The John and Julie Schmidt Family Foundation makes very large, targeted capital investments to support community infrastructure and program delivery, with a willingness to fund both international social service capacity (notably in Kenya) and domestic civic institutions. Their giving emphasizes property and building purchases that enable ongoing program work—shelter, menstrual health/period-poverty initiatives, rights and empowerment forums, and public library capital projects.
A $1.12 million property purchase for Victory Community Development Centre in Nairobi stands out in the John and Julie Schmidt Family Foundation’s recent giving, because it ties a large grant to the physical infrastructure needed for multiple Kenya Works programs. The foundation has used that kind of capital support to back shelter services, menstrual health work, human rights and empowerment forums, and education initiatives in Kenya. In the United States, its giving also reaches local civic and cultural institutions through capital campaigns and general support. Across the recent grants list, the foundation appears comfortable funding both large one-time projects and repeated support for the same organizations over multiple years. Kenya Works Inc received several grants in the range of general support and program backing, while Appleton-area organizations such as First Congregational United Church of Christ, Riverview Gardens Inc, and the Boys & Girls Club Fox Valley Inc appear more than once. The pattern suggests a funder that combines facility-oriented philanthropy with flexible operating support, especially for organizations carrying out community-serving work. The John and Julie Schmidt Family Foundation’s grants connect capital assets, community services, and ongoing program delivery rather than limiting support to a single issue area.
In Kenya, the foundation has backed property acquisition and program infrastructure with a $1.12 million grant to Victory Community Development Centre (vicodec) in Nairobi to purchase a property for shelter works, ending period poverty, human rights and empowerment forums, and education. It also gave $64,497 and $50,000 to the same organization for general support. Shelter and basic services are another visible thread. Kenya Works Inc received $50,600 in 2025 and $50,000 in 2024 and 2023, all listed as general and unrestricted support. On the U.S. side, capital projects appear in the foundation’s support for Friends of Appleton Library Incorporated, which received $200,000 for the Building Beyond Words Capital Campaign. Cultural infrastructure also shows up through a $50,000 grant to Trout Museum of Art Inc for its Capital Campaign for New Museum.
$571K
$22.4M
$10.8M
$669K
Most grants fall between $4K and $25K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$25K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in WI.
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for John and Julie Schmidt Family Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 80 | $1.6M | 96.4% |
| 2 | Kenya |
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Very concentrated giving: a small number of large, one-off or project-specific capital grants rather than many small gifts; flexible geographically (international and domestic) and focused on enabling infrastructure/property that sustains programs.
Notable grantees: Victory Community Development Centre (VICODEC) / Kenya Works, Friends of Appleton Library, Incorporated
Typical grant size is $4,250 at the 25th percentile, $10,000 at the median, and $25,000 at the 75th percentile, even though the recent list includes some much larger capital grants. The foundation’s giving is not limited to one-off awards: First Congregational United Church of Christ, Riverview Gardens Inc, Music That Matters Inc, Cots Inc, Boys & Girls Club Fox Valley Inc, Basic Needs Giving Partnership Inc, Kenya Works Inc, and Victory Community Development Centre all appear in more than one year. It is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it also funds individuals. The grants list shows a mix of general and unrestricted support, capital campaign pledges, and project-specific awards.
Most grants land in the United States, with Appleton, WI appearing repeatedly across the recent list and Green Bay, WI also represented. Pennsylvania is the top state by grant count, though the recipient examples provided here are concentrated in Wisconsin and Kenya. Outside the U.S., Kenya accounts for three grants, all tied to Nairobi-area organizations or programs. The geography points to a national U.S. footprint with a visible cluster in the Fox Valley region and a smaller international stream in Kenya.
The recent grants show a strong pattern of capital support and unrestricted operating support. Examples include a $1.12 million property purchase for Victory Community Development Centre in Nairobi, a $200,000 capital campaign gift to Friends of Appleton Library Incorporated, and repeated general support grants to several organizations.
Yes. Most grants go to U.S. recipients, but Kenya appears in the recent list as well. The country distribution shows 80 grants to U.S. recipients and 3 grants to recipients in Kenya.
