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The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$46.5M
Grant Range
$0K - $3.0M
Decision Time
6mo
Success Rate
33%

The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $46.5 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Approximately 30-35% (estimated from 1,339 awards from ~4,000+ inquiries)
  • Decision Time: 6 months
  • Grant Range: $50 - $3,000,000
  • Geographic Focus: Twin Cities metro area (Minnesota) and Southwest Florida

Contact Details

Website: https://www.schulzefamilyfoundation.org

Minnesota Office
Phone: 952-324-8910
Barb Dunker, Senior Program Officer & Grants Manager

Florida Office
Phone: 239-263-9400
Mary Beth Geier, Florida Director

Online Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=schulze

Overview

The Richard M Schulze Family Foundation was established in 2004 by Dick Schulze, founder and chairman emeritus of Best Buy Co., Inc. With total assets of $233.8 million (2023), the foundation distributed $46.5 million in grants to 1,339 recipients in 2023. The foundation's mission is to improve the lives of U.S. middle- and working-class families through results-oriented investments in education, human and social services, and health and medical care. Geographic focus centers on the seven-county Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area and five counties in Southwest Florida (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, and Lee). In 2013, Schulze announced his intention to give away $1 billion during his lifetime, and the foundation has grown to become the fourth-largest private foundation in Minnesota. Recent strategic giving has included record-breaking grants to healthcare institutions and a growing emphasis on measurable outcomes and long-term impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates two annual grant cycles (Spring and Fall) with an online application system:

  • First-Time Grantees: Up to $15,000 - Awards for organizations new to the foundation
  • Returning Grantees: $50,000+ - Major awards for organizations with established relationships
  • Typical Range: Most grants fall between $1,000 - $800,000, with larger amounts reserved for healthcare and educational institutions
  • Special Programs: Capital grants and general operating support available for organizations with long-standing positive relationships

Application Method: Two-stage process beginning with Letter of Inquiry (LOI), followed by full application for invited organizations only

Priority Areas

Education

  • Adult workforce development and leadership programs
  • Early childhood learning (ages birth-5)
  • Student scholarships and financial aid
  • Special education services
  • Youth tutoring and classroom support

Human and Social Services

  • Children's and family services
  • Disability support and advocacy
  • Domestic violence prevention
  • Food assistance programs
  • Homeless services and housing stability
  • Youth development and mentoring

Health and Medicine (some areas by invitation only)

  • Disease-specific medical disciplines
  • Patient and family support services
  • Treatment and prevention education
  • Regenerative medicine (by invitation only)

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly excludes: addiction recovery programs, biomedical research (except by invitation), debt retirement, endowments, environmental causes, for-profit businesses, government agencies, individuals (except college scholars), lobbying activities, most mental health services, performing arts organizations, public K-12 schools, religious causes, and sports organizations.

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees

Richard M Schulze - Founder and Chairman; Best Buy founder and chairman emeritus. On his philanthropic approach: "Obviously I'm blessed with wealth. I believe strongly in, those who are benefited with meaningful wealth have an obligation to give back to community." He also notes, "No one has enough money to do all of the important work that needs to be done. The best you can do is carve out the good work you think you can do and not let the good you can't do be an excuse for inaction."

Mark C. Dienhart, Ph.D. - President & CEO. On the board's role: "The board of trustees identifies philanthropic priorities, makes final decisions on grants, offers wisdom and influence, and provides access to resources and partnerships."

Kevin Bergman - President and Chief Operating Officer, Olympus Ventures, LLC

Kathleen Blatz - Trustee (joined 2022); Former CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota

Al Lenzmeier - Former Best Buy Vice Chairman

Steve Schumeister - Member of Executive Board and Immediate Past Managing Partner, Robins Kaplan LLP

Susan Hoff - Proprietress & CEO, Fantesca Estate & Winery

Joseph Williamson - Trustee (joined 2022); Managing Partner, JAW Capital, LLC

Ann Winblad - Co-Founder and Managing Director, Hummer Winblad Venture Partners

Key Staff

Minnesota Leadership

  • Mark Dienhart, Ph.D. - President & CEO
  • Steve Hoeppner - Vice President
  • Kelly Webster, Esq. - General Counsel
  • Sheila Otto Phillips - Senior Program Officer
  • Mike Zumwinkle - Senior Program Officer
  • Brian Kraft - Program Officer

Florida Leadership

  • Mary Beth Geier - Florida Director
  • Lisa Church - Florida Senior Program Officer
  • Ana DiMercurio - Florida Senior Program Officer

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Verify Eligibility

  • Complete the short eligibility questionnaire on the foundation website
  • Confirm your organization serves one of the designated counties in Minnesota (Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Washington) or Florida (Charlotte, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee)
  • Ensure you have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
  • Verify your work aligns with one of three focus areas

Step 2: Submit Letter of Inquiry (LOI)

