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.
Ballet West, Utah Symphony & Opera (Utah Symphony Opera), Salt Lake City Rotary Foundation, Southern Utah University
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.
$148K
$2.1M
$151K
$182K
Most grants fall between $1K and $5K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$5K
About 53% of grants go to recipients in UT.
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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.
2024
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2024.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SALT LAKE CITY ROTARY FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $30,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH SYMPHONY OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $7,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEAR LAKE WATCH | ST CHARLES, ID | $6,800 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| HCSC FOUNDATION | CHINO HILLS, CA | $6,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE | HOLLADAY, UT | $5,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION | OXFORD, OH | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| JUDICIAL WATCH | WASHINGTON, DC | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,222 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LEGAL POLICY CENTER | FALL CHURCH, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION | WILLIAMSBURG, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| GEORGE WASHINGTON MT VERNON | MOUNT VERNON, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA | BRUNSWICK, ME | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| TRACY AVIARY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION | TRIANGLE, VA | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPI | COLORADO SPRINGS, CO | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERV | WASHINGTON, DC | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNITED WAY OF SALT LAKE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,000 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RED BUTTE GARDEN | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA | TOOELE, UT | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| CHARITY NAVIGATOR | GLEN ROCK, NJ | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| RESCUE MISSION OF SALT LAKE | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE | ARLINGTON, VA | $500 | 2024 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH SYMPHONY & OPERA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $25,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BALLET WEST | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $23,610 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY | CEDAR CITY, UT | $20,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UNIVERSITY OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $13,264 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| AMERICAN RED CROSS | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $11,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY | SAN JOSE, CA | $10,652 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| SALT LAKE CITY ROTARY FOUNDATION | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $10,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| BEAR LAKE WATCH | GARDEN CITY, UT | $5,800 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| THE SALVATION ARMY | WAHSINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| MALIHEH FREE CLINIC | MILLCREEK, UT | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ZAHARA CHARITY | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $5,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| ROTARY FOUNDATION | CHICAGO, IL | $2,000 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE | HOLLADAY, UT | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| PBS UTAH | SALT LAKE CITY, UT | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
| NATIONAL LEGAL & POLICY CENTER | FALL CHURCH, VA | $1,500 | 2023 | GENERAL SUPPORT |
SALT LAKE CITY ROTARY FOUNDATION
$30,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BALLET WEST
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH SYMPHONY OPERA
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH
$7,500GENERAL SUPPORT
BEAR LAKE WATCH
$6,800GENERAL SUPPORT
HCSC FOUNDATION
GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE
$5,500GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PHI DELTA THETA FOUNDATION
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
JUDICIAL WATCH
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
PBS UTAH
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$1,222GENERAL SUPPORT
THE HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL LEGAL POLICY CENTER
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
COLONIAL WILLIAMSBURG FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
GEORGE WASHINGTON MT VERNON
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
THE FUND FOR AMERICAN STUDIES
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
TRACY AVIARY
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MARINE TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED STATES OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPI
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERV
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNITED WAY OF SALT LAKE
$1,000GENERAL SUPPORT
RED BUTTE GARDEN
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
CHARITY NAVIGATOR
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
RESCUE MISSION OF SALT LAKE
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
INSTITUTE FOR JUSTICE
$500GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH SYMPHONY & OPERA
$25,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BALLET WEST
$23,610GENERAL SUPPORT
SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY
$20,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
$13,264GENERAL SUPPORT
AMERICAN RED CROSS
$11,000GENERAL SUPPORT
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY
$10,652GENERAL SUPPORT
SALT LAKE CITY ROTARY FOUNDATION
$10,000GENERAL SUPPORT
BEAR LAKE WATCH
$5,800GENERAL SUPPORT
THE SALVATION ARMY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM OF UTAH
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
MALIHEH FREE CLINIC
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ZAHARA CHARITY
$5,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA
$2,500GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH ORCHESTRA
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
ROTARY FOUNDATION
$2,000GENERAL SUPPORT
UTAH YOUTH VILLAGE
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
PBS UTAH
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT
NATIONAL LEGAL & POLICY CENTER
$1,500GENERAL SUPPORT