Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
The Arthur J Schmitt Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois. It supports scholarships and leadership development for high school, college, and graduate students who show financial need and promise as leaders of positive change.
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation at a glance
In short: Arthur J Schmitt Foundation gave $880K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $68K), mostly in Illinois. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $880,000
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $67,692
- +3.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $70,000
- Total assets
- $19,529,857
- +4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing states that requests should include a letter, a condensed request, and supporting material. Awards are considered at quarterly meetings. It says there are no restrictions on awards, although most awards are in the immediate Chicago metropolitan area.
- Contact
Application contact: Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
Mailing address: PO Box 2007, Northbrook, IL 60065-2007
Phone: (312) 493-4989
Website: https://schmittfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Arthur J Schmitt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund ($80K). Together the top 10 received $735K.
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 60 grants of 65 (92%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois, 9% to Wisconsin, and 9% to Indiana. The foundation’s 2023 filing states that most awards are in the immediate Chicago metropolitan area.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Arthur J Schmitt Foundation open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 13 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. How we count
- 100% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+1%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 115% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $735K (2020) to $880K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $880K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
| Link Unlimited Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
| Loyola University Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
| DePaul University Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $75,000 |
| University of Notre Dame South Bend, IN | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $75,000 |
| High Sight Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $70,000 |
| Benedictine University Niles, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $65,000 |
| Dominican University River Forest, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $65,000 |
| University of St Francis Joliet, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $65,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Arthur J Schmitt Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $19,529,857 | $1,557,904 | $1,179,487 | $880,000 | 13 | $1,059,026 | $1,237,465 | $924,528 |
| 2024 | $18,654,427 | $906,109 | $1,132,796 | $850,000 | 13 | $1,002,493 | $845,676 | $890,897 |
| 2023 | $18,304,328 | $527,372 | $1,057,679 | $840,000 | 13 | $955,532 | $110,746 | $876,207 |
| 2022 | $18,597,591 | $1,830,660 | $1,112,000 | $875,000 | 13 | $983,623 | $1,810,049 | $988,290 |
| 2021 | $20,857,330 | $731,771 | $1,007,751 | $808,500 | 13 | — | $610,020 | $964,588 |
| 2020 | $16,282,912 | $691,483 | $934,010 | $735,000 | 13 | — | $610,161 | $812,794 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arthur J Schmitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $925K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s website says its mission reflects Arthur J. Schmitt’s belief that skilled, educated, and compassionate leaders can help create a better world. It provides tuition scholarships and leadership programming for students with financial need and leadership potential.
Its educational partners include high schools and organizations serving high school students, undergraduate institutions, and graduate institutions. Examples among 2025 grantees include Marquette University, whose stated mission emphasizes Jesuit education and leadership in service to others; DePaul University, which describes its mission as supporting students’ integral human development; and the University of St. Francis, which describes itself as a Catholic university rooted in the liberal arts and Franciscan values. These are the grantees’ stated missions.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $880,000. Grant amounts ranged from $20,000 to $80,000, with a median of $70,000. The listed grant purposes emphasize student scholarships and leadership development. The largest awards included $80,000 each to Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, Link Unlimited, Loyola University, and Marquette University; $75,000 each to DePaul University and the University of Notre Dame; and $70,000 to High Sight.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The foundation’s website identifies Carla Slawson as executive director. Its listed current board members are Chairman John Gearen, Mary Cahillane, Robert Dow, Mary Dwyer, Patrick Eilers, Virgil Jones, and David Silverman.
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation is led by Carla Slawson, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 6 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Carla Slawson
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$61K (2020) → $150K (2025)
John J. Gearen
Foundation President & Chairman
On filings since 2020
4 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Patrick Eilers
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Virgil Jones
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
$10K (2021) → $10K (2025)
Mary Cahillane
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
$10K (2023) → $10K (2025)
Robert M. Dow Jr.
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dave Silverman
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mary Dwyer
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$10K (2020) → $10K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Carol Sullivan (2020–2022) — Secretary & Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $150K, to Carla Slawson (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
How much does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation give each year?
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation gave $880K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $850K across 13 grants.
What is Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's typical grant size?
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $70,000, and its average grant was $67,692, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation give grants?
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Wisconsin (9%) and Indiana (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (7 grants).
Does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 13 grants with a stated purpose on Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Student Scholarships & leadership development" (13 grants).
Who are Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's largest grantees?
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund ($80,000), Link Unlimited ($80,000) and Loyola University ($80,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arthur J Schmitt Foundation?
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation reported $19.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $925K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says its mission reflects Arthur J. Schmitt’s belief that skilled, educated, and compassionate leaders can help create a better world. It provides tuition scholarships and leadership programming for students with financial need and leadership potential. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arthur J Schmitt Foundation?
The 2023 filing states that requests should include a letter, a condensed request, and supporting material. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's EIN?
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-2217999. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 8, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 14, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS February 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 7, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 13, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Arthur J Schmitt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/arthur-j-schmitt-foundation-morg_b7ee884d58504a5a97ba3fd957ac096b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_362217999_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Arthur J Schmitt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/arthur-j-schmitt-foundation-morg_b7ee884d58504a5a97ba3fd957ac096b},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Arthur J Schmitt Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?