Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation
The Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation is a private foundation based in Hays, Kansas. It is dedicated to improving quality of life in the communities it serves, with primary support for education, healthcare, the arts, and economic development.
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation at a glance
In short: Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation gave $3.9M across 70 grants in 2025 (avg $55K), mostly in Kansas. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,876,141
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 70
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $55,373
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $65,590,589
- +2.2% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (8 of 52, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Kansas (94% 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 Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Submit the proposal and supporting documents through the foundation’s application process; the 2023 filing also describes submitting a letter outlining the request with supporting materials. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The board meets quarterly and reviews applications at those meetings.
- Deadline
- The board meets quarterly and reviews applications at those meetings.
- Contact
Application contact: Gary Shorman President
Mailing address: PO Box 916, Hays, KS 67601
Phone: (785) 625-1772
Website: https://schmidtfoundation.net
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Hays Arts Council ($678K across 4 grants). Together the top 10 received $2.9M.
Grant Size Distribution
458 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 364 grants of 458 (79%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Hays and Ellis County as its primary community focus, with secondary consideration for communities where the Schmidt family has operated farms, ranches, and broadcasting and broadband businesses. Its 2023 filing says that, after these needs are met, it may consider projects of merit elsewhere in Kansas. In 2025, 94% of grant dollars went to Kansas recipients, 4% to Nebraska, 1% to Missouri, and 1% to the District of Columbia.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 70 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 8 of 52 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $61K; repeat grants $77K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 65% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 98% 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 (2020–2025). 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 $2.0M (2020) to $3.9M (2025). In 2025 it made 70 grants totaling $3.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Hays Arts Council Hays, KS | General Operations | $333,333 |
| Hays Arts Council Hays, KS | General Operations | $333,333 |
| FHSU Foundation Hays, KS | General Operations | $300,000 |
| FHSU Foundation Hays, KS | General Operations | $250,000 |
| Fort Hays Tech North Central Foundation Hays, KS | General Operations | $250,000 |
| Grow Hays Inc Hays, KS | General Operations | $250,000 |
| High Plains Mental Health Center Hays, KS | General Operations | $250,000 |
| High Plains Mental Health Center Hays, KS | General Operations | $250,000 |
| KVC Foundation Olathe, KS | General Operations | $250,000 |
| DSNWK Hays, KS | General Operations | $170,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $65,590,589 | $6,248,615 | $4,731,744 | $3,876,141 | 70 | $3,876,141 | $5,274,312 | $3,966,043 |
| 2024 | $64,178,631 | $7,121,017 | $4,500,345 | $3,590,970 | 80 | $3,590,970 | $5,963,059 | $3,810,082 |
| 2023 | $61,657,273 | $4,318,117 | $4,684,524 | $3,809,800 | 92 | $3,809,800 | $3,041,754 | $3,595,930 |
| 2022 | $62,190,844 | $4,179,897 | $4,577,328 | $3,602,800 | 87 | $3,602,800 | $2,385,955 | $3,819,559 |
| 2021 | $62,642,391 | $3,187,235 | $4,087,655 | $3,290,217 | 129 | — | $2,139,021 | $4,466,004 |
| 2020 | $63,510,811 | $26,330,056 | $2,800,594 | $2,034,571 | 76 | — | — | $3,281,801 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.0M 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 mission is to improve quality of life in its communities. Its four broadly defined funding areas are education, healthcare, the arts, and economic development. Examples described by the foundation include scholarships for nursing students at NCK-Tech and students at Fort Hays State University, support for community food programs, a contribution toward an American Red Cross blood vehicle, the Center for Art and Design at Fort Hays State University, and Hays’s fully accessible ARC Park and Splash Pad.
Its 2023 filing describes Hays and Ellis County as the primary community focus and says its commitment extends secondarily to communities where the Schmidt family has operated businesses. It identifies support for other Kansas projects and broadcasting and broadband needs as additional considerations after those primary needs are met.
The foundation’s 2025 grantees illustrate the range of organizations it supports. Hays Arts Council describes its mission as providing cultural and fine-art education to the community, schools, and university in Ellis County. High Plains Mental Health Center says it works to ensure the availability of quality mental-health services. Fort Hays Tech North Central Foundation says it supports the FHSU–North Central Kansas Technical College. Grow Hays describes work to attract employment and investment and address local workforce needs. KVC Foundation says its mission is to enhance the lives of children and families through medical and behavioral healthcare, social services, and education. Ellis County Historical Society describes work to collect and preserve the county’s historical materials and sites.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 70 grants totaling $3,876,141. Individual grants ranged from $300 to $333,333, with a median of $20,000. The largest listed awards included two $333,333 grants to Hays Arts Council, $300,000 and $250,000 grants to FHSU Foundation, and $250,000 grants to Fort Hays Tech North Central Foundation, Grow Hays, High Plains Mental Health Center (two awards), and KVC Foundation. Other listed awards included $170,000 to DSNWK, $100,000 to Ellis County Historical Society, and $50,000 to TMP-Marian High. The filing lists these grants for general operations.
The foundation’s website asks applicants to submit a proposal of six pages or less with supporting documents in a single ZIP file. The requested materials include an organizational and project overview; project goals, implementation, expected impact, and evaluation plan; community partners and coordination; a plan for funding beyond the grant period; project staff qualifications; other anticipated funding; current organizational and project budgets; recent financial statements; and, for online applications, the most recent Form 990. A first-time applicant must also include its IRS determination letter confirming 501(c)(3) status. The foundation’s 2023 filing describes the application as a letter outlining the request with supporting materials and says the board reviews applications at its quarterly meetings.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gary Shorman as trustee and president, Joseph W. Jeter as trustee, and Randy Walker as trustee. The foundation’s 2023 filing names Gary Shorman as president for application contact.
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation is led by Gary Shorman, Trustee & President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gary Shorman
Trustee & President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$52K (2020) → $79K (2025)
Joseph W. Jeter
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $49K (2025)
Randy Walker
Trustee
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$34K (2020) → $49K (2025)
Former officers (1)
- Former: Kurt David (2020–2024) — Trustee
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 $79K, to Gary Shorman (Trustee/President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation
How much does Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation give each year?
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation gave $3.9M across 70 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.6M across 80 grants.
What is Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's typical grant size?
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $55,373, across 70 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation that year got $61K on average.
Where does Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation give grants?
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation gives mostly in Kansas: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Hays, KS (41 grants), North Platte, NE (3 grants), Hutchinson, KS (3 grants) and Manhattan, KS (3 grants).
Does Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (70 of 70) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's largest grantees?
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Hays Arts Council ($677,666 across 4 grants), FHSU Foundation ($586,600 across 5 grants) and High Plains Mental Health Center ($500,000 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation?
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation reported $65.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $3.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.0M (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 Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life in its communities. Its four broadly defined funding areas are education, healthcare, the arts, and economic development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation?
Submit the proposal and supporting documents through the foundation’s application process; the 2023 filing also describes submitting a letter outlining the request with supporting materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's EIN?
Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 48-1077463. 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 April 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 18, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 9, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 14, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 7, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/robert-e-and-patricia-schmidt-foundation-morg_d6afdb8481ad43feabc45d212fd91c71
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_481077463_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Robert E and Patricia Schmidt Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/robert-e-and-patricia-schmidt-foundation-morg_d6afdb8481ad43feabc45d212fd91c71},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Robert E and Patricia Schmidt 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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