Program Grants

The U.S. Venture/Schmidt Family Foundation (USV/SFF) provides program grants that aim to empower disadvantaged communities, improve quality of life, and strengthen connections within the regions where U.S. Venture operates. As a philanthropic arm of U.S. Venture, the Foundation’s mission centers on fostering self-sufficiency, enhancing community well-being, and encouraging engagement between team members, shareholders, and the communities they serve. Grants are designed to create measurable, lasting impact through investments in effective organizations that demonstrate both a clear mission and a commitment to positive outcomes. The Foundation accepts proposals for a wide range of funding purposes, including specific program initiatives, capital needs, and general operating support. The focus remains on projects that generate tangible benefits for substantial populations, reflect sound organizational health, and exhibit diversified funding bases. Preference is given to entities that partner with other funders to maximize impact, as the Foundation generally avoids serving as a sole contributor. Program grants are typically limited to one per organization per calendar year, encouraging applicants to submit their strongest and most impactful proposal. Eligibility is restricted to nonprofit organizations recognized as public charities under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code, with a strong preference for those that demonstrate direct involvement from U.S. Venture employees or shareholders. Examples of such engagement include serving on boards, volunteering, or contributing as donors. Organizations must also align with one or more of the Foundation’s priority areas: team member and shareholder engagement, self-sufficiency, community enrichment, and the well-being of vulnerable populations. Schools, government agencies, individuals, and religious organizations seeking membership growth or requiring religious participation are ineligible. Applications are managed through the Foundation’s Temelio platform. New users must create an account, and each applicant’s organizational information will be verified through an integration with Candid using their EIN. Applicants may download application questions for offline review and can access live chat support during business hours. Technical or eligibility questions may be directed to foundation@usventure.com. Submissions are only accepted through this portal and must be received no later than 5:00 p.m. Central Time on the closing date listed for the current grant cycle. For the 2025 program cycle, applications open on September 8, 2025, and close on October 24, 2025. The Foundation requires approximately 8 to 10 weeks to review applications and issue funding decisions. Grantees must submit a final report 12 months after receiving funds before reapplying for future support. Should there be any material changes to how awarded funds are used, recipients must obtain prior written approval from the Foundation. The program operates annually, with each subsequent cycle expected to follow a similar early-fall application window.

Update Candid profile before submission; only one program grant per year; obtain approval for post-award changes.