The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Cleveland, Ohio. Its 2021 filing is marked as the organization’s final return, indicating that it appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation gave $4.3M across 13 grants in 2021 (avg $332K), mostly in Ohio. Source: 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2021)
- $4,318,000
- +2449.0% vs 2020
- Grants made (2021)
- 13
- -27.8% vs 2020
- Average grant
- $332,154
- +3429.4% vs 2020
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Primary geography
- Ohio (100% of itemized 2021 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2021 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2021; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Its final-return status means this should not be treated as current application guidance.
- Contact
Mailing address: Co J Consolo 600 Superior Ave 21, Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 348-5400
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2021
The largest 2021 recipient was Cleveland Foundation for College Now ($2.0M). Together the top 10 received $4.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
31 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 23 grants of 31 (74%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All reported 2021 grant dollars were allocated to recipients in Ohio, although the filing also lists two grants to Colorado organizations.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2021 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation gives
- 67% of 2021 grantees were also funded in 2020. Method
- In 2021 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021). 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 2021, annual grant giving ranged from $169K (2020) to $4.3M (2021). In 2021 it made 13 grants totaling $4.3M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Foundation for College Now Cleveland, OH | General | $2,000,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | General | $1,700,000 |
| Bowling Green State University (Knight) Bowling Green, OH | General | $250,000 |
| Cleveland Foundation for CVNP Cleveland, OH | General | $150,000 |
| Fidelity Charitable Cincinnati, OH | General | $100,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland (Scholarships) Cleveland, OH | Scholarships | $50,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland Cleveland, OH | Operating Expenses | $50,000 |
| Conservancy Cuyahoga Valley National Park Peninsula, OH | General | $7,500 |
| Denver Dumb Friends Denver, CO | General | $3,000 |
| Make a Wish Foundation of Colorado Greenwood Village, CO | General | $3,000 |
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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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | — | $8,754 | $4,463,225 | $4,318,000 | 13 | $4,408,472 | — | $48,356 |
| 2020 | $4,441,438 | $1,607,148 | $277,180 | $169,400 | 18 | — | $1,544,287 | $177,729 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2021 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2021 grants included support for College Now, which works on college access; the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland, which serves young people; Bowling Green State University; and organizations connected with Cuyahoga Valley National Park. These descriptions reflect the grantees’ identities and the purposes listed in the filing, not a stated foundation mission.
Grantmaking
In 2021, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $4,318,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $2,000,000, with a median of $50,000. Its largest reported grants were $2,000,000 to Cleveland Foundation for College Now and $1,700,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland, both for general purposes. Other grants included $250,000 to Bowling Green State University (Knight), $150,000 to Cleveland Foundation for CVNP, and $100,000 to Fidelity Charitable.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2021 filing lists Bernard L Karr as president, Thomas F Kirchendorfer as vice president, and Jeffery P Consolo as treasurer.
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation is led by Bernard L. Karr, President on every filing since 2020; all 3 officers listed in 2021 are compensated.
Officers on the 2021 filing
Bernard L. Karr
President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $5K (2021)
Jeffery P. Consolo
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $4K (2021)
Thomas F. Kirchendorfer
Vice President
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
$10K (2020) → $4K (2021)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2021. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2021 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2021 filing was $5K, to Bernard L Karr (President). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation
How much does The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation give each year?
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation gave $4.3M across 13 grants in 2021, according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2020 it gave $169K across 18 grants.
What is The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2021 was $50,000, and its average grant was $332,154, across 13 grants on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation give grants?
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Ohio: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Cleveland, OH (6 grants).
Does The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's 2021 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's largest 2021 grantees include Cleveland Foundation for College Now ($2,000,000), Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland ($1,750,000 across 2 grants) and Bowling Green State University (Knight) ($250,000), according to its 2021 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 93% of its itemized 2021 grant dollars.
What does The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2021 grants included support for College Now, which works on college access; the Boys & Girls Club of Cleveland, which serves young people; Bowling Green State University; and organizations connected with Cuyahoga Valley National Park. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests; it states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
How much is The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2021, The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $48K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's EIN?
The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1520141. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2021.
Does The Fred E Scholl Charitable 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 2020–2021
Live grants for the work The Fred E Scholl Charitable Foundation funds
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