Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation
The U.S. Venture-Schmidt Family Foundation is a hybrid corporate/family foundation based in Appleton, Wisconsin. Founded in 1985 by Art, Ray, and Bill Schmidt to honor the values of generosity and compassion instilled by their parents, Albert and Margaret Schmidt, the foundation operates with a board that includes U.S. Venture team members alongside descendants of Albert and Margaret Schmidt. The Schmidt family founded U.S. Venture (originally Schmidt Brothers Oil Company) into a major energy distribution company.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$5.8M
+34.2% YoY
Grant Count
208
+34.2% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$28K
+0.0% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation is dedicated to driving meaningful change by supporting self-sufficiency, community enrichment, and vulnerable populations. Primary funding areas include:
- Education
- Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
- Human Services
The foundation's purpose, "Finding a Better Way," drives its work and shapes how it serves its community.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s & Types:**
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus in Wisconsin, with additional funding activity in California, Georgia, and other states where U.S. Venture operates.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
- Total Assets: $5,361,239
- Total Giving (2024): $5,805,950
- Funding Sources: Endowment and a percentage of net profits each year
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Corpsgiving Foundation ($105,000), Big Brothers Big Sisters of Wisconsin Inc ($100,000), Children's Hospital & Health Systems Foun ($100,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1000 GENERATIONS ELKHORN, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| A BETTER CHICAGO CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $60,000 |
| ACHIEVE BROWN COUNTY GREEN BAY, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $20,000 |
| AFRICAN HERITAGE INC APPLETON, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $50,000 |
| ALZHEIMER ASSOCIATION MILWAUKEE, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| ALZHEIMERS DISEASE AND RELATED DISORDERS ASSOCIATION INC CHICAGO, IL | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $40,000 |
| APPLETON COMMUNITY MUSIC INC APPLETON, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
| APPLETON HISTORICAL SOCEITY INC APPLETON, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $25,000 |
| APRICITY NEENAH, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $40,000 |
| ARIENS SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT FOUNDATION BRILLION, WI | UNRESTRICTED CHARITABLE GRANT | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMBER SIMONDS | PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| DAN POSANSKI | VICE PRESIDENT | 1 | — |
| SARAH JOHANNSEN | TREASURER | 1 | — |
| GREG BONGERS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| MIKE BONGERS | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| BILL KESSENICH | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| MIKE KOEL | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| KATE KESSENICH | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JOSE MATA | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| BRETT WETZEL | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JIMMY SCHMIDT | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| GREG VANDENBERG | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| JACKIE SHARKEY | SECRETARY | 1 | — |
| BRIAN RHODES | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| PARKER WOLF | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| ANDREW FINKELSTEIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| TONY SPRINGER | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
| SANGEETA EDWIN | BOARD MEMBER | 0.1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 425 Better Way, Appleton, WI 54915
Phone: 920-831-8818
Email: CommunityEngagement@usventure.com
Grant Inquiries: foundation@usventure.com
Website: https://www.usventure.com/us-venture-schmidt-family-foundation/
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation fund?
The foundation is dedicated to driving meaningful change by supporting self-sufficiency, community enrichment, and vulnerable populations. Primary funding areas include: • Education • Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking • Human Services The foundation's purpose, "Finding a Better Way," drives its work and shapes how it serves its community.
How do I apply for a grant from Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation?
**Grant Sizes & Types:** • Typical awards range from $250–$800,000 • Program grants up to $35,000 • G4 Youth Fund: Up to $15,000 **Recent Activity:** • 208 grants awarded in 2024 • 2 live grant opportunities identified **Active Opportunities:** • U.S. Venture Sponsorships • U.S. Venture Program Grants **Application Process:** • Decision time: 8-10 weeks (approximately 3 months)
Where does Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation make grants?
Primary focus in Wisconsin, with additional funding activity in California, Georgia, and other states where U.S. Venture operates.
What size grants does Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation award?
In 2024, Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation awarded 208 grants totaling $5.8M — an average of about $28K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation's EIN?
Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 39-1540933. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Us Ventureschmidt 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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