The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
The Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, established in 2004 by Best Buy founder Dick Schulze. It supports initiatives in education, health care, and human services, with most of its grantmaking focused on working- and middle-class families in designated Minnesota and Florida counties.
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation gave $47.9M across 1,431 grants in 2024 (avg $33K), mostly in Minnesota. 63% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $47,882,684
- +16.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 1,431
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $33,461
- +26.6% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $218,284,924
- +4.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 63% first-time grantees (647 of 1,028, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Minnesota (71% 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 The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation’s filing directs applicants to its grant application guidelines for forms, materials, deadlines, and award restrictions, and lists the foundation manager as the contact for application inquiries. The foundation says its 2027 grantmaking will be by invitation.
- Contact
Application contact: Foundation Manager Richard M Schulz
Mailing address: 6600 France Ave S Ste 550, Minneapolis, MN 55435
Phone: (952) 324-8900
Website: https://schulzefamilyfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Grants
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Deadline not published
Schulze College Scholarships Grant
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Amount
US $20,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Schulze Early Learning Scholarship Program Grant
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
Amount
US $500 - US $3,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was American Cancer Society ($10.0M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $26.2M.
Organizations only. It also paid 320 grants to individuals ($3,240,012), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
7,548 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 6,702 grants of 7,548 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says most of its grant-producing activities support nonprofits serving working- and middle-class families in seven Minnesota counties—Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington—and five Florida counties—Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee. It also reports some national work. In 2024, 71% of grant dollars went to Minnesota recipients and 21% to Florida recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 1,431 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation open to new grantees?
63%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 647 of 1,028 grantees (63%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $21K; repeat grants $82K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $27K repeat.
- 29% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 433% of 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 $41.0M (2023) to $48.8M (2020). In 2024 it made 1,431 grants totaling $47.9M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Cancer Society Eagan, MN | HEALTH | $10,000,000 |
| Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation Tampa, FL | HEALTH | $3,000,000 |
| Catholic Schools Center of Excellence Minneapolis, MN | Education | $1,873,000 |
| Univ of St Thomas St. Paul, MN | Education | $1,266,325 |
| Catholic Schools Center of Excellence Minneapolis, MN | Education | $1,050,000 |
| Childrens Health Care Foundation Edina, MN | HEALTH | $1,000,000 |
| University of Minnesota Foundation - 2 Minneapolis, MN | Education | $1,000,000 |
| 5 grants to individuals Recipients not named | — | $1,852,312 |
| Catholic Charities Minneapolis, MN | Human Services | $700,000 |
| Catholic Charities Minneapolis, MN | Human Services | $700,000 |
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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 | $218,284,924 | $102,779,990 | $53,472,970 | $47,882,684 | 1,431 | $52,206,706 | $65,033,860 | $12,069,643 |
| 2023 | $209,175,254 | $68,124,046 | $46,465,192 | $40,971,167 | 1,550 | $45,153,870 | $41,441,261 | $11,031,671 |
| 2022 | $233,819,112 | $68,904,176 | $52,276,661 | $47,866,534 | 1,513 | $51,636,819 | $37,674,245 | $12,493,303 |
| 2021 | $250,424,427 | $45,882,285 | $52,871,204 | $48,758,830 | 1,496 | $51,808,421 | $16,291,517 | $14,913,888 |
| 2020 | $257,748,726 | $102,713,023 | $53,269,090 | $48,785,945 | 1,558 | — | $73,800,574 | $12,121,771 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $12.1M 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’s mission is “to strengthen and support qualified initiatives in education, health care and human services while working to develop innovative solutions to strengthen and protect humankind.”
Its stated priorities include health and healing through health care providers, as well as promising ideas that challenge the norm. In education and human services, it supports educational institutions, scholarships, and nonprofits offering effective learning experiences, alongside work addressing community needs.
