Community Engagement Committee

The U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation (USV/SFF) is a hybrid corporate and family foundation established in 1985 by Art, Ray, and Bill Schmidt in honor of their parents, Albert and Margaret Schmidt. The foundation was built on a legacy of compassion, volunteerism, and community support. These core values remain central to its mission, which is to support self-sufficiency, enrich communities, and improve the lives of vulnerable populations. The foundation is funded through an endowment and a share of net profits from U.S. Venture, allowing it to consistently distribute over $6 million annually in grants and sponsorships. A key initiative of the foundation is the Community Engagement Committee (CEC), a sub-committee comprised of U.S. Venture team members. This committee is responsible for awarding program grants and event sponsorships up to $35,000. Grants focus on projects that empower disadvantaged communities, improve well-being, and foster community cohesion. The CEC prioritizes initiatives that demonstrate clear and lasting positive change and actively seeks collaborative funding models, requiring applicants to disclose additional committed or pending funders. Eligibility for the CEC grant program is restricted to U.S.-based nonprofit organizations that are classified as public charities under IRS guidelines, with preference given to those holding 501(c)(3) status. Furthermore, applications must demonstrate documented support from a U.S. Venture employee or shareholder, such as board membership, volunteer involvement, or donation activity. Each organization may receive only one grant or sponsorship per calendar year. The foundation does not typically serve as the sole financial supporter, and detailed documentation of other funders is required in the application. Applications are accepted through Temelio, a newly launched and user-friendly online grant platform. Only nonprofits that have previously received funding from the foundation are eligible to apply during this cycle. While filling out the application in Temelio, a live chat feature is available during business hours for support. Applicants can download the questions for offline review but must complete submissions directly in the platform. Additional assistance is available by contacting the foundation via email at [email protected]. For the 2026 calendar year, the foundation has four distinct grant application periods. The first cycle opens on December 15, 2025, and closes on January 23, 2026. Subsequent rounds run from March 16 to April 24, June 15 to July 24, and September 14 to October 23, 2026. Applicants are encouraged to plan according to these quarterly deadlines. No pre-application steps, such as letters of intent or concept papers, are required. Overall, the Community Engagement Committee serves as a vital mechanism through which the U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation channels its philanthropic efforts to improve communities across the country. The emphasis on employee and shareholder engagement, collaboration with other funders, and a clear application process ensures that the foundation's contributions result in meaningful and lasting community impact.

Ensure Candid profile is updated; use live chat for application support during business hours