The Schlinger Chrisman Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 2004, it operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with tax-exempt status. The foundation awards grants to charitable organizations across multiple focus areas.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$3.1M
+7.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$2.9M
-12.4% YoY
Grant Count
68
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$42K
-12.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Schlinger Chrisman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $104K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's primary program supports grants awarded to charitable organizations in the following areas:
- Youth programs
- Animal welfare
- Performing arts
- Community-based programs
- Museum research and exhibits
- Environmental conservation
Grantmaking
The foundation made 40 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024), with a total giving amount of $2,850,000.
Grant Range
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Nevada.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $3,093,186
- Total Revenues: $3,091,181
- Total Expenses: $2,888,703
- Total Giving: $2,850,000
Historical Data (2023):
- Revenue: $2.95M
- Expenses: $3.27M
- Total Assets: $2.89M
- Total Liabilities: $0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $3,093,186 | $2,890,708 | $3,217,916 |
| Revenue | $3,091,181 | $2,945,719 | $3,259,218 |
| Expenses | $2,888,703 | $3,272,927 | $3,303,923 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $2,884,117 | $3,270,963 | $3,302,554 |
| Net Investment Income | $89,096 | $93,755 | $5,849 |
| Distributable Amount | $104,076 | $100,978 | $71,320 |
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
240 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Central Coast Ocean Adventures ($325,000), Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts ($235,000), Anacapa School ($172,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALLAN HANCOCK COLLEGE SANTA MARIA, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $25,000 |
| ANACAPA SCHOOL SANTA BARBARA, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $172,000 |
| ANIMAL SAMARITANS THOUSAND PALMS, CA | SUPPORT FOR ANIMALS. | $25,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA LOS PADRES COUNCIL SANTA BARBARA, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $25,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA VENTURA COUNCIL CAMARILLO, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $25,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA WESTERN LOS ANGELES VAN NUYS, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF COACHELLA VALLEY PALM DESERT, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $25,000 |
| BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF SANTA BARBARA SANTA BARBARA, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $25,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA COACHELLA VALLEY SCOUTS INDIO, CA | SUPPORT FOR YOUTH. | $15,000 |
| CALIFORNIA COAST HORSE RESCUE OAK VIEW, CA | SUPPORT FOR ANIMALS. | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Northern Trust Company serves as trustee for the foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| SARAH SCHLINGER CHRISMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| ROGER PACKARD CHRISMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| CAROLYN CHRISMAN | TRUSTEE | 0.5 | — |
| NORTHERN TRUST | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
Opera Santa Barbara announced receipt of a Chrisman Grant, indicating ongoing support for performing arts organizations in the foundation's service areas.
Opera Santa Barbara Announces New Chrisman Grant and a Special Bequest -Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation fund?
The foundation's primary program supports grants awarded to charitable organizations in the following areas: • Youth programs • Animal welfare • Performing arts • Community-based programs • Museum research and exhibits • Environmental conservation
How do I apply for a grant from Schlinger Chrisman Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** The foundation made 40 grants in its most recent fiscal year (2024), with a total giving amount of $2,850,000. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $325,000. **Recent Grants (2024):** • Central Coast Ocean Adventures: $325,000 (Youth support) • The Granada Theatre: $235,000 (Performing Arts) • The Anacapa School: $172,000 (Youth support) The foundation distributed a total of $2,587,500 across 54 grants in 2024.
Where does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations in California, New York, and Nevada.
What size grants does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation award?
In 2024, Schlinger Chrisman Foundation awarded 68 grants totaling $2.9M — an average of about $42K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Schlinger Chrisman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Schlinger Chrisman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $104K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's EIN?
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-0096038. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Schlinger Chrisman 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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