Schlinger Chrisman Foundation
The Schlinger Chrisman Foundation is a private foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Its 2024 filing describes grants to charitable organizations supporting youth, animals, the performing arts, and community-based programs.
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation at a glance
In short: Schlinger Chrisman Foundation gave $2.9M across 68 grants in 2024 (avg $42K), mostly in California. 10% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $2,850,000
- -12.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 68
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $41,912
- -12.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $3,093,186
- +7.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 10% first-time grantees (7 of 68, 2024)
- Primary geography
- California (99% 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 Schlinger Chrisman Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 803878, Chicago, IL 60680
Phone: (805) 969-5079
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Schlinger Chrisman Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Central Coast Ocean Adventures ($325K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
295 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 199 grants of 295 (67%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 99% of grant dollars went to recipients in California, 1% to recipients in New York, and less than 1% to recipients in Nevada. The listed grants show substantial support for organizations in an individual recipient, California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 68 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Schlinger Chrisman Foundation open to new grantees?
10%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 68 grantees (10%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $45K. How we count
Medians: $20K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 85% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $2.0M (2020) to $3.3M (2022). In 2024 it made 68 grants totaling $2.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Central Coast Ocean Adventures Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Youth. | $325,000 |
| Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Performing Arts. | $235,000 |
| Anacapa School Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Youth. | $172,000 |
| Santa Barbara Symphony Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Performing Arts. | $170,000 |
| Catalina Island Conservancy Long Beach, CA | Support for the Environment. | $150,000 |
| Santa Barbara Maritime Museum Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Museum Research and Exhibits. | $150,000 |
| Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Youth. | $150,000 |
| Opera Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA | Support for Performing Arts. | $100,000 |
| Western University of Health Sciences Pomona, CA | Support for Health Care and Education. | $100,000 |
| Eisenhower Medical Center Rancho Mirage, CA | Support for Health Care and Education. | $50,000 |
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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 | $3,093,186 | $3,091,181 | $2,888,703 | $2,850,000 | 68 | $2,884,117 | $89,096 | $104,076 |
| 2023 | $2,890,708 | $2,945,719 | $3,272,927 | $3,252,000 | 68 | $3,270,963 | $93,755 | $100,978 |
| 2022 | $3,217,916 | $3,259,218 | $3,303,923 | $3,285,000 | 69 | $3,302,554 | $5,849 | $71,320 |
| 2021 | $3,262,621 | $3,286,959 | $2,341,467 | $2,320,000 | 50 | $2,340,117 | $609 | $72,033 |
| 2020 | $2,317,129 | $2,326,046 | $2,015,660 | $2,000,000 | 40 | — | $5,281 | $60,769 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that it awards grants for youth, animals, the performing arts, and community-based programs. Its 2024 grants also included support designated for the environment, health care and education, and museum research and exhibits.
Grantees’ own missions illustrate the kinds of organizations supported. The Scholarship Foundation of an individual recipient says it helps county students pursue college, graduate, and vocational education through information, advising, and scholarships. The an individual recipient Maritime Museum describes its work as creating exhibits and educational experiences celebrating the an individual recipient Channel and connections with the sea. An individual recipient describes itself as a provider of professional opera on the California Central Coast and a cultural organization serving the an individual recipient region.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 68 grants totaling $2,850,000. Grant amounts ranged from $2,500 to $325,000, with a median of $25,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $325,000 to Central Coast Ocean Adventures for youth support; $235,000 to Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts for performing arts support; $172,000 to Anacapa School for youth support; and $170,000 to an individual recipient Symphony for performing arts support. Other grants included $150,000 to Catalina Island Conservancy for environmental support, $150,000 to an individual recipient Maritime Museum for museum research and exhibits, and $150,000 to Scholarship Foundation of an individual recipient for youth support.
The foundation also awarded $100,000 to an individual recipient for performing arts support and $100,000 to Western University of Health Sciences for health care and education. Eisenhower Medical Center received $50,000 for health care and education, and an individual recipient Rescue Mission received $50,000. The latter organization describes its work as providing physical, emotional, educational, and spiritual resources to people struggling with homelessness and addiction.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Sarah Schlinger Chrisman, Roger Packard Chrisman, Carolyn Chrisman, and Northern Trust as trustees.
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's 2024 filing lists 4 officers; none of the 4 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Northern Trust
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$8K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Carolyn Chrisman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Roger Packard Chrisman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Schlinger Chrisman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 2023 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2023 filing was $20K, to Northern Trust (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about Schlinger Chrisman Foundation
How much does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation give each year?
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation gave $2.9M across 68 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 68 grants.
What is Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's typical grant size?
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $41,912, across 68 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Schlinger Chrisman Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation give grants?
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation gives mostly in California: 99% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Santa Barbara, CA (33 grants), Palm Desert, CA (5 grants), Van Nuys, CA (2 grants) and Carpinteria, CA (2 grants).
Does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 68 grants with a stated purpose on Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Youth." (22 grants), "Support for Animals." (17 grants) and "Support for Performing Arts." (13 grants).
Who are Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's largest grantees?
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Central Coast Ocean Adventures ($325,000), Santa Barbara Center for the Performing Arts ($235,000) and Anacapa School ($172,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 26% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Schlinger Chrisman Foundation?
Schlinger Chrisman Foundation reported $3.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $104K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation fund?
The foundation states that it awards grants for youth, animals, the performing arts, and community-based programs. Its 2024 grants also included support designated for the environment, health care and education, and museum research and exhibits. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Schlinger Chrisman Foundation?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Schlinger Chrisman Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 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). Schlinger Chrisman Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/schlinger-chrisman-foundation-morg_4f2775ccd0214055962f7e1b23503e4d
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_270096038_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Schlinger Chrisman Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/schlinger-chrisman-foundation-morg_4f2775ccd0214055962f7e1b23503e4d},
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 Schlinger Chrisman 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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