Robert F. Schumann Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work falls within environmental sustainability, education, arts and humanities, or animal-related work, and your organisation is exempt under section 501(c)(3), the foundation's stated interests fit.
- It gives priority to the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast, and it typically does not fund general operations.
- A modest request suits it: about 8 in 10 grants fall between $1,300 and $80,000, and the median grant was $20,000, with half of its grants to organisations at $20,000 or less.
- Its stated preference for projects that would not have been pursued without its support, and its high share of repeat giving (74% of grant dollars to organisations in the most recent filing had also been funded in one of the two previous filings), suggest that a first approach should show a clear project and fit with its stated preferences rather than assume a routine award.
- Applications are submitted online and must arrive by 28 February for review at the annual grant meeting, so plan to submit well ahead of that date.
Overview
Robert F. Schumann Foundation is a US private foundation administered by its trustee, Wells Fargo Bank N A, in Saint Louis, MO.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports environmental, educational, arts and cultural organisations and agencies to improve quality of life for humans and animals. Its stated interests include environmental sustainability, education, the arts and humanities, and animal-related work. It prefers projects that would not have been pursued without its support; preference may be given to animal requests, especially ornithology, and environmental sustainability efforts, especially open-space habitats. There are no geographic limitations, although organisations in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic and East Coast regions generally receive special consideration. Applicants must qualify as exempt organisations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
Themes
- Environmental sustainability
- Education
- Arts and humanities
- Animals and ornithology
Geographic Focus
Priority: Northeast; Mid-Atlantic; East Coast.
What They Don't Fund
- Requests for general operations (typically)
How to apply
Organisations submit applications online.
Deadlines: Applications must be submitted by 28 February for review at the annual grant meeting.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 74% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 190 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Projects that would not have been pursued but for the foundation's support are preferred.
- Preference may be given to animal requests, especially ornithology.
- Preference may be given to environmental sustainability efforts, especially open-space habitats.
- Grantees must submit a progress report by 31 July of the following year, unless otherwise specified in the award.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: 7%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 74% of grant dollars went to organisations Robert F. Schumann Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 59 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Wesleyan University · General operating$400,0002024 tax year
- National Audubon Society · General operating$300,0002024 tax year
- Roberson Museum and Science Center · General operating$250,0002024 tax year
- Cornell University · General operating$143,0002024 tax year
- Florence Griswold Museum · General operating$125,0002024 tax year
- Governor Dummer Academy · General operating$101,5002024 tax year
- E. C. Scranton Memorial Library · General operating$100,0002024 tax year
- ShoreRivers · General operating$80,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Timothy W Crowley — Co-Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,839,056 | $2,257,206 | $54,349,285 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $2,938,202 | $2,391,300 | $59,443,897 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $3,120,193 | $2,504,532 | $63,532,726 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to Robert F. Schumann Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Saint Louis, MO (office of its trustee, Wells Fargo Bank N A)
- wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/schumann-foundation
Applying to Robert F. Schumann Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Saint Louis, MO (office of its trustee, Wells Fargo Bank N A)
- wellsfargo.com/private-foundations/schumann-foundation