The Schwartz Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2003 and based in Fairfield, Iowa. Founded by Eric Schwartz, the foundation reflects a commitment to consciousness-based education, educational institutions, scholarship initiatives, and community development projects. The foundation is located at 1776 Pleasant Plain Road, Fairfield, IA 52556.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$3.7M
+12.7% YoY
Grant Count
38
+40.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$98K
-19.9% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports educational institutions, consciousness-based programs, scholarship initiatives, and community development projects. Primary funding focus areas include education, philanthropy and grantmaking, human services, poverty alleviation, and science education. The foundation does not specify formal grant programs with particular application cycles; grantmaking is conducted through trustee discretion on a rolling basis.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not have formal grant programs with specific application cycles. Grantmaking is conducted through trustee discretion on a rolling basis.
Grant Range
$5,000 to $1,291,889
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Iowa with national and limited international support. Recent grantmaking extends to New York, California, and international recipients including Thailand and Africa.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets:
- Total assets: $32,781,517 (as of 2024)
Annual Activity:
- Total revenue (2024): $13,206,644
- Total expenses (2024): $4,176,468
- Total giving (2024): $3,731,235 to $4,078,120
Contributions:
- The foundation received substantial contributions of $11.8 million in 2024
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
144 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Maharishi International University Foundation ($1,291,889), Maharishi International University ($673,746), Maharishi School ($300,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| AFRICA COLLEGE FUND FAIRFIELD, IA | MAHARISHI INVINCIBILITY SCHOOL FOR GIRLS AND THE MAHARISHI ECO-CAMPUS SUPPORT | $250,000 |
| BRAHMANANDA SARASWATI FOUNDATION FAIRFIELD, IA | SUPPORT FOR AFRICAN WOMEN AND GIRLS ORGANIZATION | $150,000 |
| CARE FOUNDATION ATLANTA, GA | SUPPORT FOR CARE IMPACT AWARDS | $2,500 |
| COLLATERAL REPAIR PROJECT BROOKLYN, NY | SUPPORT SUPER GIRLS PROGRAM | $10,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF JACKSON HOLE JACKSON, WY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT FOR RENA BOONE RETIREMENT SCHOLARSHIP FUND | $1,800 |
| DAVID LYNCH FOUNDATION NEW YORK, NY | SUPPORT FOR THE HEALTHY FAMILIES/HEALTHY COMMUNITIES PROGRAM | $250,000 |
| ENVIRONMENTAL DEFENSE FUND NEW YORK, NY | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
| EVERGLADES FOUNDATION PALMETTO BAY, FL | SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH INITIATIVES | $10,000 |
| FOREST TRENDS ASSOCIATION WASHINGTON, DC | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Eric Schwartz - President and Trustee (serves without compensation)
- Kelly Schwartz - Trustee (serves without compensation)
Eric Schwartz is the founder and Executive Chairman of Cambridge Investment Research, one of the largest independent broker-dealers in the United States. He began practicing Transcendental Meditation at Amherst College in 1971 and credits this practice with contributing to his business success. He has donated approximately 25% of Cambridge Investment Research's stock to his charitable foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERIC SCHWARTZ | PRESIDENT/TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
| KELLY SCHWARTZ | TRUSTEE | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has supported various initiatives including donations to Howard University's Grace Grant Fund for pre-med students, funding for the Lustgarten Foundation's pancreatic cancer research efforts, and social value initiatives advancing healthcare access in Africa. The foundation has also established fellowship programs for liberal arts graduating seniors through partnerships with educational institutions.
Schwartz Family Foundation Donates to Howard University's ...Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Schwartz Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports educational institutions, consciousness-based programs, scholarship initiatives, and community development projects. Primary funding focus areas include education, philanthropy and grantmaking, human services, poverty alleviation, and science education. The foundation does not specify formal grant programs with particular application cycles; grantmaking is conducted through trustee discretion on a rolling basis.
How do I apply for a grant from Schwartz Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 38 grants in 2024 • Grant range: $5,000 to $1,291,889 • Typical grant median: $10,000 • Annual giving: approximately $4 million **Recent Grants (2024):** • Maharishi International University Foundation Incorporated: $1,291,889 (Support for the Dhammacharinee Wittaya School in Thailand) • Maharishi International University (MUM): $673,746 (Support for Digital Delivery and Infrastructure Development) • Africa College Fund: $250,000 (Maharishi Invincibility School for Gi…
Where does Schwartz Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily supports organizations in Iowa with national and limited international support. Recent grantmaking extends to New York, California, and international recipients including Thailand and Africa.
What size grants does Schwartz Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Schwartz Family Foundation awarded 38 grants totaling $3.7M — an average of about $98K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Schwartz Family Foundation's EIN?
Schwartz Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 43-6900504. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Schwartz Family 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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