Schwemm Family Foundation
Accepts applications
Schwemm Family Foundation is a private foundation in Bethesda, Maryland. In tax year 2025 it gave $129,419 in 19 grants; the typical grant was $8,000 and the largest $10,000. It accepts applications; its filing gives the instructions below.
From its IRS Form 990-PF for tax year 2025.
- Grants paid, 2025$129,419
- Number of grants19
- Typical grant$8,000
- Largest grant$10,000
- Assets$45,818
- New grantees75%
Giving in 2025 was down from $145,730 the year before.
75% of its 2025 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 | $131,824 | 18 | $44,174 |
| 2024 | $145,730 | 23 | $84,363 |
| 2025 | $129,419 | 19 | $45,818 |
How to apply
| Contact | Schwemm Family Foundation PO Box 133, Tomales, CA 94971 |
|---|---|
| Phone or email | (541) 778-0904, kari@schwemmfoundation.org |
| What to submit | THE FOUNDATION WILL CONSIDER APPLICATIONS FOR GRANT PROPOSALS. PROPOSALS FROM CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE REVIEWED BY THE FOUNDATION TRUSTEES WITH AWARDS BEING MADE ON AN ANNUAL AND SEMI-ANNUAL BASIS.IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING GRANTS TO 501(c)(3)ORGANIZATIONS, THE FOUNDATION IS EXPANDING OUR FOCUS TO ALLOW FOR GRANTS TO 170(c)(1) GOVERNMENTAL INSTITUTIONS.BOTH SETS OF ORGANIZATIONS SERVE A PUBLIC PURPOSE. |
| Deadlines | April 1st, november 1st |
| Restrictions | Grants of up to $4,999 will be required to be utilized by the recipient non-profit within twelve months of the award, the grants between $5,000 and $30,000 may be utilized by the recipient organization for a period spanning beyond twelve months. Grants will not be awarded for ongoing operating support, loans, and endowments, or for unrestricted purposes. |
Foundation website IRS filings on ProPublica
What Schwemm Family Foundation funds
Where it gives
Its grants went to recipients in 4 states, the most to Oregon.
| State | Grants | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 7 | $54,900 |
| California | 8 | $52,544 |
| Illinois | 3 | $19,975 |
| New York | 1 | $2,000 |
Grants paid in 2025
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $10,000 | |
| Depave | Depave will advance green schoolyards at three Title 1 schools in Portland, Oregon. | $10,000 |
| Friends of Sausal Creek | Native plant revegetation to create thriving, resilient greenspaces for Oakland communities. | $10,000 |
| Friends of the Owyhee | Protecting Birch Creek Historic Ranch through volunteer-based stewardship planning and engagement. | $10,000 |
| High Desert Museum | The Museum will pioneer the study of Mazama newts in captivity, advancing species preservation. | $10,000 |
| Individual | Expand native plantings at the Wild Mile park and strengthen our stewardship volunteer program | $10,000 |
| White Buffalo Land Trust | WRP restores riparian ecosystems, serving as a model for watershed resilience regionally and beyond. | $10,000 |
| The Beaver Coalition DBA Project Be | Building ecological resiliency by relocating beavers that would otherwise be killed to public lands. | $9,900 |
| Museum of Ventura County | Digitization of slides and negatives, reels, and microfilm of the 1928 St. Francis Dam disaster. | $8,000 |
| Blue Mountains Biodiversity Project | Independent field surveying of USFS timber sales on national forests in E Oregon and SE Washington. | $8,000 |
| Friends of the Chicago River | RVSP empowers river edge restoration and stewardship across the Chicago-Calumet River system. | $7,975 |
| Wishtoyo Foundation | Assessment of habitat and drought refugia for endangered aquatic and semi aquatic species. | $6,344 |
| Individual | $5,000 | |
| Arroyos Foothills Conservancy | The Sunshine Preserve Restoration Project will engage a community to restore urban wildlands. | $4,200 |
| Ashland Food Project | Duchess Award-Food Security | $2,000 |
| Greater Chicago Food Depository | Duchess Award-Food Security | $2,000 |
| Los Angeles Regional Food Bank | Duchess Award-Food Security | $2,000 |
| Redwood Empire Food Bank | Duchess Award-Food Security | $2,000 |
| UNICEF USA 186 | Duchess Award-Food Security | $2,000 |
Officers and trustees
- Kari Gies
- Cathy Schwemm
- Jan Rieke
- Annie Swank
- Joseph Tuck
- Bridget Coonan
Questions people ask
Does Schwemm Family Foundation accept grant applications?
Yes. Its latest IRS filing says it accepts applications, with this on deadlines: April 1st, november 1st.
How much does Schwemm Family Foundation give?
$129,419 in tax year 2025, across 19 grants, with a typical grant of $8,000.
Who runs Schwemm Family Foundation?
Its 2025 filing lists Kari Gies (President), Cathy Schwemm (Vice President), Jan Rieke (Treasurer) and Annie Swank (Trustee) among 6 officers and trustees.
What does Schwemm Family Foundation fund?
Based on its grants, mainly environment and conservation, arts and culture and food and hunger.