The grant-size distribution is centered on smaller awards than the largest capital gifts. The 25th percentile is $4,250, the median is $10,000, and the 75th percentile is $25,000.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear across more than one year, including First Congregational United Church of Christ, Riverview Gardens Inc, Music That Matters Inc, Cots Inc, Boys & Girls Club Fox Valley Inc, Basic Needs Giving Partnership Inc, Kenya Works Inc, and Victory Community Development Centre.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
| 3 |
| $1.2M |
3.6% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | APPLETON, WI | $100,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| RIVERVIEW GARDENS INC | APPLETON, WI | $65,650 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| VICTORY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VICODEC) | NAIROBI, NA | $64,497 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $50,600 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| TROUT MUSEUM OF ART INC | APPLETON, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | Capital Campaign for New Museum |
| BASIC NEEDS GIVING PARTNERSHIP INC | GREEN BAY, WI | $50,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| MUSIC THAT MATTERS INC | APPLETON, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| COTS INC | APPLETON, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| VALLEY PACKAGING INDUSTRIES INC | APPLETON, WI | $25,000 | 2025 | Capital Campaign |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOX VALLEY INC | APPLETON, WI | $20,000 | 2025 | to support Great Futures |
| FOX CITIES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER INC | APPLETON, WI | $12,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| APPLETON COMMUNITY MUSIC INC | APPLETON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NORTHEAST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST INC | APPLETON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| US VENTURE ASSOCIATES CARING TOGETHER FUND INC | APPLETON, WI | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATIONAL TUBEROUS SCLEROSIS ASSOCIATION INC | SILVER SPRING, MD | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| SOAR FOX CITIES INC | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION | NASHUA, NH | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| COMMUNITY BENEFIT TREE INC | KAUKAUNA, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Event |
| TROUT MUSEUM OF ART INC | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Event |
| COMBONI MISSIONARIES OF THE HEART OF JESUS INC | CINCINNATI, OH | $5,000 | 2025 | To be used at Napenda Kuishi-Ongata Rongai, Kenya |
| TROUT MUSEUM OF ART INC | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | Charitable Event |
| FOX VALLEY LITERACY COUNCIL INC | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $3,450 | 2025 | Education Works Scholarship Fund |
| BEAMING INCORPORATED | NEENAH, WI | $2,500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CHILDREN'S TUMOR FOUNDATION | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| INFANT WELFARE CIRCLE INC | APPLETON, WI | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF APPLETON LIBRARY INCORPORATED | APPLETON, WI | $500 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| VICTORY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VICODEC) | NAIROBI, NA | $1,120,000 | 2024 | to purchase a property for all of the Kenya Works foundational programs; shelter works, ending period poverty, human rights/empowerment forums and education |
| FRIENDS OF APPLETON LIBRARY INCORPORATED | APPLETON, WI | $200,000 | 2024 | Building Beyond Words Capital Campaign |
| FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST | APPLETON, WI | $100,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| RIVERVIEW GARDENS INC | APPLETON, WI | $55,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| BASIC NEEDS GIVING PARTNERSHIP INC | GREEN BAY, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| TROUT MUSEUM OF ART INC | APPLETON, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | Capital Campaign for New Museum |
| VICTORY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VICODEC) | NAIROBI, NA | $50,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| KENYA WORKS INC | APPLETON, WI | $50,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| COTS INC | APPLETON, WI | $25,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| MUSIC THAT MATTERS INC | APPLETON, WI | $25,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOX VALLEY INC | APPLETON, WI | $20,000 | 2024 | Capital Campaign Pledge |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB FOX VALLEY INC | APPLETON, WI | $15,150 | 2024 | Charitable Event |
| FOX CITIES PERFORMING ARTS CENTER INC | APPLETON, WI | $10,060 | 2024 | Charitable Event |
| TROUT MUSEUM OF ART INC | APPLETON, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | Charitable Event |
| BASIC NEEDS GIVING PARTNERSHIP INC | GREEN BAY, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | US Venture Open |
| NORTHEAST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST INC | APPLETON, WI | $10,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| PILLARS INC | APPLETON, WI | $7,500 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREATER GREEN BAY COMMUNITY FOUNDATION INC | GREEN BAY, WI | $7,500 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| SOAR FOX CITIES INC | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION | DENVER, CO | $5,000 | 2024 | Charitable Event |
| FOX VALLEY LITERACY COUNCIL INC | APPLETON, WI | $5,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| STOP THE ADDICTION FATALITY EPIDEMIC - SAFE - PROJ | ARLINGTON, VA | $5,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$100,000General & Unrestricted
VICTORY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VICODEC)
$64,497General & Unrestricted
KENYA WORKS INC
$50,600General & Unrestricted
General & Unrestricted
MUSIC THAT MATTERS INC
$25,000General & Unrestricted
APPLETON COMMUNITY MUSIC INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
US VENTURE ASSOCIATES CARING TOGETHER FUND INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$5,000General & Unrestricted
CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
$5,000General & Unrestricted
COMBONI MISSIONARIES OF THE HEART OF JESUS INC
$5,000To be used at Napenda Kuishi-Ongata Rongai, Kenya
KENYA WORKS INC
$3,450Education Works Scholarship Fund
BEAMING INCORPORATED
$2,500General & Unrestricted
CHILDREN'S TUMOR FOUNDATION
$1,000General & Unrestricted
INFANT WELFARE CIRCLE INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
VICTORY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VICODEC)
$1,120,000to purchase a property for all of the Kenya Works foundational programs; shelter works, ending period poverty, human rights/empowerment forums and education
Building Beyond Words Capital Campaign
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
$100,000General & Unrestricted
VICTORY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CENTRE (VICODEC)
$50,000General & Unrestricted
KENYA WORKS INC
$50,000General & Unrestricted
MUSIC THAT MATTERS INC
$25,000General & Unrestricted
NORTHEAST WISCONSIN LAND TRUST INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
CYSTIC FIBROSIS FOUNDATION
$5,000Charitable Event