The Schmidt Family Foundation
Accepts applications
The Schmidt Family Foundation is a private foundation in Palo Alto, California. In tax year 2024 it gave $196 million in 695 grants; the typical grant was $130,000 and the largest $8.0 million. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2024.
- Grants paid, 2024$196 million
- Number of grants695
- Typical grant$130,000
- Largest grant$8.0 million
- Assets$2.0 billion
- New grantees42%
Giving in 2024 was up from $138 million the year before.
42% of its 2024 grantees had not received a grant from it the year before, a sign it is open to new organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Number of grants | Assets |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $138 million | 546 | $1.8 billion |
| 2024 | $196 million | 695 | $2.0 billion |
How to apply
| Contact | Ellyn Peabody 555 Bryant St 370, Palo Alto, CA 94301 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (650) 376-7100 |
| What to submit, restrictions | Online process, please see details at the websites: https://tsffoundation.org/ https://www.schmidtmarine.org/ |
| Deadlines | Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. https://www.schmidtmarine.org/ |
What The Schmidt Family Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its US grants went to recipients in 49 states, the most to California. It also paid $13.4 million in 52 grants to recipients outside the US.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| California | 184 | $62.8 million |
| New York | 57 | $24.7 million |
| District of Columbia | 50 | $19.8 million |
| Washington | 20 | $8.8 million |
| Massachusetts | 43 | $6.1 million |
| Minnesota | 14 | $4.2 million |
| Colorado | 14 | $3.7 million |
| New Mexico | 25 | $3.4 million |
| Pennsylvania | 16 | $2.8 million |
| Virginia | 9 | $2.7 million |
Grants paid in 2024
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Foundation | Ocean stewardship and research | $8.0 million |
| Human Rights Watch Inc | Capacity building, fostering youth development and leadership, protecting human rights (us or general), protecting human rights in africa | $6.7 million |
| Sustainable Markets Foundation | Capacity building, protecting human rights in africa, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, protecting human rights (us or general) | $3.5 million |
| Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc | Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, protecting human rights (us or general) | $3.4 million |
| Realize Impact | Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels | $3.2 million |
| Sogorea Te Land Trust | Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural representation | $3.2 million |
| Kqed Inc | Strengthening civic engagement | $3.0 million |
| RSF Social Finance | Protecting human rights in africa | $2.7 million |
| Grist Magazine Inc | Capacity building | $2.5 million |
| Myriad USA | Protecting human rights in africa, protecting human rights (us or general), encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels | $2.4 million |
| Justice Outside | Fostering youth development and leadership | $2.1 million |
| Regenerative Agriculture Foundation | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system | $2.0 million |
| Apparel Impact Institute | Advancing sustainable materials | $2.0 million |
| Conservation X Labs Inc | General operating support | $2.0 million |
| California Farmlink | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system | $1.9 million |
| National Public Radio Inc | Capacity building | $1.8 million |
| Amalgamated Charitable Foundation Inc | Centering unrepresented voices in the environmental movement, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, fostering youth development and leadership, supporting humanitarian relief | $1.4 million |
| Movement Strategy Center | Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural representation, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, working towards a resilient and equitable food system | $1.4 million |
| Resource Matters | Protecting human rights in africa, centering unrepresented voices in the environmental movement | $1.3 million |
| Center for Biological Diversity Inc | Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels | $1.2 million |
| Food & Water Watch | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels | $1.2 million |
| Earthjustice | Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural representation, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels | $1.1 million |
| Swaniti Initiative | Capacity building | $1.0 million |
| Fisheye Collaborative Inc | Ocean stewardship and research | $1.0 million |
| American Independent Foundation | Strengthening civic engagement | $1.0 million |
| The Voter Participation Center | Strengthening civic engagement | $1.0 million |
| University of Chicago | Capacity building | $1.0 million |
| The University of Western Australia | Ocean stewardship and research | $980,000 |
| Ekvnv Yefolecvlke | Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural representation | $900,000 |
| Illuminative Inc | Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural representation | $884,000 |
| Groundswell International Inc | Advancing sustainable agriculture in africa, working towards a resilient and equitable food system | $865,000 |
| Social & Environmental Entrepreneurs Inc | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, centering unrepresented voices in the environmental movement, strengthening civic engagement, protecting human rights (us or general) | $857,500 |
| Oo Project | Ocean stewardship and research | $856,666 |
| Greenpeace Fund Inc | Encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, strengthening civic engagement | $850,000 |
| First Nations Development Institute | Supporting indigenous communities' land stewardship, self-determination, and cultural representation | $840,000 |
| Curators of the University of Missouri | Fostering education in journalism | $800,000 |
| Institute for Local Self Reliance Inc | Working towards a resilient and equitable food system, encouraging a just transition away from fossil fuels, ocean stewardship and research | $800,000 |
| Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute | Ocean stewardship and research | $800,000 |
| American Jewish World Service Inc | Protecting human rights in africa, protecting human rights in haiti | $785,000 |
| Alliance for Food Sovereignty in Africa | Advancing sustainable agriculture in africa | $770,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Wendy Schmidt
- Eric Schmidt
- Sophie Schmidt
- Amy Rao
- Maria Seferian
- Joseph Sciortino
- Frances Babb
- Jeanne Huey
Questions people ask
Does The Schmidt Family Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: Online process, please see details at: https://tsffoundation.org/. https://www.schmidtmarine.org/.
How much does The Schmidt Family Foundation give?
$196 million in tax year 2024, across 695 grants, with a typical grant of $130,000.
Who runs The Schmidt Family Foundation?
Its 2024 filing lists Wendy Schmidt (President/Director), Eric Schmidt (Director), Sophie Schmidt (Director) and Amy Rao (Director) among 8 officers and trustees.
What does The Schmidt Family Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly environment and conservation, international and food and hunger.