Dr. Scholl Foundation Grants 2026: LOI Dates, Grant Sizes

Updated Nov 10, 20263 official sources

Quick Answer: If you're a nonprofit thinking about Dr. Scholl Foundation grants, the next window is short: letters of inquiry open January 1 and close January 31, 2027 at 11:59 p.m.

Full answer and how we checked it

Central, through the foundation's online portal only. Invited full applications are due March 31, 2027, and decisions come in October. The FAQ says grants average $5,000 to $25,000 for one year of a specific program. According to its Form 990-PF for 2024 (EIN 36-6068724), the Northbrook, Illinois foundation paid $8.9 million in 410 grants, with a median of $10,000; Illinois groups received 230 of them.

Who this is for: This guide is for 501(c)(3) nonprofits, especially in the Chicago area and Illinois but also elsewhere in the U.S., that want a one-year program grant from the Dr. Scholl Foundation. It covers the 2027 dates, the rules that disqualify most requests, what grants really look like on the foundation's own return, and how to prepare a letter of inquiry. Grantsights isn't affiliated with the Dr. Scholl Foundation or the Dr. Scholl's brand.

Data note: Grant figures come from the Dr. Scholl Foundation's own Form 990-PF for calendar year 2024, read from the e-filed return on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer on November 10, 2026. Grantsights parsed all 410 lines of the grants-paid list, and they add up exactly to the return's total of $8,927,500. Grantsights set nothing aside: the list has no membership dues, matching gifts or grants to individuals, and every line names a program. The median is $10,000. Each line is a one-year grant, matching the FAQ's rule that the foundation "only accepts requests for one year of funding."

Last updated: 2026-11-10.

In this guide

Dr. Scholl Foundation grants: the 2027 cycle in 4 dates
Who qualifies and what's off limits
Who Dr. Scholl Foundation grants actually fund
How to apply to the Dr. Scholl Foundation, step by step
What Dr. Scholl's Application Pages Don't Tell You
Where to look alongside the Dr. Scholl Foundation
How Grantsights Checked This Guide
Sources

Find the foundations most likely to fund your organization

Type your organization's name. We'll show the foundations that fund groups like yours, from their own IRS filings, with the reasons for each. Free, no sign-up. See a sample

Free: up to 5 foundations that fund your kind of work in your state, by email. From their own IRS 990-PF filings, with what they gave and how to apply where reported.

Research leads from past filings, not open grants. Confirm current eligibility and dates. We'll also offer the weekly grant email. We'll also send 4 short follow-ups with more funders and how to approach them. Unsubscribe anytime.

Dr. Scholl Foundation grants: the 2027 cycle in 4 dates

Grantsights checked 5 Dr. Scholl Foundation pages on November 10, 2026. The foundation runs 1 cycle a year, and no window was open on that date.

Step	Date	What happens	Source
Letter of inquiry (LOI) window opens	January 1, 2027	Submit through the Dr. Scholl Foundation portal; mail and email aren't accepted	Procedures page (opens in a new tab)
LOI window closes	January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. CT	LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis; approved applicants are invited to apply	Procedures page (opens in a new tab)
Full application due	March 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. CT	Only for applicants whose LOI was approved	Procedures page (opens in a new tab)
Decisions	October 2027 (the FAQ says mid-October)	All applicants notified; money is for the fourth quarter of 2027	FAQ (opens in a new tab)

Because LOIs are reviewed on a rolling basis, there's no reason to wait until January 31. A letter submitted early in January gets read while reviewers have more room.

Get grant deadline alerts by email

About once a week, we email a short list of open grant calls with real deadlines from different funders. It isn't limited to the programs in this guide.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Who qualifies and what's off limits

According to the preferences and limitations page, the foundation considers grants in 5 areas: education, social service, healthcare, civic and cultural, and environmental, and it says those categories don't rule out other worthwhile projects. Two requirements apply to everyone: a valid IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter and at least 3 years of documentable financial activity.

The same page lists what it won't fund:

organizations without a 501(c)(3) letter;
political groups, PACs or campaigns aimed at influencing legislation;
other grantmaking foundations;
loans, operating deficit reduction, paying off debt, or general support;
grants to individuals;
event sponsorships such as tables, tickets or ads;
more than one request from the same organization in a cycle.

It adds that endowments and capital campaigns are rarely funded, and that public bodies such as public schools and municipalities are rarely considered. The FAQ adds 3 more rules: only one application per institution per grant year, only one-year requests, and staff can't help you pick which program to submit.

Common mistake: asking for general operating support. The limitations page names "general support" as something it won't fund, and almost every line on the 2024 return names a specific program, such as a youth program, a scholarship fund or an exhibition. Write the request around one program with a clear one-year budget.

Outside Illinois and outside the U.S.

The FAQ answers both questions directly: "Yes, we fund outside of Illinois," and for other countries, "We consider funding in countries where a board member has direct knowledge of Non-U.S. applicants." In practice, as the next section shows, out-of-state grants are spread thin.

