Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $624,000 (2024)
• Assets: $55.5 million
• Decision Time: Varies by program
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $155,000+ (average: $156,000)
• Geographic Focus: National (U.S.), with emphasis on Oregon and Pacific Northwest
• EIN: 93-1236637

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 2708, Portland, OR 97208
Physical Location: 3033 NW Yeon Avenue, Portland, OR 97210
Phone: (503) 450-0712
Website: www.jordanschnitzer.org
Email: Contact form available on website

Overview

Founded in 1997 by Jordan D. Schnitzer, the Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation was established to share artworks from one of North America's most notable contemporary art collections with the public. The foundation manages a collection of more than 22,000 works, primarily prints and multiples, along with sculpture, painting, glass, and works by Pacific Northwest artists. Since its inception, the foundation has organized over 180 exhibitions and partnered with more than 130 museums nationwide. The foundation operates with assets of $55.5 million and employs a staff of 11 who manage the art collection, exhibition program, and educational outreach. Jordan Schnitzer, who also serves as President and CEO of Schnitzer Properties (one of the West Coast's top 10 private real estate owners), carries forward the philanthropic legacy of his late parents, Harold and Arlene Schnitzer. The foundation's primary focus is making contemporary art accessible to qualified museums and institutions in diverse communities at no cost beyond transportation and insurance.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Museum Exhibition Support

• Amount: Varies (shipping costs typically shared/prorated)
• Purpose: The foundation lends artworks to qualified museums at no charge other than transportation and insurance costs
• Support: Foundation staff work with museum curators to facilitate research, selection, artist connections, publications, programs, and shipping logistics
• Educational Grants: Additional funding available for educational and outreach programs related to exhibitions

Artist Grant Programs (Periodic/Special Initiatives)

• Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program (2020): $2,500 grants to 20 artists per museum (total $150,000 across three museums)
• Funding Source: Often funded through The Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation
• Focus: Artists responding to social justice, systemic racism, and marginalized communities

Museum Operational Support

• Recent example: $4 million to support operations at Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at PSU, enabling free public access

Priority Areas

• Contemporary art exhibitions and public access
• Arts education, particularly K-12 education
• Museum partnerships and institutional support
• Artist grants addressing social justice themes
• Printmaking and contemporary prints education
• Pacific Northwest artists and regional art institutions
• University art museums and academic programs

What They Don't Fund

The foundation does not:

• Accept unsolicited grant applications for traditional nonprofit funding
• Fund non-art-related programs (this foundation focuses exclusively on art, unlike the related Harold & Arlene Schnitzer CARE Foundation)
• Provide general operating support to organizations outside the museum/art context
• Fund individual artists outside of specific announced grant programs

Governance and Leadership

Key Leadership

Jordan D. Schnitzer

• Founder and President
• President and CEO of Schnitzer Properties
• West Coast businessman and philanthropist
• Graduate of University of Oregon and Lewis & Clark Law School
• Joined family business full-time in 1976; became President and CEO in 1995

Key Staff

• Catherine Malone: Director of Collections
• Michael Nevius: Director of Marketing — Art and Civic
• Azure Attoe: Gallery Manager

Philosophical Approach

Jordan Schnitzer is guided by his parents' principle: "To whom much is given, much is expected." He has stated:

• On his legacy: "If there is any legacy that I am able to have, it will be sharing art with people."
• On art's importance: "For me, waking up each day without art around me would be like waking up without the sun. When you live with art around you, your mind and soul are filled with the beauty of creativity and human spirit."
• On education: "I am so frustrated about the lack of art education in grade schools and high schools."
• On impact: "That's why we fund buses, outreach, and education. I know these exhibitions leave kids forever changed."
• On giving: "Each of us can do something for someone else. The irony is that the more we do, the better we feel about ourselves."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation does not have a traditional public grant application process. The foundation operates through:

1. Museum Exhibition Program: Museums interested in borrowing artwork from the collection should contact the foundation directly to discuss potential exhibitions and partnerships. The foundation staff facilitates the curatorial process.

