About Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
Provide scholarships and leadership programming for promising students with financial need to develop leaders who create positive change.
Focus Areas
scholarshipsleadership developmentyouth developmenthigher education
Who They Fund
studentsstudent scholarship recipientsemerging student leaders / youth
Funding Style
direct financial support (scholarships)individual capacity buildingleadership development programmingprogrammatic support for student development
About Arthur J Schmitt Foundation
The Arthur J Schmitt Foundation’s grantmaking centers on scholarships paired with leadership-development programming for promising students who have financial need. Across recent grants, that model shows up in repeated support for colleges and scholarship organizations that serve high school, undergraduate, and graduate students. The foundation uses direct financial aid as part of a broader student-development approach, not as a standalone award. Recent grants illustrate that pattern through multi-year support for Marquette University, Loyola University, DePaul University, and the University of Notre Dame. The foundation also backs scholarship intermediaries such as Link Unlimited and the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund, indicating an emphasis on organizations that identify students and provide structured support. Grantees include a mix of universities and student-focused nonprofits, all tied to education access and leadership formation. Its stated program, Schmitt Leadership Scholars, reinforces that the foundation funds scholarships alongside leadership training and student projects for youth and emerging student leaders. The beneficiary profile is specific: students who demonstrate both financial need and leadership potential. In practice, the foundation’s giving is built around helping students advance academically while developing the capacity to lead and create positive change.
What Arthur J Schmitt Foundation Funds
Scholarships and leadership development are the foundation’s core themes. In 2025, it gave $80,000 to Link Unlimited for student scholarships and leadership development, and it also supported the Daniel Murphy Scholarship Fund with $80,000 for the same purpose. Those grants point to an interest in organizations that combine financial aid with student formation. Higher education institutions are another major channel. The foundation gave $85,000 to Loyola University and $85,000 to DePaul University in 2023 for student scholarships and leadership development, showing that it also works through campuses rather than only through scholarship intermediaries. Student access in the Chicago area is especially visible in the recent grants table. High Sight received $60,000 in 2024 for student scholarships and leadership development, while University of St. Francis received $65,000 in 2025 for the same general purpose. The recurring program language suggests the foundation looks for both aid and structured development within each grant.
Financial Snapshot
Annual Giving
$880K
Total Assets
$19.5M
Total Revenue
$1.6M
Total Expenses
$1.2M
Typical Grant Size
Most grants fall between $60K and $75K, with a median of $65K.
25th Percentile
$60K
Median
$65K
75th Percentile
$75K
Geographic Reach
Local3 states funded
Funding intensity
LowHigh
Headquarters
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