Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
The Arthur J Schmitt Foundation is an independent private foundation incorporated in 1941 and located in Northbrook, Illinois. The foundation was established by Arthur J Schmitt, an inventor and founder of the Amphenol Company who served as president of the Illinois Manufacturing Association. Throughout his lifetime, Mr. Schmitt held 13 patents and made substantial contributions to education and charitable causes. He served as a trustee of DePaul University, Illinois Institute of Technology, and the College of St. Francis, and held several honorary degrees including one from DePaul University. Mr. Schmitt also served for many years as a director of Catholic Charities in Chicago.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$18.7M
+1.9% YoY
Annual Giving
$850K
+1.2% YoY
Grant Count
13
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$65K
+1.2% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arthur J Schmitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $891K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation provides funding for:
- Institutional scholarship support to universities for undergraduate and graduate studies
- Organizations that sponsor and mentor under-privileged students attending Catholic high schools
- Organizations that develop and support learning and leadership in students of various learning levels
The foundation's stated mission is to empower promising and purposeful students through scholarships and leadership training to create a better world for themselves and others.
Grantmaking
The foundation actively distributes grants to support student scholarships and leadership development programs. Recent financial activity shows the foundation made grants totaling approximately $1.13 million in expenses during the 2024 fiscal year.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has historically supported educational institutions in Illinois, including funding the Fournier Institute of Technology near LeMont, Illinois.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $18.7 million
- Total Revenue: $906,000
- Total Expenses: $1.13 million
- Total Liabilities: $5,850
The foundation has maintained tax-exempt status since March 1959 and holds EIN 36-2217999.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $18,654,427 | $18,304,328 | $18,597,591 |
| Revenue | $906,109 | $527,372 | $1,830,660 |
| Expenses | $1,132,796 | $1,057,679 | $1,112,000 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,002,493 | $955,532 | $983,623 |
| Net Investment Income | $845,676 | $110,746 | $1,810,049 |
| Distributable Amount | $890,897 | $876,207 | $988,290 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
65 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund ($80,000), Link Unlimited ($80,000), Marquette University ($80,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Benedictine University Niles, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $65,000 |
| Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
| DePaul University Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $70,000 |
| Dominican University River Forest, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $65,000 |
| High Sight Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $50,000 |
| Lewis University Romeoville, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $60,000 |
| Link Unlimited Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
| Loyola University Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $75,000 |
| Loyola University Arrupe College Chicago, IL | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $25,000 |
| Marquette University Milwaukee, WI | Student Scholarships & leadership development | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Patricia A Shevlin serves as Executive Director of the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
No officer/director data available.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation fund?
The foundation provides funding for: • **Institutional scholarship support** to universities for undergraduate and graduate studies • **Organizations that sponsor and mentor under-privileged students** attending Catholic high schools • **Organizations that develop and support learning and leadership** in students of various learning levels The foundation's stated mission is to empower promising and purposeful students through scholarships and leadership training to create a better world for the…
How do I apply for a grant from Arthur J Schmitt Foundation?
The foundation actively distributes grants to support student scholarships and leadership development programs. Recent financial activity shows the foundation made grants totaling approximately $1.13 million in expenses during the 2024 fiscal year.
Where does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation make grants?
The foundation is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has historically supported educational institutions in Illinois, including funding the Fournier Institute of Technology near LeMont, Illinois.
What size grants does Arthur J Schmitt Foundation award?
In 2024, Arthur J Schmitt Foundation awarded 13 grants totaling $850K — an average of about $65K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Arthur J Schmitt Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Arthur J Schmitt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $891K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
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 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arthur J Schmitt Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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