Scaife Foundations

Richard M. Scaife was the billionaire “funding father of the right” who contributed to numerous mainstream conservative causes, think tanks, foundations, and advocacy groups through three foundations: the Sarah Scaife, the Carthage, and the Allegheny. The Scaife foundations are also one of the main funders of anti-immigrant organizations.  

According to their websites, the Sarah Scaife and Carthage Foundations' grant programs are "primarily directed toward public policy programs that address major domestic and international issues." Meanwhile the Allegheny Foundation "concentrates its giving in the Western Pennsylvania area and confines most of its grant awards to programs for historic preservation, civic development and education."

Richard Scaife maintained close ties to the Heritage Foundation in his capacity as the vice chairman of the conservative think tank. And former Heritage president Edwin Feulner serves as a trustee of the Sarah Scaife Foundation according to tax filings.

In 2013, the Sarah Scaife Foundation contributed $625,000 to the conservative American Enterprise Institute and $125,000 to the hawkish American Foreign Policy Council. 

Between 2001 and 2012, the Scaife Foundations have contributed $10,475,000 to groups in the Islamophobia network, including the David Horowitz Freedom Center, Center for Security Policy, and the Counterterrorism & Security Education and Research Foundation.

 

Source: Center for American Progress research is based on 990s filed with the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.