Scott Schmidt is the founder and President of Schmidt Grant Consulting. Beginning his career at Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health (now LifeWays, Inc.), Scott Schmidt quickly advanced to a supervisory role, managing a staff of case managers and registered nurses. Scott implemented and chaired the Critical Management Team which included a physician, nurses, psychologists, and social workers working to aggressively address the needs of the agency’s most at-risk consumers. It was during his tenure at Community Mental Health that Scott first experienced success as a grant writer.
After a decade in the mental health field, Scott decided it was time to expand his knowledge and skills in nonprofit organizational management and fund development. This led him to the positions of Director of Development and then Executive Director for Cascades Humane Society in Jackson, Michigan. While at Cascades Humane Society, Scott coordinated a $1.3 million capital campaign to build a new animal shelter (completed in the spring of 2003).
With the completion of an M.B.A., Scott took a position with the United Way of Jackson County. During this time, Scott was instrumental in developing and implementing Marriage Matters Jackson and the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. While at United Way, Scott accessed over $8 million in grants to impact school failure, juvenile crime, poverty, substance abuse and family breakdown. Scott also coordinated the development and funding of several ambitious community initiatives such as the Jackson County Data Network, Jackson County Report Card, the Michigan Healthy Marriage Initiative and the Let’s Talk About Money project.
In addition to his consulting work, Scott serves as the Board President for Lifespan, a nonprofit organization that provides residential and community support services for children and adults with mental and/or physical disabilities. Scott is also a member of Grant Professionals Association, the Nonprofit Network, the Brooklyn/Irish Hills Chamber of Commerce, the Tri-County Financial Stability Coalition and the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. Scott also participates as a grant reviewer/evaluator for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA).