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.
Key facts about The Schmidt Family Foundation
- EIN
- 20-4170342
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $185,440,970
- Grants made (2024)
- 695
- Average grant
- $266,822
- Median grant
- $130,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 32% first-time grantees (224 of 694, 2024)
- Total assets
- $1,990,498,177
- Primary geography
- California (34% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Schmidt Family Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Schmidt Family Foundation's 695 itemized 2024 grants were California (34%), New York (13%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (50 grants), New York, NY (34 grants), San Francisco, CA (31 grants) and Oakland, CA (24 grants). 5% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Encouraging a Just Transition Away from Fossil Fuels" (125 grants), "Working Towards a Resilient and Equitable Food System" (112 grants) and "Ocean Stewardship and Research" (107 grants).
Is The Schmidt Family Foundation open to new grantees?
32%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 224 of 694 grantees (32%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $163K; repeat grants $317K. How we count
Medians: $100K first-time, $175K repeat.
- 59% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 117% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 220% 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.
Next steps with The Schmidt Family Foundation
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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:**
Ready to take the next step with The Schmidt Family Foundation?
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
Share of all 695 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
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 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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
2,615 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation ($8,000,000), Human Rights Watch Inc ($6,665,000), Sustainable Markets Foundation ($3,537,500).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM FOUNDATION Monterey, CA | OCEAN STEWARDSHIP AND RESEARCH | $8,000,000 |
| HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INC New York, NY | CAPACITY BUILDING, FOSTERING YOUTH DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP, PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS (US OR GENERAL), PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA | $6,665,000 |
| SUSTAINABLE MARKETS FOUNDATION New York, NY | CAPACITY BUILDING, PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA, ENCOURAGING A JUST TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS (US OR GENERAL) | $3,537,500 |
| ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS INC New York, NY | ENCOURAGING A JUST TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS, PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS (US OR GENERAL) | $3,400,000 |
| REALIZE IMPACT Bainbridge Island, WA | ENCOURAGING A JUST TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS | $3,200,000 |
| SOGOREA TE LAND TRUST Oakland, CA | SUPPORTING INDIGENOUS COMMUNITIES' LAND STEWARDSHIP, SELF-DETERMINATION, AND CULTURAL REPRESENTATION | $3,175,000 |
| KQED INC San Francisco, CA | STRENGTHENING CIVIC ENGAGEMENT | $3,000,000 |
| RSF SOCIAL FINANCE San Francisco, CA | PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA | $2,679,117 |
| GRIST MAGAZINE INC Seattle, WA | CAPACITY BUILDING | $2,513,000 |
| MYRIAD USA New York City, NY | PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS IN AFRICA, PROTECTING HUMAN RIGHTS (US OR GENERAL), ENCOURAGING A JUST TRANSITION AWAY FROM FOSSIL FUELS | $2,447,786 |
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)
The Schmidt Family Foundation is led by Joseph Sciortino, Executive Director & Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 8 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph Sciortino
Executive Director & Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$358K (2020) → $530K (2024)
Wendy Schmidt
President & Director
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Amy Rao
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$59K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Eric Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Seferian
General Counsel & Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sophie Schmidt
Director
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Frances Babb
Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
$36K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Jeanne Huey
Chief Financial Officer
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$313K (2020) → $0 (2024)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Carol Sacks (2020) — Director of Communications
- Former: William J. Arthur (2020) — Secretary
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
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.
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.