Schattner's focus areas directly reflect Dr. Schattner's biography (dentistry leads to dental access, kidney failure leads to kidney disease funding, Jewish identity leads to Jewish services). This personal connection is more pronounced than at peer foundations that have professionalized their grantmaking. 3. Israel focus: The Jewish services / Israel portfolio (~35% of giving) is unusually large for a DMV-based health and education foundation. Peers like Blaustein and Stulman also fund Jewish causes but typically allocate a smaller share. 4. Relationship depth: With 89–97 grants per year from a 7.9M budget, Schattner's average grant (92K) is comparable to peers, but its concentration in anchor relationships (5 grantees receiving 2.5M+) is notable. 5. Board size and structure: A 4-person board (vs. 10–20 at most peer foundations) means decisions are highly centralized. Maria Gomez's dual role as board member and grantee leader is unusual in the sector.

## Recent Activity

### 2024–2025 Grantmaking The foundation distributed approximately 8.2 million dollars across 89 grants in 2024, maintaining steady giving levels. Major grants included: - Friends of United Hatzalah of Israel: 535,500 for emergency medical equipment and volunteer responder support - American Friends of Hebrew University: 500,000 for dental equipment and programs - Montgomery College Foundation: 500,000 for the Robert I. Schattner Job Training and Certification Scholarship (up to 4,000 per student) - Save the Children Federation: 330,000 - Henry Schein Cares Foundation: 310,000 - American Kidney Fund: 275,000 for safety net grants and Camp Connections virtual enrichment program - Girl Scout Council of the Nations Capital: 275,000 for the Big Smile Patch dental hygiene program - Birthright Israel Foundation: 250,000

### American Kidney Fund Partnership Deepens In July 2024, the American Kidney Fund announced a major gift from the Schattner Foundation to bolster regional safety net grants and support the national virtual Camp Connections program. The grant increased individual safety net grant amounts from 250 to 300 dollars for people on dialysis or living with kidney transplants in the DMV region. Over 150 children and teens participated in Camp Connections in 2024. The Schattner Foundation has provided over 1 million dollars to AKF since 2018, making kidney disease one of its most visible and sustained commitments — a direct reflection of Dr. Schattner's own death from kidney failure in 2017.

### Board Change Maria Gomez, founder and former CEO of Mary's Center (a federally qualified health center in DC and a major Schattner grantee), joined the board as Secretary on January 1, 2023. Her appointment signals the foundation's commitment to health equity and immigrant community health services, and deepens the already close relationship between the foundation and Mary's Center.

### Financial Health The foundation reported 150 million dollars in total assets with steady investment income. With minimal liabilities (64K) and a diversified investment portfolio generating consistent returns, the foundation appears financially stable for continued grantmaking at current levels.

### Legacy and Archive Efforts The foundation maintains an active web presence at schattnerfoundation.org showcasing featured grants and Dr. Schattner's biography. The Chloraseptic Story page serves as both brand narrative and founder tribute, connecting the foundation's philanthropic mission to its entrepreneurial origins.

## Application Tips

### Understanding the Invitation-Only Model The Schattner Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant applications. All funding decisions are made by the four-person board through proactive identification and relationship-building. This means traditional grant-writing strategies — responding to RFPs, meeting posted deadlines, completing application forms — do not apply. Instead, success requires a fundamentally different approach.

### Strategies for Getting Invited 1. Build visibility in the DMV health and human services ecosystem. The foundation's grantee network is concentrated in the Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia region. Organizations operating in this geography with demonstrable impact in health, education, or community services are most likely to come to the board's attention.

2. Leverage grantee network connections. The foundation's major grantees — American Kidney Fund, Mary's Center, Kennedy Krieger Institute, Girl Scouts Nation's Capital, Montgomery College — are potential referral pathways. Board member Maria Gomez founded Mary's Center, creating a direct bridge between the grantee community and foundation governance.

3. Contact the foundation directly. Email info@schattnerfoundation.org with a concise introduction (2–3 paragraphs) covering: who you are, what measurable outcomes you deliver, and how your work aligns with health and human services, education and research, or Jewish services. Do not send a full proposal. The foundation has a 12% new applicant approval rate (per Grantable data), suggesting they do consider new organizations selectively.

4. Lead with concrete, quantifiable outcomes. The foundation's featured grants consistently highlight specific numbers: 15,000 medically-tailored meals delivered, 150 children in virtual camp, safety net grants increased from 250 to 300 dollars, third clinic location opened. Frame your work in terms of people served, dollars distributed, and measurable results.

5. Demonstrate sustainability and operational strength. The foundation favors established organizations with track records, not startups. Major grantees like American Kidney Fund (national organization), Kennedy Krieger Institute (part of Johns Hopkins), and Save the Children (global NGO) are all well-established.

6. Align with the founder's legacy. Dr. Schattner was a problem-solver and inventor — 70 patents over his career. Organizations that demonstrate innovative approaches to persistent problems (not just traditional service delivery) may resonate with the board's values.

### What NOT to Do - Do not send unsolicited full grant proposals — they will not be reviewed through a competitive process - Do not cold-call; email is the appropriate first contact - Do not assume the foundation funds outside its three focus areas, regardless of organizational quality - Do not apply if your work is exclusively outside the DMV/Israel geography — the foundation has minimal presence in other regions despite occasional grants nationwide