Joseph J Schott Foundation
The Joseph J Schott Foundation is a private foundation based in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. Its stated purpose is to advance racial justice in K–12 education as a BIPOC-led national fund and movement-building organization, working with grassroots grantee partners to build community organizations’ capacity and strengthen parent- and youth-led initiatives.
Joseph J Schott Foundation at a glance
In short: Joseph J Schott Foundation gave $502K across 56 grants in 2024 (avg $9K), top state South Carolina. 34% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $501,500
- +32.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 56
- +9.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $8,955
- +20.7% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $9,069,497
- +22.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 34% first-time grantees (19 of 56, 2024)
- Primary geography
- South Carolina (42% 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 Joseph J Schott Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The filing says grant requests are sent to the attention of the trustee listed on the filing. It identifies William Dunne Saal as the contact. The foundation states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. No application materials beyond a grant request are specified, and the filing lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: William Dunne Saal
Mailing address: 703 Olde Central Way, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
Phone: (843) 670-8716
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joseph J Schott Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Schott Communities ($115K). Together the top 10 received $290K.
Grant Size Distribution
229 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 223 grants of 229 (97%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes itself as a national fund working particularly in the Northeast, South, and West. In 2024, 42% of grant dollars went to recipients in South Carolina, 33% to Florida, 11% to Michigan, 6% to Ohio, and 2% to Texas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 56 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Joseph J Schott Foundation open to new grantees?
34%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 19 of 56 grantees (34%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $10K; repeat grants $8K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.
- 63% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+10%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 99% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. 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 $367K (2022) to $502K (2024). In 2024 it made 56 grants totaling $502K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Schott Communities Cooper City, FL | General Operation | $115,000 |
| Trident Academy Mount Pleasant, SC | General Operation | $50,000 |
| Carolina Art Association Charleston, SC | General Operation | $25,000 |
| Porter-Gaud Foundation Charleston, SC | Renewal Capital Campaign | $25,000 |
| Roper Hospital Foundation Charleston, SC | General Operation | $25,000 |
| Cleveland Clinic Beachwood, OH | General Operation | $10,000 |
| Cristo Rey Columbus High School Columbus, OH | General Operation | $10,000 |
| Dee Norton Lowcountry Children's Center Charleston, SC | Above and Beyond Capital | $10,000 |
| Harbor Springs Historical Society Harbor Springs, MI | General Operation | $10,000 |
| McLaren N Michigan Hospital Foundation Petoskey, MI | General Operation | $10,000 |
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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 | $9,069,497 | $238,021 | $701,417 | $501,500 | 56 | $616,885 | $151,743 | $625,303 |
| 2023 | $7,386,578 | $781,470 | $850,604 | $378,500 | 51 | $551,736 | $482,602 | $547,029 |
| 2022 | $9,953,433 | $336,469 | $527,970 | $367,000 | 46 | $464,346 | $272,846 | $579,723 |
| 2021 | $10,129,137 | $592,183 | $631,138 | $455,500 | 39 | $548,705 | $130,325 | $626,872 |
| 2020 | $10,071,906 | $-81,778 | $614,749 | $465,500 | 37 | — | $183,735 | $533,396 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joseph J Schott Foundation reported a distributable amount of $625K 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 advance racial justice in K–12 education. It describes its work as funding and providing strategic support to grassroots community organizations and parent- and youth-led initiatives.
Its 2024 grantees included organizations with varied missions. Trident Academy describes its work as using individualized, multisensory, research-based teaching for K–12 children with learning differences. The Carolina Art Association says the Gibbes Museum of Art engages people with art and artists, preserves art connected to Charleston, and provides opportunities to learn and be inspired. The Porter-Gaud Foundation says it supports education programs for Porter-Gaud School and affiliated charities. Other grantees describe work in child protection and family healing, poverty, domestic and sexual violence, homelessness, and hunger.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 56 grants totaling $501,500. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $115,000, with a median grant of $5,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $115,000 to Schott Communities for general operation and $50,000 to Trident Academy for general operation. The foundation also gave $25,000 each to the Carolina Art Association for general operation and the Porter-Gaud Foundation for a renewal capital campaign. Other listed grants included $10,000 to Dee Norton Lowcountry Children’s Center for above-and-beyond capital, and $10,000 each to Cleveland Clinic, Cristo Rey Columbus High School, Harbor Springs Historical Society, McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital Foundation, MUSC Foundation, and North Michigan Habitat for Humanity; the stated purposes for these grants were general operation.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists William Dunne Saal as president, Elizabeth S Saal as vice president and treasurer, and R Gregory Schott as secretary.
Joseph J Schott Foundation is led by William Dunne Saal, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
William Dunne Saal
President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2024)
Elizabeth S. Saal
Vice President & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (2024)
R. Gregory Schott
Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $36K (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 $36K, to Elizabeth S Saal (Vice President/Treasurer). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Joseph J Schott Foundation
How much does Joseph J Schott Foundation give each year?
Joseph J Schott Foundation gave $502K across 56 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $379K across 51 grants.
What is Joseph J Schott Foundation's typical grant size?
Joseph J Schott Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $8,955, across 56 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joseph J Schott Foundation that year got $10K on average.
Where does Joseph J Schott Foundation give grants?
Joseph J Schott Foundation's top state is South Carolina, with 42% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Florida (33%) and Michigan (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Charleston, SC (12 grants), N Charleston, SC (4 grants), Harbor Springs, MI (4 grants) and Naples, FL (3 grants).
Does Joseph J Schott Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 96% of Joseph J Schott Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (54 of 56) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Joseph J Schott Foundation's largest grantees?
Joseph J Schott Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Schott Communities ($115,000), Trident Academy ($50,000) and Carolina Art Association ($25,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 38% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joseph J Schott Foundation?
Joseph J Schott Foundation reported $9.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $617K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $625K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Joseph J Schott Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to advance racial justice in K–12 education. It describes its work as funding and providing strategic support to grassroots community organizations and parent- and youth-led initiatives. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joseph J Schott Foundation?
The filing says grant requests are sent to the attention of the trustee listed on the filing. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joseph J Schott Foundation's EIN?
Joseph J Schott Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 34-6513748. 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
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joseph J Schott Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 14, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-j-schott-foundation-morg_009b76728aba4f27aff4a6ee0c6e1f05
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_346513748_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joseph J Schott Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joseph-j-schott-foundation-morg_009b76728aba4f27aff4a6ee0c6e1f05},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-14. 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 Joseph J Schott 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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