The Karla Scherer Foundation
The Karla Scherer Foundation is a private family foundation based in Chicago, Illinois. Established in 1989 as the result of a successful proxy contest waged by Karla Scherer for control of the company her father founded in 1930, the Foundation has evolved its mission over the past three decades to focus on education, arts and culture, and human services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$8.3M
+11.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$282K
+12.8% YoY
Grant Count
19
-17.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$15K
+36.5% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Karla Scherer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $385K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's primary mission centers on supporting education and American culture. Key focus areas include:
American Culture Studies: The Foundation provides substantial support to the University of Chicago for The Karla Scherer Center for the Study of American Culture, including funding for innovative graduate education and research on American Culture across the university.
Graduate Education & Research: The Foundation underwrites two dissertation fellowships each year, among the highest granted annually within the University of Chicago's Division of the Humanities.
Humanities Professorship: An endowment supports and maintains the Karla Scherer Professorship in American Culture within the Division of the Humanities at the University of Chicago.
Women in Education: Historically, the Foundation supported women at both undergraduate and graduate levels pursuing degrees in Economics or Finance at schools worldwide. In 2003, the focus shifted to support women studying the Humanities at the graduate level, specifically at the University of Chicago.
Arts and Culture: The Foundation supports arts and culture initiatives across multiple U.S. locations.
Grantmaking
For scholarship applicants, the Foundation requests a letter stating the school attended or planned, courses to be taken, and how education will be used in the chosen career. Applicants should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for prompt response.
Grant Range
s and Activity:**
Review Cycle
**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including:
- Arizona
- Connecticut
- Illinois (primary focus)
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- New York
- Ohio
- Virginia
Specific cities where funding has been directed include Alexandria, Chagrin Falls, and Chicago.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | Amount |
|---|---|
| Total Assets | $7.4–$8.2 million |
| Annual Giving | $250,000–$281,000 |
| Annual Expenses | $355,996 |
| Annual Revenue | $170,626 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $8,252,673 | $7,400,987 | $7,142,929 |
| Revenue | $313,693 | $170,626 | $326,376 |
| Expenses | $375,696 | $355,996 | $404,387 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $347,768 | $325,064 | $367,698 |
| Net Investment Income | $289,185 | $163,273 | $296,541 |
| Distributable Amount | $384,512 | $357,044 | $344,951 |
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
92 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Healthnetwork Foundation ($100,000), Project Freedive ($50,000), Newberry Library ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| FIELD MUSEUM CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| FRIENDS OF MUSIC CHRIST CHURCH ALEXANDRIA, VA | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| HEALTHNETWORK FOUNDATION CHAGRIN FALLS, OH | GENERAL FUND | $100,000 |
| HELLENIC MUSEUM OF MICHIGAN DETROIT, MI | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| ILLINOIS POLICY INSTITUTE CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $11,850 |
| KBACH FRIENDS OF PUBLIC RADIO ARIZONA TEMPE, AZ | GENERAL FUND | $1,500 |
| LEADER DOGS FOR THE BLIND ROCHESTER HILLS, MI | GENERAL FUND | $5,000 |
| LYRIC OPERA OF CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | GENERAL FUND | $10,000 |
| MICHIGAN SUPREME COURT HISTORICAL SOCIETY LANSING, MI | GENERAL FUND | $203 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Karla Scherer - Chairman, CEO, and Trustee of The Karla Scherer Foundation
Additional board members include:
- Hadley Kimberlin - Treasurer
- Amanda McKenzie - Secretary
Notably, all key personnel serve without compensation.
Board Affiliations: Karla Scherer serves on the boards of the Chicago Humanities Festival, Newberry Library, and the Wellesley College Business Leadership Council.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| KARLA SCHERER | CHRM-BD, CEO & TRUSTEE | 20 | — |
| HADLEY KIMBERLIN | TREASURER | 2 | — |
| AMANDA MCKENZIE | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Karla Scherer Foundation fund?
The Foundation's primary mission centers on supporting education and American culture. Key focus areas include: • **American Culture Studies**: The Foundation provides substantial support to the University of Chicago for The Karla Scherer Center for the Study of American Culture, including funding for innovative graduate education and research on American Culture across the university. • **Graduate Education & Research**: The Foundation underwrites two dissertation fellowships each year, among …
How do I apply for a grant from The Karla Scherer Foundation?
**Grant Sizes and Activity:** • Total assets: $7.4–$8.2 million • Annual giving: Approximately $250,000–$281,000 • Typical award range: $150–$110,000 • The Foundation is open to new applicants **Application Process:** For scholarship applicants, the Foundation requests a letter stating the school attended or planned, courses to be taken, and how education will be used in the chosen career. Applicants should include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for prompt response. **Application Deadline:**
Where does The Karla Scherer Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds initiatives across multiple U.S. states and cities, including: • Arizona • Connecticut • Illinois (primary focus) • Michigan • Minnesota • New York • Ohio • Virginia Specific cities where funding has been directed include Alexandria, Chagrin Falls, and Chicago.
What size grants does The Karla Scherer Foundation award?
In 2024, The Karla Scherer Foundation awarded 19 grants totaling $282K — an average of about $15K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Karla Scherer Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Karla Scherer Foundation reported a distributable amount of $385K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Karla Scherer Foundation's EIN?
The Karla Scherer Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 38-2877392. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Karla Scherer 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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