Dr Scholl Foundation
The Dr. Scholl Foundation is a private foundation based in Northbrook, Illinois, established by William M. Scholl, M.D. in 1947. It provides financial assistance to organizations working in education, social service, healthcare, civic and cultural, and environmental areas, and considers U.S. and international funding where board members have direct knowledge of applicants.
Dr Scholl Foundation at a glance
In short: Dr Scholl Foundation gave $8.9M across 410 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), top state Illinois. 16% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $8,927,500
- +10.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 410
- +12.3% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,774
- -2.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $211,909,493
- +2.1% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 16% first-time grantees (64 of 400, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Illinois (46% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Dr Scholl Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit an LOI through the foundation’s online portal; applicants invited to proceed submit a full application through the same portal. Applicants must submit a new LOI each cycle.
- Review Cycle
- For the 2027 grant cycle, LOIs are accepted January 1–31, 2027, until 11:59 p.m. CT. If an LOI is approved, the full application is due March 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. CT. Funding decisions are announced in October.
- Deadline
- For the 2027 grant cycle, LOIs are accepted January 1–31, 2027, until 11:59 p.m.
- Contact
Application contact: Daniel Mahaffee President
Mailing address: 1033 Skokie Blvd Ste 230, Northbrook, IL 60062
Phone: (847) 559-7430
Website: https://drschollfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Dr Scholl Foundation
Who Dr Scholl Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Trust for the National Mall ($500K). Together the top 10 received $2.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($55,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
1,890 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,717 grants of 1,890 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says most of its grants are made in the United States. It considers grants outside the U.S. where a board member has direct knowledge of the applicant. In 2024, recipients received 46% of grant dollars in Illinois, 14% in Washington, D.C., 6% in Colorado, 5% in New York, and 4% in Virginia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 410 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Dr Scholl Foundation open to new grantees?
16%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 64 of 400 grantees (16%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $23K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 65% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−1%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 106% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $6.8M (2020) to $9.0M (2021). In 2024 it made 410 grants totaling $8.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Trust for the National Mall Washington, DC | Funding for the new corral and maintenance fund the horse stables | $500,000 |
| University of Notre Dame South Bend, IN | Global Science Engagement Initiative | $250,000 |
| Saints Faith Hope & Charity Parish Winnetka, IL | Updates to A/C system | $225,000 |
| Big Shoulders Fund Chicago, IL | Support of Visitation School and the Dr. Scholl Foundation Scholarship for high school students | $200,000 |
| World Central Kitchen Inc Washington, DC | Emergency food relief program | $200,000 |
| Watershed School Boulder, CO | New building for Watershed School | $165,000 |
| Rosalind Franklin University North Chicago, IL | Scholarships for podiatric students | $160,000 |
| Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress Washington, DC | Presidential Fellows, Geotech, Political Reform, Policy Roundtables | $150,000 |
| Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest Chicago, IL | Programs to protect the Great Lakes in Illinois and across the Midwest | $150,000 |
| Lyric Opera Chicago, IL | Classroom Engagement and Rising Stars programs | $150,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $211,909,493 | $19,982,355 | $14,116,100 | $8,927,500 | 410 | $10,952,701 | $18,578,386 | $10,295,804 |
| 2023 | $207,489,894 | $13,219,218 | $11,977,428 | $8,110,000 | 365 | $9,879,822 | $10,415,105 | $9,976,398 |
| 2022 | $197,306,939 | $11,148,742 | $11,997,967 | $8,638,500 | 370 | $10,313,234 | $7,638,538 | $10,431,167 |
| 2021 | $237,614,092 | $18,367,171 | $13,242,096 | $9,015,700 | 378 | $10,874,411 | $18,417,664 | $10,871,386 |
| 2020 | $210,174,641 | $15,481,383 | $10,699,062 | $6,850,000 | 367 | — | $13,968,676 | $8,951,826 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Dr Scholl Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.3M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial assistance to organizations committed to improving the world. Its website names innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion as values informing that work. It considers applications in education, social service, healthcare, civic and cultural, and environmental areas; it says these categories are broad and do not rule out consideration of other worthwhile projects.
