Schoen Foundation

The Schoen Foundation — formally the Schoen Family Charitable Trust (SFCT) — is a tightly held, multi-generational family foundation with a 32-year track record centered on Naples, Florida. Founded in 1993 by William 'Bill' Schoen, a Marine Corps veteran and former chairman and CEO of Health Management Associates, and his wife Sharon, the foundation operates as a deeply values-driven institution. Bill's passing in 2023 triggered both a leadership transition to his children and a dramatic expansion of assets — from approximately $27 million to $412 million in fiscal year 2024 — positioning SFCT as one of Southwest Florida's most significant philanthropic forces.

The foundation explicitly restricts eligibility to four categories: educational institutions, religious and humanitarian organizations, and organizations providing assistance to veterans or the homeless. Applications from organizations outside these lanes will not advance. For those that do qualify, the process is unusually accessible for a foundation of this size: an online application form at schoenfoundation.org/grantapp is open to all eligible nonprofits between January 1 and May 31 each calendar year, with board decisions made at the July annual meeting.

Current leadership includes Sharon Schoen as President; Karen Schoen Sutton (referred to in IRS filings as Karen Asutton) as Chairman and Treasurer; William Schoen Jr. and Kathryn Schoen as Vice Presidents; and Kristine Pollard as Secretary. Executive Director Jodi Bailey ($213,125 in compensation) manages day-to-day operations and is the primary staff contact at (239) 594-1404. The foundation's third generation is now actively volunteering, signaling strong institutional continuity.

What the foundation values most is long-term partnership. Its relationship with Habitat for Humanity of Collier County spans more than two decades and culminated in a $25 million gift in March 2025. First-time applicants should approach SFCT with a relationship-building mindset: an initial modest grant request, consistent stewardship, and multi-year cultivation toward larger commitments. The family's reverence for Bill Schoen's legacy — veteran, self-made businessman, community builder — means proposals that explicitly connect to themes of earned opportunity, service, and community empowerment will resonate most strongly.

Historical annual grants paid ranged from $690,500 (2019) to $4,699,618 (2020), with recent years stabilizing at $3.8 million–$4.5 million: $3,803,500 (2022) and $4,458,700 (2023). In fiscal year 2021, the foundation disbursed $2,708,000 to 44 charities, yielding an estimated average grant of approximately $61,500. Smaller grantees in that cohort likely received $10,000–$50,000, with anchor grantees receiving $150,000 or more.

This historical pattern, however, may no longer reflect the foundation's near-term trajectory. Total assets jumped to $412 million in fiscal year 2024 — a 15x increase from $27.4 million in 2023 — almost certainly reflecting estate assets transferred following founder Bill Schoen's 2023 death. This new capital base enables giving at a fundamentally different scale, already evidenced in 2025: the $25 million Habitat Collier gift alone exceeds the foundation's previous five years of cumulative giving.

Known 2025 grants include: $25,000,000 to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County (affordable housing); $2,250,000 to Clemson University for ClemsonLIFE (special needs education); $1,000,000 to the University of Arkansas Land of Opportunity Scholarships (higher education access). These three grants alone total $28.25 million in a single calendar year.

Geographically, IRS filings list all grantee states as Florida, consistent with the Collier County concentration. However, 2025 saw gifts to South Carolina and Arkansas, reflecting family connections (Karen Schoen Sutton's husband is a Clemson alumnus) and honor gifts tied to the founder's biography (Bill Schoen was a Marine from Arkansas).

By focus area, recent major gifts skew heavily toward: affordable housing/community development (88% of 2025 known major giving), inclusive/special education (8%), and scholarship/access programs (4%). Historically, health, homeless services, and faith-based organizations also received support from the 44-grantee cohort in 2021.

The table below compares the Schoen Foundation to four peer funders in Southwest Florida and comparable family foundations with overlapping mission areas. Asset and giving figures for peers are approximate based on publicly available 990 data and foundation directories.

The Schoen Foundation's recently expanded asset base places it well above most Collier County funders and on par with the region's largest community foundations. Unlike Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Dr. P. Phillips — which either require invitation or have closed unsolicited processes — SFCT maintains an open online application accessible to all qualifying nonprofits. This openness is exceptional at the $412M asset level and represents a meaningful opportunity for organizations in education, housing, veteran services, and humanitarian work.

The 12 months ending March 2026 represent the most consequential period in the Schoen Foundation's history.

March 10, 2025 — The foundation announced a $25 million gift to Habitat for Humanity of Collier County, described as the largest donation in Habitat Collier's history and one of the largest philanthropic gifts ever made in Naples. This gift builds on a documented 20+ year partnership and arrives after the massive post-estate asset expansion.

August 25, 2025 — A $2.25 million commitment to Clemson University launched the Schoen Foundation Endowment for ClemsonLIFE ($2M) and the Schoen Foundation ClemsonLIFE Annual Fund ($250K), supporting postsecondary education for students with intellectual disabilities. Karen Schoen Sutton personally quoted: 'By supporting ClemsonLIFE, we are helping students gain independence, pursue their passions and create meaningful futures.'

October 9, 2025 — A $1 million gift to the University of Arkansas Land of Opportunity Scholarships, in honor of founder William J. Schoen (Marine Corps veteran). The Schoen Foundation joined the Leaders of Arkansas Founders' Circle, a group of benefactors committing at least $1 million to the scholarship campaign. Foundation officer Kelsey Sutton made the announcement.

2023 (prior year) — Founder and Chairman William J. Schoen passed away. His estate transfer appears to have dramatically increased foundation assets (to $412M in FY2024). Sharon Schoen continues as President; Karen Schoen Sutton has assumed an expanded role. No public leadership disruptions or program discontinuations have been reported.

1. Qualify strictly before applying. SFCT's stated restriction is explicit: only educational institutions, religious and humanitarian organizations, and those serving veterans or the homeless are eligible. If your organization does not clearly fit one of these categories, do not apply. The foundation's online form does not include a pre-screening tool, but off-category applications will not advance at the review stage.

2. Submit within the January 1–May 31 window. This is the only intake period. The board makes all decisions at its July annual meeting. Applications received after May 31 must wait until the following year. Aim for early to mid-May to ensure staff review before the meeting.

3. Connect to Bill Schoen's biography. His identity as a Marine Corps veteran, self-made businessman, and community builder is a thread through every major recent grant — the Arkansas gift was explicitly 'in his honor,' the ClemsonLIFE gift supports independence for people with disabilities, and the Habitat gift supports affordable homeownership. Proposals that echo these themes — earned opportunity, service, community-building — will resonate with the family trustees.

4. Calibrate your ask to relationship stage. With $412M in assets and a demonstrated capacity for $25M grants, it may be tempting to request a large amount. Do not. First-time applicants should request $25,000–$150,000. The foundation's largest gifts ($25M to Habitat) reflect partnerships built over 20+ years. Asking for more than the relationship warrants will undermine credibility.

5. Leverage geographic alignment. Though the foundation is now making national grants, Collier County and Naples organizations have a natural advantage. Organizations outside Southwest Florida should make explicit ties to the Schoen family's communities or connect to family members' places of residence or interest.

6. Prepare one tight supporting document. The form allows a single file upload. Use it for a 1-2 page project brief or recent impact report — not your full IRS letter or 30-page strategic plan. Lead with outcomes, not organizational history.

7. Follow up via the website contact form. After submitting online, contact the foundation through its website to confirm receipt and introduce your executive director. Executive Director Jodi Bailey is the primary professional staff contact at (239) 594-1404. Warm correspondence (not cold solicitation) distinguishes serious applicants.