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Warren & Katharine Schlinger Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.1M
Grant Range
$5K - $2.9M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10.1 million (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $2,900,000
  • Median Grant: $35,000
  • Geographic Focus: Southern California (primary), with some national grants
  • Total Assets: $99.6 million (2024)

Contact Details

Warren & Katharine Schlinger Foundation
28202 Cabot Rd., Suite 300
Laguna Niguel, CA 92677-1249
Phone: 714-501-0899

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited proposals.

Overview

The Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation was established in 1994 by chemical engineer Warren G. Schlinger and his wife Katharine (Katie) Stewart Schlinger. Warren was a distinguished Caltech alumnus (BS 1944, MS 1946, PhD 1949) who worked at Texaco for four decades, developing pioneering technologies in oil shale processing, coal gasification, and related fields. He held over 60 patents and was a member of the National Academy of Engineering. Following the passing of Warren in 2017 and Katie in 2015, the foundation is now led by their children, Sarah Chrisman and Norman Schlinger. With assets of approximately $99.6 million, the foundation distributed $10.1 million in grants across 43 awards in 2023. The foundation maintains a low public profile and provides ongoing support to a core group of preselected organizations, primarily in Southern California. Warren was a longtime supporter of Caltech, serving as president of the Caltech Associates (1995-1996), and the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Laboratory for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering was named in the couple's honor in 2010.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates as a private family foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking. Grant amounts in 2023 ranged from $5,000 to $2.9 million, with a median grant of $35,000. The largest grants typically go to family-related foundations and Caltech.

Priority Areas

Education

  • Strong emphasis on higher education, particularly STEM fields
  • Ongoing support for California Institute of Technology (general support and scholarship programs)
  • Support for UC San Francisco, Scripps College, and UC Berkeley Haas programs
  • Northern Light School
  • Some support for civics education organizations with conservative leanings

Health and Mental Health

  • International OCD Foundation
  • Tourette Association of America
  • USC Arcadia Hospital Foundation
  • Huntington Medical Research Institutes
  • Homelessness initiatives (e.g., Hope Solutions, Pleasant Hill, CA)

Animal Welfare and Wildlife

  • Domestic animal welfare organizations
  • Wildlife rescue and conservation
  • Community Concern for Cats (Walnut Creek)
  • Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care Inc.
  • The Elephant Sanctuary (Hohenwald, Tennessee)
  • Bear League (Homewood, California)
  • Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation

Arts and Culture

  • Focus on music in Southern California
  • Coleman Chamber Music Association
  • Los Angeles Philharmonic
  • Pasadena Conservatory of Music

Religion

  • Congregational churches in Southern California

What They Don't Fund

Given the foundation's preselected approach, they do not fund:

  • Organizations without existing connections to the Schlinger family or foundation
  • Unsolicited proposals from any organization
  • Organizations outside their established priority areas

Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership:

  • Sarah L. Chrisman: CFO and Secretary (daughter of founders)
  • Norman W. Schlinger: Vice President (son of founders)

Foundation History: The foundation was founded by Warren G. Schlinger (1923-2017) and Katharine Stewart Schlinger (d. 2015). Warren was a pioneering chemical engineer who earned three degrees from Caltech and spent four decades at Texaco developing breakthrough technologies in energy processing. According to Jacqueline Barton of Caltech, "Warren Schlinger always talked about how much Caltech and the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering had done for him," reflecting his deep commitment to giving back to his alma mater.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. The Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and explicitly does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. The foundation keeps a low public profile, maintains no website, and operates through trustee discretion in selecting grantees.

Grants are awarded through:

  • Trustee identification and selection of recipients
  • Ongoing relationships with established grantees
  • Personal connections to the Schlinger family
  • Recommendations from existing grantees

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's approach to identifying grantees is highly relationship-driven:

  • Family Connections: The foundation is now led by Sarah Chrisman and Norman Schlinger, the children of the founders. Organizations with connections to these trustees or other family members are most likely to be considered.

  • Caltech Network: Given Warren Schlinger's deep ties to California Institute of Technology (where he earned three degrees and served as president of the Caltech Associates), organizations connected to the Caltech community may have better access.

  • Existing Grantee Relationships: The foundation tends to provide ongoing support to a core group of organizations. Building relationships with current grantees who might recommend your organization is one potential pathway.

  • Geographic Connection: The foundation prioritizes Southern California organizations, particularly those in areas where the family has lived and worked (Laguna Niguel, Aliso Viejo, and the greater Los Angeles area).

Decision Timeline

Not publicly available. As a private foundation with trustee-directed grantmaking, decisions are made on an ongoing basis by the trustees without formal application cycles.

Success Rates

Not applicable. The foundation operates on an invitation-only basis and does not accept unsolicited applications, making traditional success rate metrics irrelevant.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as there is no public application process.

Application Success Factors

Since the Warren and Katharine Schlinger Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional application success factors do not apply. However, understanding what the foundation values can provide insight into their grantmaking philosophy:

Priority Considerations Based on Funding Patterns:

  • Sustained Impact in Education: The foundation's largest and most consistent grants support education, particularly STEM fields and institutions that shaped Warren Schlinger's career. Organizations demonstrating excellence in chemical engineering, chemistry, and related sciences align with the founders' legacy.

  • Connection to Founding Values: Warren Schlinger was described as someone who "always talked about how much Caltech and the Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering had done for him." Organizations that embody gratitude, mentorship, and paying forward opportunities resonate with the foundation's ethos.

  • Long-term Relationships: The foundation provides "ongoing support to a small corps of grantees," indicating they prefer sustained relationships over one-time grants. Organizations that have received funding typically continue to receive support.

  • Southern California Focus: While the foundation makes some national grants (Tennessee, Massachusetts, etc.), the majority of funding stays in Southern California, reflecting the family's geographic roots.

  • Diverse Causes with Personal Meaning: The foundation's support spans education, health (including OCD and Tourette syndrome research), animal welfare, arts, and religion, suggesting trustees support causes with personal or family significance rather than following narrow programmatic guidelines.

Major 2023 Grant Examples:

  • Schlinger Chrisman Foundation: $2.9M (general support)
  • Schlinger Family Foundation: $2.9M (scholarship fund)
  • California Institute of Technology: $950K (general support and scholarships)
  • UC Regents-BOOST at Berkeley Haas: $700K (general support)
  • Tony LaRussa's Animal Rescue Foundation: $500K (general support)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application: This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, so traditional grant writing approaches will not work
  • Relationship-Driven: Access requires connections to the Schlinger family, existing grantees, or the Caltech network
  • Loyal to Grantees: The foundation provides ongoing support to established relationships rather than seeking new organizations
  • Education Focus: STEM education, particularly at Caltech, receives the largest grants and most consistent support
  • Geographic Priority: Southern California organizations have a significant advantage
  • Family-Directed: With children of the founders now leading, the foundation reflects the family's personal interests and values
  • Broad Interests: While education leads, the foundation supports diverse causes including health research, animal welfare, arts (especially music), and faith communities

References

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