Schuler Education Foundation
Schuler Education Foundation is a private foundation based in Lake Bluff, Illinois. Its stated charitable activity is the Schuler Scholar Program, which equips high-achieving and underrepresented students to access and succeed at highly selective colleges and beyond.
Schuler Education Foundation at a glance
In short: Schuler Education Foundation gave $83K across 29 grants in 2025 (avg $3K), mostly in Illinois. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $83,125
- -93.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 29
- +2800.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $2,866
- -99.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $2,500
- Total assets
- $258,521
- -76.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Illinois (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Schuler Education Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Separately, the Schuler Scholar Program website says it is currently not accepting applications for new students.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 556, Lake Bluff, IL 60044
Phone: (312) 282-2817
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Schuler Education Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 72 grants of 79 (91%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars itemized for filing year 2025 went to recipients in Illinois. The program’s stated focus is on students who are typically first-generation college-bound, students of color, or from low-income families.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 29 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Schuler Education Foundation gives
- Giving fell 94% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $83K (2025) to $46.3M (2021). In 2025 it made 29 grants totaling $83K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 29 individual scholarships Recipients not named | — | $83,125 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $258,521 | $67,866 | $386,780 | $83,125 | 29 | $384,579 | — |
| 2024 | $1,077,449 | $-13,371,430 | $10,593,715 | $1,246,436 | 1 | $6,565,711 | $5,744,777 |
| 2023 | $43,199,313 | $24,563,971 | $16,323,510 | $2,024,207 | 1 | $10,373,660 | $23,055,796 |
| 2022 | $85,749,989 | $913,107 | $10,041,251 | $1,410,673 | 13 | $7,473,573 | $910,330 |
| 2021 | $54,673,241 | $7,067,242 | $57,988,681 | $46,331,096 | 35 | $57,941,255 | $6,851,263 |
| 2020 | $139,311,245 | $-46,113,689 | $21,775,454 | $11,057,614 | 19 | — | $1,050,022 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation states that the Schuler Scholar Program serves students who are typically first-generation college-bound, students of color, or from low-income families. It says the program has helped more than 1,800 students on their path to college and beyond.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 29 grants totaling $83,125. Grants ranged from $300 to $11,200, with a median of $2,500. The largest awards were to individual recipients for college scholarships and grants; the largest was $11,200. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Illinois. These awards are reported as grants to individuals, not as an application program for outside organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jack Schuler as president and secretary; Tanya Schuler Sharman, Therese Schuler Hoffman, Tino Schuler, Steven Pozkanzer, and Michael Gordon as vice presidents; and Matthew Strobeck as a board member.
Schuler Education Foundation is led by Jack W. Schuler, President & Secretary on every filing since 2020; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jack W. Schuler
President & Secretary
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tanya Schuler Sharman
Vice President
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$16K (2022) → $50K (2025)
Therese Schuler Hoffman
Vice President - Term
Vice President → Vice President - Term, 2025
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tino H. Schuler
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Strobeck
Board Member - Term
Board Member → Board Member - Term, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Gordon
Vice President - Term
Board Member → Vice President, 2022
Vice President → Vice President - Term, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven Pozkanzer
Vice President - Term
Vice President → Vice President - Term, 2025
On filings since 2021
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Jason Patenaude (2020–2024) — Executive Director
- Former: Renate R. Schuler (2020) — Treasurer
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 $50K, to Tanya Schuler Sharman (Vice President).
Frequently asked questions about Schuler Education Foundation
How much does Schuler Education Foundation give each year?
Schuler Education Foundation gave $83K across 29 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.2M across 1 grant.
What is Schuler Education Foundation's typical grant size?
Schuler Education Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $2,500, and its average grant was $2,866, across 29 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Schuler Education Foundation give grants?
Schuler Education Foundation gives mostly in Illinois: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there.
Does Schuler Education Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 29 grants with a stated purpose on Schuler Education Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "College Scholarships & Grants" (27 grants).
How large is Schuler Education Foundation?
Schuler Education Foundation reported $259K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Its revenue that year was $68K.
What does Schuler Education Foundation fund?
The foundation states that the Schuler Scholar Program serves students who are typically first-generation college-bound, students of color, or from low-income families. It says the program has helped more than 1,800 students on their path to college and beyond. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Schuler Education Foundation?
The foundation states that it 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 Schuler Education Foundation's EIN?
Schuler Education Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 36-4154510. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Schuler Education 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS July 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS July 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS July 14, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2024
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