Dr Scholl Foundation
The Dr. Scholl Foundation is a private, independent grantmaking foundation (est. 1947) based in Northbrook, Illinois. The site lists grantmaking priorities (education, social services, healthcare, civic/cultural, environmental) and publishes application procedures including an annual LOI/application cycle with deadlines and a grant portal.
Source: Website · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
A registered 501(c)(3) running programmatic education, social services, healthcare, civic/cultural, or environmental work; applicants range from local Illinois nonprofits to national organizations and higher-education institutions with project or capital requests sized from small program support to six-figure grants.
Good Fit
- • Project fits one of the foundation’s stated priorities (education, social services, health, civic/cultural, environment).
- • Ability to apply via the online LOI/application portal within the Oct–Mar cycle.
- • Organizational capacity to manage grants in the typical size range (many grants clustered around $5K–$25K, with regular larger grants up to $250K–$500K).
- • Demonstrated local Illinois impact or a clear programmatic case for out-of-state/national work.
- • Evidence of fiscal responsibility and 501(c)(3) status.
Geography
Giving is multi-state (recipients in 30 states) and while Illinois is the largest single state by dollars (about 47%), the foundation funds organizations across the country.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows nearly 400 distinct recipients across many mission areas and purposes, and three-year data shows both substantial repeat giving and a large number of unique grantees, indicating broad institutional variety.
New Applicants
The foundation publishes an online LOI/application cycle and accepted 139 new recipients in the latest year (roughly 35% new in that year), so unfamiliar applicants have a clear, tested path into the portfolio.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