Its 2024 grants illustrate the range of organizations supported. Trust for the National Mall describes its work as restoring, enriching, and preserving the National Mall; Big Shoulders Fund says it supports underserved schools providing quality, values-based education; and World Central Kitchen says it provides meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises. Other 2024 recipients included a school, a university, an opera company, an environmental advocacy organization, and a historic preservation association.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 410 grants totaling $8,927,500. Grant amounts ranged from $2,000 to $500,000, with a median of $10,000. The foundation’s FAQ says grants average $5,000 to $25,000 and that there is no limit on the amount requested. It accepts requests for one year of funding only and runs one grant cycle per year.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $500,000 to Trust for the National Mall for a new corral and maintenance fund for the horse stables; $250,000 to the University of Notre Dame for its Global Science Engagement Initiative; and $225,000 to Saints Faith Hope & Charity Parish for A/C system updates. Other awards included $200,000 to Big Shoulders Fund and $200,000 to World Central Kitchen, and $150,000 each to the Environmental Law and Policy Center of the Midwest, Lyric Opera, and the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association of the Union.
Applicants submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) through the foundation’s online portal. LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis, and a new LOI is required each cycle, including from previous grantees. Applicants whose LOIs are approved are invited to submit a full application through the portal. Applicants must have a valid IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter and provide at least three years of financial activity. The foundation does not fund political organizations, political action committees or individual campaigns whose primary purpose is to influence legislation; grantmaking foundations; loans, operating deficit reductions, debt liquidation or general support; or individual recipients. Endowments and capital campaigns are rarely funded. Event sponsorships are not funded, and only one request per organization is accepted in a grant cycle. Publicly supported government organizations, such as public schools and municipalities, are rarely considered.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Pamela Scholl as Board Chairman/President; Lea Slahor as Treasurer; Anne Moseley as Director/Vice President; and Daniel Mahaffee as Director/Secretary/Vice Chairman. Other directors listed are Mary Ann Hynes, Stephen Meer, Daniel Scholl, Susan Scholl, and John A. Nitschke.
Dr Scholl Foundation is led by Pamela Scholl, Board Chairman & President on every filing since 2020; all 9 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Pamela Scholl
Board Chairman & President
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$573K (2020) → $684K (2024)
Anne Moseley
Director & Vice President
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$263K (2020) → $349K (2024)
Daniel Mahaffee
Director, Secretary & Vice Chairman
Director & Secretary → Director, Secretary & Vice Chairman, 2024
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$63K (2020) → $319K (2024)
Daniel Scholl
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $36K (2024)
John A Nitschke
Director
Director & Treasurer → Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$388K (2020) → $35K (2024)
Mary Ann Hynes
Director
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
$41K (2020) → $45K (2024)
Stephen Meer
Director
On filings since 2020
6.5 hrs/week
$38K (2020) → $41K (2024)
Susan Scholl
Director
On filings since 2020
6 hrs/week
$35K (2020) → $36K (2024)
Lea Slahor
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
35 hrs/week
$216K (2021) → $339K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $684K, to Pamela Scholl (Board Chairman/President). 9 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Dr Scholl Foundation
How much does Dr Scholl Foundation give each year?
Dr Scholl Foundation gave $8.9M across 410 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $8.1M across 365 grants.
What is Dr Scholl Foundation's typical grant size?
Dr Scholl Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $10,000, and its average grant was $21,774, across 410 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Dr Scholl Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Dr Scholl Foundation give grants?
Dr Scholl Foundation's top state is Illinois, with 46% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were District of Columbia (14%) and Colorado (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Chicago, IL (156 grants), Washington, DC (20 grants), Phoenix, AZ (14 grants) and New York, NY (8 grants).
Does Dr Scholl Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 410 grants with a stated purpose on Dr Scholl Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Scholarship program" (3 grants).
Who are Dr Scholl Foundation's largest grantees?
Dr Scholl Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Trust for the National Mall ($500,000), University of Notre Dame ($250,000) and Saints Faith Hope & Charity Parish ($225,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 5 grants to individuals ($55,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 11% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Dr Scholl Foundation?
Dr Scholl Foundation reported $211.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $11.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $10.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Dr Scholl Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to provide financial assistance to organizations committed to improving the world. Its website names innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion as values informing that work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Dr Scholl Foundation?
Submit an LOI through the foundation’s online portal; applicants invited to proceed submit a full application through the same portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Dr Scholl Foundation's EIN?
Dr Scholl Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-6068724. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 3, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 7, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 4, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 4, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Dr Scholl Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Dr Scholl Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/dr-scholl-foundation-morg_036736b104ec4389b742f3017d92590b
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_366068724_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Dr Scholl Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/dr-scholl-foundation-morg_036736b104ec4389b742f3017d92590b},
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 Dr Scholl 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.
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