The Schmidt Family Foundation is a private charitable foundation established in 2006 by Eric Schmidt and Wendy Schmidt. Based in Palo Alto, California, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization dedicated to advancing the wiser use of energy and natural resources while supporting efforts that empower communities to build resilient systems for food, water, and human resources.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.0B
+8.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$185.4M
+34.8% YoY
Grant Count
695
+27.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$267K
+5.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Schmidt Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $95.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is committed to offering programs that enrich the community, help people, and promote excellence. It seeks to be responsive to programs that nurture and strengthen communities.
Primary funding areas include:
- Environmental preservation and education
- Renewable energy
- Sustainable food and agriculture
- Climate change education and awareness
- Human rights
- Marine technology
- Community development
- Education
- Medical initiatives
- Human welfare
The foundation maintains several program initiatives including the 11th Hour Project, which funds events and activities related to climate change, renewable energy, sustainable agriculture, human rights, and marine technology. The foundation also sponsors community events through Remain Nantucket with social, climate, and environmental sustainability messages.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not restrict grantmaking to preselected organizations only and appears open to applications.
Grant Range
& Activity:**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation supports organizations primarily in California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with international grantmaking activity as well.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets & Revenue (2024):
- Total Assets: $1,990,498,177
- Total Revenue: $104,000,000
- Total Expenses: $228,000,000
Assets & Revenue (2023):
- Total Assets: $1,834,552,574
- Total Revenue: $116,291,888
- Total Expenses: $168,451,929
Staffing: The foundation employs 36 staff members and is likely staffed with dedicated paid professionals.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $1,990,498,177 | $1,834,552,574 | $1,589,082,861 |
| Revenue | $103,699,636 | $116,291,888 | $104,956,426 |
| Expenses | $227,730,180 | $168,451,929 | $144,654,900 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $209,140,998 | $164,231,009 | $135,979,021 |
| Net Investment Income | $126,053,240 | $191,857,962 | $132,541,346 |
| Distributable Amount | $95,127,396 | $86,147,286 | $87,965,985 |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Apparel Impact Institute ($2,000,000), Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc ($1,433,928), American Independent Foundation ($1,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 10000 DEGREES SAN RAFAEL, CA | FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP | $12,000 |
| 350ORG BOSTON, MA | PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA | $625,000 |
| 350VERMONT BURLINGTON, VT | ENCOURAGING A JUST TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS | $300,000 |
| 7G FOUNDATION PAUMA VALLEY, CA | ENCOURAGING A JUST TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS | $40,000 |
| A GREENER WORLD TERREBONNE, OR | WORKING TOWARDS A RESILIENT AND EQUITABLE FOOD SYSTEM | $100,000 |
| A GROWING CULTURE INC ASHEVILLE, NC | ADVANCING SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE IN AFRICA | $80,000 |
| ABALOBI ICT4FISHERIES | OCEAN STEWARDSHIP AND RESEARCH | $300,000 |
| ACKNOW COMMUNITY INITIATIVES INC NANTUCKET, MA | NANTUCKET: ENCOURAGING RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION | $100,000 |
| ACTERRA ACTION FOR A HEALTHY PLANET PALO ALTO, CA | LOCAL COMMUNITY SUPPORT IN CALIFORNIA | $20,000 |
| ACTIVATE GLOBAL INC BERKELEY, CA | CAPACITY BUILDING, CENTERING UNREPRESENTED VOICES IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL MOVEMENT | $322,024 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Wendy Schmidt – President/Director
- Eric Schmidt – Director
- Sophie Schmidt – Director
- Amy Rao – Director
- Maria Seferian – General Counsel/Director
- Joseph Sciortino – Executive Director/Director
- Frances Babb – Secretary (position listed in filings)
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| WENDY SCHMIDT | PRESIDENT/DIRECTOR | 20 | — |
| ERIC SCHMIDT | DIRECTOR | 0.5 | — |
| SOPHIE SCHMIDT | DIRECTOR | 0.25 | — |
| AMY RAO | DIRECTOR | 5 | — |
| MARIA SEFERIAN | GENERAL COUNSEL/DIRECTOR | 2 | — |
| JOSEPH SCIORTINO | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/DIRECTOR | 40 | $530,010 |
| FRANCES BABB | SECRETARY | 0.5 | — |
| JEANNE HUEY | CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER | 10 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has announced several recent initiatives:
The 11th Hour Project announced a new Indigenous Communities Program
The Schmidt Family Foundation\u2019s 11th Hour Project Announces New Indigenous\The foundation awarded $3.5 million through Schmidt Marine Technology Partners for the Global Sustainable Fisheries Initiative
The Dressage Foundation Announces New Schmidt Family L Education ProgramThe Dressage Foundation announced a new Schmidt Family Education Program Fund
The Dressage Foundation Announces New Schmidt Family L Education ProgramThe foundation maintains affiliations with Schmidt Sciences, Schmidt Ocean Institute, 11th Hour Racing, and Remain initiatives, reflecting its broad commitment to sustainability and community development across multiple sectors.
The Dressage Foundation Announces New Schmidt Family L Education ProgramSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Schmidt Family Foundation fund?
The foundation is committed to offering programs that enrich the community, help people, and promote excellence. It seeks to be responsive to programs that nurture and strengthen communities. Primary funding areas include: • Environmental preservation and education • Renewable energy • Sustainable food and agriculture • Climate change education and awareness • Human rights • Marine technology • Community development • Education • Medical initiatives • Human welfare The foundation maintains seve…
How do I apply for a grant from The Schmidt Family Foundation?
**Grant Range & Activity:** • Typical grant awards range from $400 to $8,480,000 • Median grant amount: $130,000 • The foundation made 695 grants in its most recent filing period • Total giving: $185,125,970 **Recent Grants (2023):** • Human Rights Watch: $8,480,000 (Protecting Human Rights in Africa, Capacity Building for Partners) • Ellen Macarthur Foundation USA: $5,000,000 (Advancing Sustainable Materials) • RSF Social Finance: $3,881,900 (Protecting Human Rights in Africa) **Application St…
Where does The Schmidt Family Foundation make grants?
The foundation supports organizations primarily in California, New York, and the District of Columbia, with international grantmaking activity as well.
What size grants does The Schmidt Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Schmidt Family Foundation awarded 695 grants totaling $185.4M — an average of about $267K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Schmidt Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Schmidt Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $95.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Schmidt Family Foundation's EIN?
The Schmidt Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4170342. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Schmidt 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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