James M Schoonmaker Ii Foundation
The organization is a private foundation dedicated to providing general support to various charitable causes. Its mission appears to focus on enhancing community welfare through grants to organizations involved in animal welfare, historical preservation, marine activities, and community service. The foundation supports a diverse range of recipients, including healthcare systems, sailing organizations, and historical societies. While it does not have a specific geographic focus, its funding is distributed across multiple states, with notable support for initiatives in areas related to sailing and animal welfare.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Mid-to-large charitable organizations with prior relationships to the foundation or its trustees, especially in sailing/marine programs, historical preservation, health services, or animal welfare, and those able to receive general/unrestricted support.
Good Fit
- • An existing introduction or referral from a current or past grantee or a trustee contact.
- • Organizational mission aligned with prior grantees (sailing/marine education, historical societies, healthcare, humane societies).
- • Capacity to manage multi-year, general-support grants and report to funders.
- • Regional presence in states the foundation has funded (notably Minnesota, Florida, Rhode Island, Maryland).
- • Track record as an established nonprofit (not a brand-new entity).
Geography
The latest filing shows grants to organizations in ten different states, with major dollar concentration to Minnesota (about 54%) and substantial giving in Florida, indicating a multi-state footprint rather than a single-county focus.
Recipient Variety
The foundation funded 26 distinct recipients in 2024, with 19 returning grantees across the three-year history and a mix of small local groups and larger national organizations, so the observed recipient set is broad for the foundation's size.
New Applicants
Direct evidence of new grantees exists (7 new recipients in 2024), but the foundation explicitly marks grants as preselected/invitation-only and there is no public application route, so unfamiliar applicants are unlikely to gain entry without a referral or solicitation.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