Who Dr. Scholl Foundation grants actually fund

According to Grantsights analysis of the 2024 return, 410 grants worth $8.93 million went to 404 differently named organizations in 30 states (Illinois plus 29 others), Washington, D.C. and the United Kingdom. The median was $10,000, and the middle half ran from $5,000 to $20,000. In all, 346 grants (84.4%) fell between $5,000 and $25,000, the range the FAQ describes as average.

Dr. Scholl grant size, 2024	Grants	Dollars	Share of $8.93 million
Under $10,000	146	$739,500	8.3%
$10,000 to $14,999	107	$1,075,000	12.0%
$15,000 to $24,999	74	$1,337,000	15.0%
$25,000 to $49,999	42	$1,191,000	13.3%
$50,000 to $99,999	20	$1,175,000	13.2%
$100,000 or more	21	$3,410,000	38.2%
All grants	410	$8,927,500	100%

The most common amounts were exactly $5,000 (129 grants), $10,000 (105 grants) and $20,000 (45 grants). Only 21 grants reached $100,000, but they took 38.2% of the money.

Where the money went

Illinois received 230 grants worth $4,099,000 (45.9% of dollars), and Chicago addresses alone received 158 grants worth $3,080,500. Washington, D.C. was second with $1,265,000 in 20 grants, followed by Colorado ($561,000 in 23 grants), New York ($480,000), Virginia ($357,000) and Arizona ($297,000 in 25 grants). All 11 foreign grants, worth $289,000, went to groups listed under the United Kingdom, and 6 of those were on the Isle of Man.

Top grants on the 2024 return

Recipient (2024)	Amount	Purpose on the return
Trust for the National Mall, Washington, D.C.	$500,000	New corral and maintenance fund for the horse stables
University of Notre Dame, Indiana	$250,000	Global Science Engagement Initiative
Saints Faith Hope & Charity Parish, Winnetka, Illinois	$225,000	Updates to the A/C system
World Central Kitchen, Washington, D.C.	$200,000	Emergency food relief program
Big Shoulders Fund, Chicago	$200,000	Visitation School and a Dr. Scholl Foundation scholarship
BUILD Inc, Chicago	$175,000 (2 grants)	Youth development staffing and programs
Watershed School, Boulder, Colorado	$165,000	New building
Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago	$160,000	Scholarships for podiatric students
Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress, Washington, D.C.	$160,000 (2 grants)	Fellows, policy programs and a 2024 awards dinner
Lyric Opera of Chicago	$150,000	Classroom engagement and Rising Stars programs

What a typical grant pays for

The typical grant is small and specific. For example, Enlace Chicago received $10,000 for a community garden in the Little Village neighborhood, By the Hand Club For Kids received $15,000 for middle school programming, the Chicago Public Library Foundation received $25,000 for summer learning, and Open Books received $5,000 for its Reading Buddies program. Suburban groups appear too: CASA Kane County in Geneva received $20,000 for services to abused and neglected children, and Rebuilding Together North Suburban Chicago received $30,000 for home repairs.

Out-of-state grants follow the same pattern. For example, Paul's Place in Baltimore received $10,000 for hot meals, Freedom Service Dogs in Englewood, Colorado received $5,000 for service dogs for veterans, and Young Life in Phoenix received $25,000 for a transportation van.

2023 for comparison

According to the 2023 return data, the foundation listed 365 grants and $8,110,000 paid, with the same $10,000 median. The 2024 return lists $962,584 in grants approved for future payment and assets of $211.9 million at fair market value.

How to apply to the Dr. Scholl Foundation, step by step

These 7 steps come from the procedures, limitations, appointments and FAQ pages as checked November 10, 2026.

Check the 2 hard requirements now. A 501(c)(3) determination letter and at least 3 years of documented financial activity.
Pick one program. One request per organization per cycle, for one year. Choose the program you can describe most concretely.
Set a realistic amount. For a first request, the $5,000 to $25,000 range on the FAQ is where 84.4% of 2024 grants fell.
Set up or update your portal account. The procedures page says applications go only through the Dr. Scholl Foundation portal, and that out-of-date contact information can hold up processing. After a staff change, the FAQ says to call 847-559-7430 to update the account.
Submit the LOI early in January 2027. The window runs January 1 to 31, and LOIs are read on a rolling basis.
If invited, finish the full application by March 31, 2027. The appointments page says you may phone for an in-person or conference call appointment after your application has been accepted.
If funded, plan the final report. The FAQ says final reports are due December 1 through the portal, and unspent funds must be disclosed in writing within a year of receipt.

What Dr. Scholl's Application Pages Don't Tell You

Grantsights checked the foundation's pages against its 2 most recent returns, and 5 things stood out.

The limits are softer at the top. The limitations page says capital campaigns are rarely funded and event sponsorships aren't funded, yet the 2024 list includes $225,000 for a parish's air conditioning, $165,000 for a school building and $10,000 for a 2024 awards dinner. Those look like long-standing relationships. Don't read them as an opening for a cold capital request.

Chicago is the center of gravity. 158 of 410 grants went to Chicago addresses. An out-of-state applicant can win, but only 180 grants went anywhere other than Illinois, spread over 29 other states, D.C. and the U.K. The median outside Illinois was $10,000, so that's the honest expectation for a first grant.