  • Access the online portal at grantinterface.com/schulze during open submission windows
  • Submit LOI by published deadlines (dates are "not flexible due to the volume of requests received")
  • LOIs are reviewed by staff after the deadline
  • Organizations may apply only once per year - if you submit in Spring, you must wait until the following Spring cycle

Step 3: Full Application (if invited)

  • Receive email notification on published dates
  • Complete and submit full application through online portal by deadline
  • Applications undergo program officer review and site visits

Step 4: Site Visit & Board Review

  • Program officers conduct site visits
  • Staff submit recommendations to Board of Trustees
  • Board members approve or deny recommendations at board meetings
  • Awards and denials communicated shortly after board meetings

Decision Timeline

Total Timeline: Approximately 6 months from LOI submission to final decision

Spring Cycle Example (2026):

  • LOI Opens: December 1, 2025
  • LOI Deadline: December 29, 2025
  • LOI Notifications: January 9, 2026
  • Application Deadline: January 30, 2026
  • Site visits, board review, and notifications follow over subsequent months

Fall Cycle Example (2025):

  • LOI Opens: April 7, 2025
  • LOI Deadline: April 25, 2025
  • LOI Notifications: May 2, 2025
  • Application Deadline: May 23, 2025

Notification Method: Email notifications sent on published dates

Success Rates

Based on 2023 data, the foundation made 1,339 awards from approximately 4,000+ inquiries, suggesting a success rate of approximately 30-35% overall. However, success rates vary significantly:

  • First-time applicants receive smaller grants (up to $15,000)
  • Organizations with "long and positive relationships" have priority for general operating support and capital requests
  • The foundation impacts 300-400 nonprofit organizations annually

Reapplication Policy

Organizations may apply only once per year. If you submit an LOI in the Spring cycle, you must wait until the following year's Spring cycle to reapply. The foundation does not specify explicit restrictions for unsuccessful applicants, though building a relationship over time appears advantageous for larger awards.

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Insights

Measurable Results Required: The foundation emphasizes working with "efficient and results-oriented organizations." As stated in their guidelines: "Organization proposals should be focused on measurable results." Successful applicants demonstrate clear metrics and documented program outcomes.

Long-Term Impact Over Short-Term Fixes: The foundation advises applicants to "do work with long-lasting impact in our focus areas." Dick Schulze's daughter, Debra Schulze, explains their approach: "At our family foundation, we aim to do more than just write a check. We actively collaborate with boards and staff at various organizations to create lasting, impactful changes in the community."

Strategic Alignment is Critical: According to their guidelines: "Increase your chances to receive a grant award, make sure your work falls within our focus areas" and serves their designated geographic regions. Work must address U.S. domestic concerns.

Project Grants Preferred for New Relationships: The foundation states they prefer "specific project grants with clear and focused outcomes but are also open to general operating support and capital requests from organizations with which we have a long and positive relationship."

Program Officers Are Collaborative: Grantee reviews on GrantAdvisor reveal: "After the full proposal is submitted and you mention struggling with how you phrased an objective, they will work with you in rephrasing so you aren't set up for failure." Program officers are described as responsive and appreciative of updates throughout the year.

Healthcare Applications Must Show Clinical Application: For healthcare-related proposals, "only proposals that have short-term prospects of in-clinic application are of interest to the foundation."

Recent Funding Examples

Education: Dunwoody College of Technology, Florida Southwestern State College, Teach for America

Health & Medicine: Children's Minnesota ($5.5 million for neuroscience program; $5 million matching gift for family needs program), Gillette Children's Hospital, Mayo Clinic (Richard M. Schulze Innovation Awards in Artificial Intelligence), Allina Health/Abbott Northwestern Hospital ($25 million - largest in Allina's history)

Human & Social Services: Beacon Interfaith Housing, Clare Housing, Every Meal, Harry Chapin Food Bank, YMCA chapters, Boy Scouts, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army, Make-A-Wish, Pacer Center

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Geographic fit is non-negotiable: You must serve one of the seven Minnesota counties or five Florida counties in their focus areas. While they fund some national programs, local impact in these regions is strongly prioritized.

  • Start small, build relationships: First-time grantees receive up to $15,000, while established partners can receive major awards over $50,000 and even millions. Plan for a multi-year relationship-building strategy.

  • Demonstrate measurable outcomes: This foundation values data and results. Include clear metrics, documented outcomes, and evidence of efficiency in your proposals.

  • Respect the timeline: Deadlines are "not flexible due to volume." Apply only once per year during open cycles. Missing a deadline means waiting for the next year's cycle.

  • Leverage the site visit: Program officers conduct site visits and are described as collaborative partners. Use this opportunity to build rapport and clarify objectives.

  • Focus on long-term impact: Align your proposal with sustainable, lasting community change rather than short-term interventions. The foundation's commitment to giving away $1 billion reflects a strategic, long-term philanthropic vision.

  • Be prepared for collaboration: The foundation sees itself as more than a check-writer. They "actively collaborate with boards and staff" to create lasting change, so be ready for an engaged partnership.

References

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