The Theodore & Elizabeth Schmidt Family Foundation is a Utah-focused funder that prioritizes support for performing arts institutions and local civic leadership. A majority of grants go to cultural organizations—particularly dance and orchestral music—while a smaller share supports community service/leadership (Rotary) and regional higher education. Grants are targeted to established, local institutions rather than small grassroots projects.
Relatively concentrated regional giving: modest number of mid-sized grants focused on a few repeat, established cultural and civic institutions. Funding favors sustaining institutional budgets or programs rather than a wide diversity of small, one-off grantees.
A $30,500 general-support grant to the Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation is the largest recent award on file for the Theodore & Elizabeth Schmidt Family Foundation, and it reflects a pattern of backing established Utah institutions with flexible funding. The foundation’s recent grants tilt toward performing arts and civic organizations in Salt Lake City, with Ballet West, Utah Symphony Opera, and local Rotary groups appearing among the larger recipients. Higher education also appears in the mix through support for Utah-based universities, while smaller awards extend to museums, youth-serving nonprofits, and other community organizations. Most awards are framed as general support rather than project-specific funding, which points to a preference for organizational stability over tightly restricted grants. The recipient list is heavily centered in Utah, especially Salt Lake City, but it also includes a handful of organizations outside the state. Across the recent record, the Theodore & Elizabeth Schmidt Family Foundation appears to favor recognizable institutions that already play an established role in the region’s civic, cultural, and educational life.
Performing arts are a major theme in the foundation’s grantmaking. It gave $25,000 in general support to Utah Symphony Opera in 2024 and $25,000 to Ballet West that same year, after awarding Ballet West $23,610 in 2023. Higher education is another recurring area: Southern Utah University received $20,000 in general support, and the University of Utah received $13,264. Community and service organizations also appear in the portfolio. The Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation received $30,500 in 2024 and $10,000 in 2023, while American Red Cross received $11,000 in 2023 and $10,000 in 2024. Smaller grants extend to Utah Youth Village, Maliheh Free Clinic, Neighborhood House, and PBS Utah.
Typical grants are modest: the p25 and median are both $1,000, while the p75 is $5,000. The recent record shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including Ballet West, Utah Symphony Opera / Utah Symphony & Opera, Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, Utah Youth Orchestra, American Red Cross, Natural History Museum of Utah, The Salvation Army, Bear Lake Watch, and PBS Utah. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation is structured as a family foundation, and the grants shown are overwhelmingly labeled general support, indicating flexible operating-style funding rather than restricted project grants.
$123K
$2M
$137K
$157K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
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Notable grantees: Ballet West, Utah Symphony & Opera (Utah Symphony Opera), Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, Southern Utah University
Giving is concentrated in Utah: 53% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state, and Utah is also the top state by grant count. Salt Lake City is the main recipient city, with multiple grants going to Ballet West, Utah Symphony Opera, the Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, PBS Utah, the Natural History Museum of Utah, and Neighborhood House. Outside Utah, the recent record includes recipients in Cedar City, Holladay, St. Charles, Chino Hills, San Jose, Oxford, and Washington, DC. All recorded grants in the data went to US recipients.
The recent record centers on performing arts institutions, civic and service organizations, and regional higher education. Examples include Ballet West, Utah Symphony Opera, the Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, Southern Utah University, and the University of Utah, with additional support for museums, youth-serving nonprofits, and health and relief organizations.
Most recent awards are labeled general support. That includes larger grants such as $30,500 to the Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, $25,000 to Utah Symphony Opera, and $25,000 to Ballet West, as well as smaller awards to universities, museums, and community nonprofits.
Yes. Several recipients appear in more than one year, including Ballet West, Utah Symphony Opera / Utah Symphony & Opera, the Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, Utah Youth Orchestra, American Red Cross, Natural History Museum of Utah, The Salvation Army, Bear Lake Watch, and PBS Utah.
Typical grants are small to mid-sized. The p25 and median are both $1,000, and the p75 is $5,000. The recent list also includes larger awards, such as $30,500 to the Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation and $25,000 grants to Utah Symphony Opera and Ballet West.
Most grants go to Utah recipients, and 53% of grants are awarded in the foundation’s HQ state. Salt Lake City is the most common city in the recent list, with multiple awards to arts, civic, education, and community organizations there.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UTAH SYMPHONY OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEAR LAKE WATCH | ST CHARLES, ID | $6,900 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL PROSPERITY PEACE | SARATOGA SPRINGS, UT | $5,500 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE | HOLLADAY, UT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HCSC FOUNDATION | CHINO HILLS, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JC PENNEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY | HAMILTON, MO | $3,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UKRAINE WAR RELIEF FUND | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON MT VERNON | MOUNT VERNON, VA | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERV | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPI | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $1,825 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LEGAL POLICY CENTER | FALL CHURCH, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION | WILLIAMSBURG, VA | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2026 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH SYMPHONY OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH FESTIVAL OPERA COMPANY | LOGAN, UT | $17,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $7,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEAR LAKE WATCH | ST CHARLES, ID | $6,800 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HCSC FOUNDATION | CHINO HILLS, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JC PENNEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY | HAMILTON, MO | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE | HOLLADAY, UT | $5,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION | OXFORD, OH | $3,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GLOBAL PROSPERITY PEACE | SARATOGA SPRINGS, UT | $3,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UKRAINE WAR RELIEF FUND | SOUTH JORDAN, UT | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPI | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $1,300 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ZION CANYON MESA | SPRINGDALE, UT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION | WILLIAMSBURG, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION | TRIANGLE, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON MT VERNON | MOUNT VERNON, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LEGAL POLICY CENTER | FALL CHURCH, VA | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERV | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE ROAD HOME | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | TOOELE, UT | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHARITY NAVIGATOR | GLEN ROCK, NJ | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RESCUE MISSION OF SALT LAKE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $500 | 2025 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALT LAKE CITY ROTARY FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
UTAH SYMPHONY OPERA
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BALLET WEST
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEAR LAKE WATCH
$6,900GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL PROSPERITY PEACE
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA
GENERAL SUPPORT
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HCSC FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JC PENNEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UKRAINE WAR RELIEF FUND
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE WASHINGTON MT VERNON
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERV
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPI
$1,825GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL LEGAL POLICY CENTER
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JUDICIAL WATCH
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BALLET WEST
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH SYMPHONY OPERA
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH FESTIVAL OPERA COMPANY
$17,500GENERAL SUPPORT
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BEAR LAKE WATCH
$6,800GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
HCSC FOUNDATION
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JC PENNEY MEMORIAL LIBRARY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION
$3,500GENERAL SUPPORT
GLOBAL PROSPERITY PEACE
$3,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UKRAINE WAR RELIEF FUND
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PBS UTAH
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPI
$1,300GENERAL SUPPORT
ZION CANYON MESA
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE WASHINGTON MT VERNON
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL LEGAL POLICY CENTER
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERV
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
JUDICIAL WATCH
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE ROAD HOME
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
CHARITY NAVIGATOR
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
RESCUE MISSION OF SALT LAKE
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
SALT LAKE CITY ROTARY FOUNDATION
$30,500GENERAL SUPPORT