GRANTS
Other Vocal Arts Initiatives
Bill Schmidt, founder of the William E. Schmidt Foundation, moved to Sarasota, Florida later in his life. There, he became a substantial behind-the-scenes supporter for Sarasota Opera. Today, the Foundation continues this legacy by providing annual support for the Sarasota Youth Opera program, currently the most comprehensive program of its kind in the nation. Since 1984, it has provided thousands of young people with first-hand opera experience through participation in after-school choruses, Sarasota Opera main stage productions, summer camps, and fully staged Youth Opera productions. The program operates in keeping with Schmidt’s vision that all children should have access to quality arts education regardless of skill level or ability to pay.
The William E. Schmidt Foundation also invests in a variety of other vocal arts initiatives at the discretion of the Foundation’s board of directors.
These additional initiatives have included:
Miami University Opera
Revitalization of the Sarasota Opera House
Schmidt Creative Arts Scholarships at Miami University
The Schmidt Vocal Arts Center at the University of Kentucky
University of Evansville Opera and Outreach

At this time the Foundation is not accepting new grant proposals
At this time the Foundation is not accepting new grant proposals

Education & Community Impact
Another way the Foundation fulfills its founder’s vision has been through community building –investing in quality educational opportunities for the next generation and in community programs that strengthen families. We support educational and community impact initiatives primarily in the regions where Mr. Schmidt lived and worked, which include Kentucky, Southern Indiana and Sarasota, Florida.
Here are some of the current organizations and missions we support:
Dan Scism College Scholarship Fund
Dream Center Evansville
Estill Development Alliance
Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra
H. B. Goodlin Awards
Laurel Civic Association, Inc.
Manatee Technical College
Mattingly Charities
Richard E. and Anna Lee Hamilton Speaker Series
Sarasota Military Officers Scholarship Fund
- Tennessee Golf Foundation (The First Tee of Tennessee Scholarships)
Transformation Nashville