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SCHUMANN CENTER FOR MEDIA AND DEMOCRACY

Schumann Center for Media and Democracy

Contact information:

33 Park Street
Montclair, NJ 07042-3407
Phone: 973-783-6660

Type of foundation: Independent

Types of grants: Continuing support, general/operating, matching/challenge and program.

Description: The Foundation was established in 1961 by Florence F. Schumann and John J. Schumann, Jr. (both deceased). Its purpose is to award grants for programs in effective governance and the environment. A related foundation is the Schumann Fund for New Jersey. The Schumann Center has identified the following areas of interest: 

  • Media/communications.
  • Public affairs.
  • Citizen participation.

Sample grants:

  • $1,000,000 to Educational Broadcasting Corporation, New York, NY for AIR-America's Investigative Reports program (2006).
  • $250,000 to WETA - Greater Washington Educational Telecommunications Association, Arlington, VA toward completion funds of the documentary, Hubert Humphrey: The Art of the Possible (2006).
  • $15,000 to Fairness and Accuracy in Reporting, New York, NY for publicity campaign for FAIR's study on the content of The News Hour with Jim Lehrer (2006).
  • $15,000 to Link Media, San Francisco, CA toward reporting on the transition to democracy in Iraq by Salon.com (2005).

Fit for public broadcasting: Media, communications and public affairs are all specific interest areas of the Foundation. The Foundation appears to support public media in relation to the democratic process through cooperative acts of citizenship, especially as they apply to governance and the environment. The Foundation has made nine grants for radio/television projects over the past six years, totaling $2.84 million.

Eligibility: Applications are not accepted. Giving is primarily in California, Washington, DC and New York, NY. No grants are made to individuals or for annual campaigns, capital campaigns, deficit financing, equipment and materials, land acquisition or endowment funds. The Foundation does not make loans.

Deadline: None.

How to apply: Interested applicants would need to find an introduction. The Board meets in February, June and October.

Giving range: The average gift for radio/television projects is approximately $315,000. The Foundation has made gifts as high as $500,000. 

Assets: $30,612,350 (2008)

Total giving: $4,933,400 (2008)