Who we are

The Scottish Country Dance Endowment Fund (SCDEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based out of the United States. We were founded in June 2024 with a vision to foster deep connections through traditional Scottish dance and music, welcome new members to our community, and provide stable resources to those who need it to participate in SCD.

SCDEF fills a major funding gap in Scottish country dancing by offering scholarships and grants to individuals and organizations pursuing SCD and its music—without restrictive location, membership, or age requirements. Our organization complements existing financial resources for SCD and seeks to collaborate with other groups to enhance the tradition we love.

We provide direct support using stable financial infrastructure beyond any single person, event, branch, or generation. Our forward-thinking approach prioritizes the continuity of the Scottish country dance tradition over a long timespan, maximizing the impact of your donations.

Our initiatives…

  • Expand the scope, quality, and accessibility of SCD events

  • Seed new classes and groups to kickstart community growth or revitalization

  • Provide steady funding for teaching, music, equipment, and other resources

  • Offer need-based financial support to enable dancers, musicians, and instructors to attend workshops, schools, camps, and certification courses

  • Make it easy for young people and new dancers to access the resources they need to participate in SCD

  • Advocate for the preservation of Scottish country dance as a historical dance form as well as ensure its accessibility for future generations

Our Board of Directors are dancers, teachers, and musicians with a vested interest in the health of the SCD community:

  • Adrian Velonis (Philadelphia, PA): chair

  • Jeanne Moody (San Diego, CA): vice-chair

  • Claire Cunin (Kitchener, ON): secretary

  • Lara Friedman-Shedlov (Minneapolis, MN): treasurer

A member of our Board sits on the RSCDS Finance and Governance Advisory Committee.