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
No grants recorded for .
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/
Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
What could you do with Us Ventureschmidt Family Foundation on Grantable?
- Assess strategic fit with your organization
- Draft a tailored letter of inquiry
- Find open RFPs from this funder
- Monitor for new funding opportunities