A charitable foundation with ties to the Mellon banking family has donated \$2.5 million to New College of Florida in Sarasota. The school described the gift as “transformative” and said the funds will support the design, construction, and long-term maintenance of its new Contemplation and Education Center.
The donation comes from the DSF Charitable Foundation, led by Co-Executive Directors David and Sara Scaife. David Scaife is the son of the late Richard Mellon Scaife, who was a grandnephew of businessman and philanthropist Andrew Mellon. David and Sara Scaife, who live on Florida’s east coast, have expressed a strong appreciation for the region’s cultural and educational environment.
New College President Richard Corcoran said in a statement that if the Board of Trustees approves the gift, the school will create a space that reflects values of reflection, learning, and community. He added that the Contemplation and Education Center will provide a sanctuary for students, faculty, and the wider Sarasota community.
The center is planned to be built on Sarasota Bay. The school said the building will be light-filled and open, designed to blend with its natural surroundings. It will host various activities, including interfaith ceremonies, meditation, academic lectures, Socratic dialogue, and community events like weddings and memorials. The center will also serve as a revenue-generating venue that supports the college’s mission and benefits the Honors College.
Construction will begin only after the New College of Florida Board of Trustees gives its approval.
