Scott Schmidt is the founder and President of Schmidt Grant Consulting, bringing decades of experience in nonprofit leadership, fund development, and strategic grant acquisition. His career began at Jackson-Hillsdale Community Mental Health (now LifeWays, Inc.), where he quickly rose to a supervisory role, overseeing a team of case managers and registered nurses. Recognizing the critical need for a coordinated response to high-risk clients, Scott implemented and chaired the Critical Management Team—an interdisciplinary collaboration of physicians, nurses, psychologists, and social workers dedicated to addressing the agency’s most urgent cases. It was during this time that Scott discovered his talent for grant writing, securing funding to enhance mental health services.
After a decade in the mental health field, Scott sought to expand his expertise in nonprofit management and fund development. He transitioned to Cascades Humane Society in Jackson, Michigan, where he served as Director of Development and later as Executive Director. Under his leadership, the organization launched and successfully completed a $1.3 million capital campaign to construct a new animal shelter, which opened in the spring of 2003.
Building on his leadership experience, Scott pursued and earned an M.B.A., which positioned him to take on a pivotal role at the United Way of Jackson County. There, he played a key role in developing and implementing impactful community initiatives, including Marriage Matters Jackson and the Jackson County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition. His expertise in grant acquisition secured over $8 million in funding to address school failure, juvenile crime, poverty, substance abuse, and family instability. Additionally, he spearheaded the development and funding of transformative initiatives such as the Jackson County Data Network, the Jackson County Report Card, the Michigan Healthy Marriage Initiative, and the Let’s Talk About Money project.
Through his leadership and grant-writing expertise, Scott has consistently driven funding and innovation to strengthen communities, advance nonprofit missions, and create lasting change.