Past grantees reapply every year. The procedures page says applicants must complete a letter of inquiry each cycle regardless of previous funding. That's good news for newcomers, because no one is automatically renewed, but don't underestimate how many established Chicago groups compete each January.

One-year money means one-year plans. The FAQ only accepts one-year requests. A red flag in a letter is a multi-year budget or a request to cover a deficit.

Foreign grants depend on a board connection. The 11 U.K.-coded grants, 6 of them on the Isle of Man, match the FAQ's rule that non-U.S. applicants are considered only where a board member has direct knowledge. An overseas group without that link shouldn't apply.

Where to look alongside the Dr. Scholl Foundation

With a January window and October decisions, Dr. Scholl money arrives late in the year, so build other sources around it.

Illinois funders: see Illinois nonprofit grants and the Chicago grants guide for state and city sources. The MacArthur Foundation grants guide covers a Chicago funder that's mostly invitation-only.

Program grants elsewhere: see family foundation grants for other foundations of the same size and style, foundation grants for nonprofits for a wider list, and best grants for youth development nonprofits for youth programs like many on the foundation's Chicago list. Use the Grantsights grant search to check open federal and state programs you qualify for.

Federal options: search open federal opportunities on Grants.gov's search page (opens in a new tab). Dr. Scholl requires a 501(c)(3) determination letter, which the IRS page on 501(c)(3) exemption requirements (opens in a new tab) explains.

Grantsights tools: the Dr. Scholl Foundation funder page summarizes the grants on its recent 990-PF filings, and Grantsights' human services funder lists group private foundations that funded similar programs by state, drawn from the grants on their own returns.

How Grantsights Checked This Guide

Grantsights checked 6 Dr. Scholl Foundation pages and 2 of its returns on November 10, 2026. ProPublica's record and the return header both show EIN 36-6068724 for the Dr. Scholl Foundation in Northbrook, Illinois.

Dr. Scholl page or return	What it shows	Next step
Home page	Private, independent grantmaker set up by William M. Scholl, M.D. in 1947	Confirm you have the right funder
Procedures page	LOIs January 1 to 31, 2027; full applications by March 31, 2027; portal only	Put the dates in your calendar
Preferences and limitations page	5 areas; 501(c)(3) plus 3 years of finances; exclusions	Check eligibility
FAQ	$5,000 to $25,000 average; one cycle; one-year requests; final reports December 1	Size the request
Appointments page	Calls or visits only after an application is accepted	Don't call before applying
Form 990-PF, 2024	410 grants, $8,927,500 paid	Find peers and amounts
Form 990-PF, 2023	365 grants, $8,110,000 paid	Compare years

The grant list is public by law. According to IRS guidance on the private foundation annual return (opens in a new tab), every private foundation files Form 990-PF by the 15th day of the 5th month after its year ends, which is May 15 for a calendar-year foundation like Dr. Scholl; the 2025 return wasn't on ProPublica when Grantsights checked. To find peers on the list yourself, see how to read a 990-PF.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Dr. Scholl Foundation deadline?

For the 2027 cycle, the procedures page says letters of inquiry are accepted from January 1 through January 31, 2027, closing at 11:59 p.m. Central time. Applicants whose letter is approved submit a full application by March 31, 2027. All applicants hear funding decisions in October, and grants are for the fourth quarter of 2027. There's one cycle a year.

How much does the Dr. Scholl Foundation give?

The FAQ says there's no limit on requests, but grants average $5,000 to $25,000. The 2024 Form 990-PF backs that up: 346 of 410 grants, or 84.4%, fell between $5,000 and $25,000, and the median was $10,000. The largest 2024 grant was $500,000 to the Trust for the National Mall.

Does the Dr. Scholl Foundation only fund Illinois?

No. The FAQ says it funds outside Illinois, and the 2024 return lists grants in 30 states, Washington, D.C. and the United Kingdom. But Illinois took 230 of 410 grants and 45.9% of the dollars, and Chicago alone took 158 grants. Outside the U.S., the FAQ says it considers only applicants a board member has direct knowledge of.

What won't the Dr. Scholl Foundation fund?

The preferences and limitations page rules out organizations without a 501(c)(3) letter, political groups, other grantmaking foundations, loans, deficit reduction, debt payoff, general support, grants to individuals, event sponsorships and more than one request per cycle. It says endowments, capital campaigns and public bodies such as public schools are rarely funded.

Can a new nonprofit apply to the Dr. Scholl Foundation?

Only if it has at least 3 years of documentable financial activity and a valid 501(c)(3) determination letter, according to the preferences and limitations page. The FAQ doesn't say whether first-time applicants are treated differently, but every applicant must submit a letter of inquiry each cycle, even past grantees.

Can I call the Dr. Scholl Foundation before applying?

The appointments page says applicants may phone for an appointment, in person or by conference call, after their application has been accepted. Staff can't help you choose which program to submit, according to the FAQ. The office is at 1033 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 230, in Northbrook, Illinois.

Last updated November 10, 2026. Published by Grantsights from public sources. See our editorial policy, how we build and check guides, corrections and how we make money.

Related Guides

Complete Guide