2. Invitation-Only Grants: Most grants (4 awarded in 2024, 4 in 2023) are made to preselected organizations

3. Special Artist Grant Programs: When artist grant opportunities are available, they are announced publicly through partner museums (e.g., the Black Lives Matter Artist Grant Program in 2020)

Getting on Their Radar

For Museums and Art Institutions:

• The foundation specifically seeks partnerships with museums in diverse communities
• They prioritize institutions that may lack blockbuster collections of their own
• Contact the foundation directly through their website to discuss exhibition opportunities
• The foundation actively seeks to lower barriers to access for influential contemporary artists
• Regional museums outside major metropolitan areas are encouraged to reach out

For Artists:

• Monitor announcements from Jordan Schnitzer Museums of Art at the University of Oregon, Washington State University, and Portland State University
• Special artist grant programs are typically announced publicly when available
• Programs often focus on emerging artists and social justice themes

Relationship Building:

• Jordan Schnitzer is actively engaged in the Oregon arts community and university partnerships
• The foundation has longstanding relationships with institutions bearing the Schnitzer name (UO, WSU, PSU)
• Attending openings and events at Schnitzer-named museums may provide networking opportunities

Decision Timeline

• Timelines vary depending on the type of partnership or grant
• Museum exhibition partnerships involve extended planning periods for curatorial work and logistics
• Artist grant programs (when announced) typically have specific deadlines (e.g., the 2020 BLM Artist Grant had a September 30 deadline)

Application Success Factors

For Museums Seeking Exhibition Partnerships:

1. Mission Alignment: Emphasize how access to contemporary art serves your diverse community
2. Educational Programming: Highlight your commitment to education and outreach, especially K-12 programming
3. Regional Impact: The foundation values bringing art to communities outside major urban centers
4. Collaborative Approach: Be prepared to work closely with foundation staff on curatorial and educational components
5. Accessibility Focus: Demonstrate commitment to making art accessible to broad audiences

For Artist Grant Programs:

When special programs are announced:

1. Social Justice Focus: Recent programs emphasized responses to systemic racism and marginalized communities
2. All Mediums Welcome: Programs typically accept artists working in any medium
3. Regional Emphasis: Oregon artists have been prioritized in past programs (though specific geographic preferences are stated in each program)
4. Clear Proposal: Articulate how your work responds to the stated theme

Foundation Priorities:

Based on recent activities and Schnitzer's statements:

• K-12 Arts Education: The foundation increasingly focuses on arts education for kindergarten through 12th grade
• Accessibility: Making renowned contemporary artists accessible to the public
• Printmaking Education: Special emphasis on collaborative printmaking processes
• Community Impact: Programs that have lasting effects on participants, especially youth
• Pacific Northwest Artists: Continued commitment to regional artists following family legacy

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• This is not a traditional grantmaking foundation - it primarily operates through art lending and museum partnerships rather than general grant applications
• No unsolicited applications - grants are typically by invitation or through announced special programs
• Focus is highly specialized - exclusively arts-focused, particularly contemporary prints, multiples, and museum exhibitions
• Long-term relationship approach - most successful partnerships involve extended relationships with institutions
• Monitor special programs - artist grant opportunities are announced periodically through partner museums
• Museums are the primary beneficiaries - qualified museums seeking to borrow from one of North America's most significant contemporary art collections should reach out directly
• Education is increasingly important - K-12 arts education is a growing priority for Jordan Schnitzer personally and may influence future foundation directions
• Free access matters - the foundation values making art accessible without fees beyond necessary costs like shipping and insurance

References

1. Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation Official Website, jordanschnitzer.org, accessed March 10, 2026
2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, "Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation," Form 990-PF filings, https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/931236637, accessed March 10, 2026
3. Candid Foundation Directory Online, "Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation," https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=SCHN070, accessed March 10, 2026
4. Oregon ArtsWatch, "Jordan Schnitzer turns his attention to K-12 arts education," https://www.orartswatch.org/jordan-schnitzer-turns-his-attention-to-k-12-arts-education/, accessed March 10, 2026
5. Portland State University News, "Jordan Schnitzer Invests in Downtown, Arts Education and Access with $10 Million Gift," https://www.pdx.edu/news/jordan-schnitzer-invests-downtown-arts-education-and-access-10-million-gift-name-schnitzer, April 2, 2024
6. Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art, University of Oregon, "Jordan Schnitzer Announces New Artist Grant Program," https://jsma.uoregon.edu/jordan-schnitzer-announces-new-artist-grant-program-partnership-jordan-schnitzer-museum-art, 2020
7. Willamette Week, "Jordan Schnitzer Is the Ultimate Patron of the Arts," December 6, 2022, https://www.wweek.com/arts/2022/12/06/jordan-schnitzer-is-the-ultimate-patron-of-the-arts/
8. Artnet News, "Philanthropist Jordan Schnitzer on the Joy of Sharing His Collection," https://news.artnet.com/art-world/jordan-schnitzer-art-collection-2382890, accessed March 10, 2026
9. Schnitzer Cares website, schnitzercare.org, accessed March 10, 2026
10. Cause IQ, "Jordan Schnitzer Family Foundation," https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/jordan-schnitzer-family-foundation,931236637/, accessed March 10, 2026