Dr. Scholl Foundation
OVERVIEW: The Dr. Scholl Foundation broadly funds education, health, human services, democracy, environmental concerns and more. Illinois is a geographic priority.
IP TAKE: While the Dr. Scholl Foundation does not provide much information about specific funding priorities, it supports a broad range of organizations and accepts and responds to letters of inquiry in a timely fashion. If your organization operates in Illinois, you may want to make an appointment to meet with foundation staff in person. Overall this is a appears to be an accessible and open-minded funder.
PROFILE: The Dr. Scholl Foundation was established in 1947 by William M. Scholl, founder of the international footwear and foot care brand. It is an independent, private foundation that is not technically affiliated with the corporation of the same name. The foundation’s mission is to provide “financial assistance to organizations committed to improving our world.” The foundation does not name specific goals for its grantmaking but has supported organizations working in education, health, human services, democracy and environmental concerns. Illinois, where the foundation is based, appears to be a geographic area of interest.
Grants for Education, Work and Opportunity
While the Dr. Scholl Foundation does not name priorities for its education or career development grantmaking, several grants have supported organizations working in this area. Grantees include the University of Illinois at Chicago, Girls Inc. of Chicago, the University of Colorado and the Alain Locke Charter School’s higher education and career counseling program, which is also based in Chicago.
Grants for Public Health
The foundation does not name goals or priorities for its health giving but has made many grants to health organizations over the years. Past grantees include the Mayo Clinic, the Mobile CARE Foundation, the Rush University Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin.
Grants for Housing, Homelessness and Community Development
This funder does not name priorities for its giving in these areas but has made some grants to nonprofits working in the areas of housing and community development. Past recipients include BUILD Incorporated, Rebuilding Together of North Suburban Chicago, the Trees that Feed Foundation and Connections for the Homeless of Evanston, Illinois.
Grants for Civic Engagement and Democracy
Civic engagement and democracy represent one of the foundation’s larger area of giving, although specific goals for this grantmaking are not apparent. Grantees include the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, the Arizona Center for Rural Leadership, the Better Government Association and the George and Barbara Bush Foundation.
Grants for Environment, Animals and Wildlife Conservation
The foundation does not designate specific interests for its work in the environmental arena, but it does regularly make grants to organizations involved in conservation. Past recipients include Orangutan Outreach, the World Wildlife Fund, the National Forest Foundation and the Lincoln Park Zoological Society.
Important Grant Details:
The Dr. Scholl Foundation’s grants range from $5,000 to $350,000.
This funder gives to broad range of organizations and provides little information about its grantmaking strategies.
Illinois appears to be a geographic priority.
The foundation accepts letters of inquiry via its application portal, which opens on October 1 of each year.
Letters of inquiry are reviewed “with a five business day turnaround” after which time some applicants will be invited to submit full proposals, which are due on March 1.
Applicants should read the foundation’s preferences and limitations prior to submitting a letter of inquiry.
Applicants in Illinois may wish to make an appointment with the foundation’s staff to discuss opportunities in person.
The foundation may be contacted via telephone at (847) 559-7430.
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