Dr. Scholl Foundation – 2027 Grant Program

Grants Supporting Education, Social Services, Healthcare, Civic & Cultural Programs, and Environmental Initiatives

The Dr. Scholl Foundation 2027 Grant Program provides funding to U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working across a broad range of charitable priorities, including education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural programs, and environmental initiatives.

The Foundation intentionally maintains broad funding guidelines, allowing it to consider worthwhile projects that may fall outside its primary categories.

There is no formal maximum grant request, although the Foundation reports that its grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000.

The 2027 grant cycle begins with a required Letter of Inquiry (LOI), which may be submitted from January 1 through January 31, 2027. Organizations whose LOIs are approved will be invited to submit a full application by March 31, 2027.

Organization: Dr. Scholl Foundation
Support Type: Charitable grants
Typical Grant Amount: $5,000–$25,000
Geographic Focus: Primarily United States
LOI Opens: January 1, 2027
LOI Deadline: January 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. CT
Invited Application Deadline: March 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. CT

New to corporate grant fundraising?

Read our Corporate Grants for Nonprofits: Ultimate Guide to learn how corporate funding works.

➡️ https://corporategrantsguide.com/corporate-grants-101/

About the Funder

The Dr. Scholl Foundation was established in 1947 by William M. Scholl, M.D., founder of The Scholl Manufacturing Company.

Today, it operates as an independent private grantmaking foundation committed to providing financial assistance to organizations working to improve communities and address important social needs.

The Foundation describes its work as grounded in the values of innovation, practicality, hard work, and compassion.

Since 1980, the Foundation has contributed more than $312 million to charitable organizations.

What This Program Supports

The Dr. Scholl Foundation considers grant requests in several broad areas.

Education

Programs that strengthen educational opportunities, learning, skills development, and access to educational resources.

Social Services

Organizations and programs addressing community needs and providing services to individuals and families.

Healthcare

Initiatives that improve access to healthcare, support health-related services, or otherwise contribute to healthier communities.

Civic & Cultural Programs

Programs strengthening civic life, arts, culture, community engagement, and cultural institutions.

Environmental Initiatives

Organizations and projects addressing environmental needs, conservation, sustainability, and related priorities.

The Foundation emphasizes that these categories are not intended to restrict its grantmaking. Other worthwhile projects may also be considered.

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Have a valid IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
• Be able to provide at least three years of financial activity
• Submit only one request during the grant cycle
• Apply for one year of funding

The majority of Dr. Scholl Foundation grants are made within the United States.

The Foundation does consider some international requests, but non-U.S. grants are generally made only when Foundation directors have direct knowledge of the applicant organization.

Funding Amount

There is no formal limit on the amount an organization may request.

However, the Foundation reports that its grants typically range from:

$5,000 to $25,000

Organizations should develop requests based on the actual needs of the proposed program rather than attempting to tailor a request to a specific published maximum.

Ineligible Requests

The Dr. Scholl Foundation does not consider funding requests from or for:

• Organizations without a valid IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
• Organizations unable to provide at least three years of financial activity
• Political organizations
• Political action committees
• Individual political campaigns
• Organizations primarily seeking to influence legislation
• Foundations that are themselves grantmaking organizations
• Loans
• Operating deficit reductions
• Liquidation of debt
• General operating support
• Grants to individuals
• Event sponsorships
• Purchase of tables, tickets, or advertisements
• More than one request from the same organization during a single grant cycle

Limited Funding Areas

The Foundation indicates that grants are rarely made for:

• Endowments
• Capital campaigns
• Publicly supported state, local, or federal governmental organizations
• Public schools
• Municipalities

Organizations in these categories should carefully assess fit before investing significant time in an application.

Application Process

The 2027 application process has two stages.

Step 1: Letter of Inquiry

All prospective applicants must first submit a Letter of Inquiry through the Dr. Scholl Foundation online portal.

The 2027 LOI period runs:

📅 January 1–January 31, 2027

LOIs must be submitted no later than 11:59 p.m. CT on January 31, 2027.

The Foundation reviews LOIs on a rolling basis.

Organizations must submit a new LOI during each grant cycle, even if they have previously received funding from the Foundation.

Step 2: Full Application

Organizations whose LOIs are approved will be invited to submit a complete grant application through the Foundation’s online portal.

Invited applications must be submitted by:

📅 March 31, 2027, at 11:59 p.m. CT

Applicants are encouraged to submit their full applications as soon as possible after receiving an invitation.

Timeline & Review

📅 LOI Opens: January 1, 2027
📅 LOI Deadline: January 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. CT
📅 Invited Application Deadline: March 31, 2027, 11:59 p.m. CT
📅 Funding Decisions: October 2027
📅 Grant Payments: November 2027

The Foundation has one grant cycle per year.

Organizations applying through this cycle should therefore expect to receive funding, if selected, during the fourth quarter of 2027.

Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients are required to complete a final report detailing the use and impact of their funding.

Final reports are generally due by December 1 following completion of the funded project.

Any grant funds that are not used for their designated purpose within one year of receipt must be disclosed to the Foundation.

Application / Request Process

All applications must be submitted through the Dr. Scholl Foundation’s online grant portal.

The Foundation does not accept applications by mail or email.

Applicants should first review the Foundation’s Preferences & Limitations carefully before beginning an LOI.

Apply / Learn More:

➡️ https://www.drschollfoundation.com/application-procedures/preferences-limitations/

Application Procedures:

➡️ https://www.drschollfoundation.com/application-procedures/procedures/

Why This Opportunity Is a Good Fit

This opportunity is a strong fit for established nonprofit organizations that:

• Have at least three years of financial history
• Are seeking program or project funding
• Work in education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural programs, or environmental initiatives
• Have a clear, defined charitable project rather than a general operating request
• Are seeking a grant in the approximately $5,000–$25,000 range
• Can plan well in advance for funding that will not be awarded until late 2027

The Foundation’s broad program interests make this opportunity particularly useful for organizations whose work may not fit neatly into the narrow funding priorities common among many corporate foundations.

Corporate Grants Guide Notes

Typical Funding Amount: $5,000–$25,000
Maximum Request: No published limit
LOI Period: January 1–31, 2027
Full Application Deadline: March 31, 2027, by invitation
Funding Decisions: October 2027
Grant Payments: November 2027
Geographic Focus: Primarily United States
Applicant Type: Established 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations
Minimum Organizational History: At least three years of financial activity
Review Type: Two-stage process beginning with a Letter of Inquiry
Best Suited For: Established nonprofits seeking project or program support across education, social services, healthcare, civic and cultural programs, and environmental initiatives
Important Limitation: General operating support is not eligible