Examples of the kinds of organizations it has supported include Catholic Schools Center of Excellence, which says it assists Catholic preschool and K–8 schools in pursuing excellence and increasing enrollment; Children’s Health Care Foundation, which says it raises community resources to support high-quality, family-centered pediatric care; and Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Jackson, which says it helps vulnerable people, especially children, women, and families. The American Cancer Society, which received a 2024 grant, describes its mission as improving the lives of people with cancer and their families through advocacy, research, and patient support.
The foundation also offers college scholarships. Its website describes awards for U.S. citizens attending an accredited four-year college or university full time, with satisfactory academic performance. It says candidates should show strong academic achievement and involvement in school, community, or church activities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 1,431 grants totaling $47,882,684. Individual grants ranged from $50 to $10 million, with a median of $5,000. Its largest listed grants included $10 million to the American Cancer Society for health; $3 million to Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation for health; and education grants of $1,873,000 to Catholic Schools Center of Excellence and $1,266,325 to the University of an individual recipient
The foundation also reported $40,971,167 across 1,550 grants in 2023 and $47,866,534 across 1,513 grants in 2022. For college scholarships, it says it awards up to 46 new $20,000 scholarships annually. The website states that applications for the 2026–27 scholarship cycle are closed and that applications for 2027–28 are expected to open in January 2027.
The foundation’s website says it will transition to invitation-only grantmaking beginning in 2027, with fewer grants at larger amounts. It describes this as a change in focus, not in overall financial impact.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Richard M. Schulze as director and Mark C. Dienhart as president and trustee. Trustees listed are Kevin S. Bergman, Ann L. Winblad, Steven A. Schumeister, Richard V. Schulze, Kathleen Blatz, Debra L. Schulze, Wilson Bradshaw, and Joseph Williamson.
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation is led by Mark C. Dienhart, President & Trustee since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Mark C. Dienhart
President & Trustee
President & CEO → President & Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
45 hrs/week
$424K (2020) → $595K (2024)
Ann L. Winblad
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra L. Schulze
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kevin S. Bergman
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Richard V. Schulze
Director & Trustee
Director & Trustee → Director, 2021
Director → Director & Trustee, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Steven A. Schumeister
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen Blatz
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Williamson
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Wilson Bradshaw
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Nancy Tellor (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Hoff (2021–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Allen U. Lenzmeier (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Robert H. Bruininks (2020–2021) — Trustee
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 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $595K, to Mark C Dienhart (President and Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation
How much does The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation give each year?
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation gave $47.9M across 1,431 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $41.0M across 1,550 grants.
What is The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $33,461, across 1,431 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation that year got $21K on average.
Where does The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation give grants?
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation gives mostly in Minnesota: 71% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Florida (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Minneapolis, MN (116 grants), St. Paul, MN (80 grants), Naples, FL (44 grants) and Fort Myers, FL (20 grants).
Does The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 1,431 grants with a stated purpose on The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Human Services" (926 grants), "Education" (467 grants) and "Health" (38 grants).
Who are The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include American Cancer Society ($10,005,000 across 2 grants), Catholic Schools Center of Excellence ($6,600,700 across 14 grants) and Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation ($3,000,550 across 2 grants), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 320 grants to individuals ($3,240,012), which are not listed by name. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation?
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation reported $218.3M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $52.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $12.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to strengthen and support qualified initiatives in education, health care and human services while working to develop innovative solutions to strengthen and protect humankind.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation?
The foundation’s filing directs applicants to its grant application guidelines for forms, materials, deadlines, and award restrictions, and lists the foundation manager as the contact for application inquiries. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's EIN?
The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-5588406. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated 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 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 5, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 13, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 9, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-m-schulze-family-foundation-morg_52624c81989040b1af460ff17a1dfb93
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_465588406_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-richard-m-schulze-family-foundation-morg_52624c81989040b1af460ff17a1dfb93},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-09. 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 The Richard M Schulze Family 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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