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Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust

Grant Range
$5K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3w

Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: Not publicly disclosed
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Approximately 3-4 weeks from deadline to board decision
  • Grant Range: $5,000 - $125,000+ (based on recent awards)
  • Geographic Focus: Town of Litchfield, Connecticut (including Bantam, East Litchfield, Milton, and Northfield)

Contact Details

Address: P.O. Box 292, Litchfield, CT 06759

Email: secretary@seherr-thoss.org

Website: https://seherr-thoss.org/

Overview

The Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust (EIN 06-6399636) was established in 1994 by Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss and her husband, Hans C. Seherr-Thoss, who became Litchfield residents in 1948 after purchasing 300 acres of farmland. Together with its sister organization, The Seherr-Thoss Foundation (established 1991), the Trust provides permanent funding for cultural, educational, health-related, religious, and civic organizations serving the Litchfield community. The foundations operate with a strong commitment to the town where the founders lived and farmed for decades, supporting both large capital improvement projects and smaller community initiatives. Both foundations "fund Litchfield projects almost exclusively" but can support organizations outside town limits if they serve Litchfield residents.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates on a biannual grant cycle with two annual deadlines:

  • Spring Cycle: Application deadline early April (April 4, 2025); Board meeting late April (April 25, 2025)
  • Fall Cycle: Application deadline early October (October 3, 2025); Board meeting early November (November 7, 2025)

Grant amounts vary significantly based on project scope, from small equipment purchases to major capital campaigns.

Priority Areas

The Seherr-Thoss Charitable Trust supports:

  • Cultural organizations: Museums, historical societies, arts organizations
  • Educational initiatives: Schools, libraries, educational programming
  • Health-related services: Medical equipment for volunteer ambulance services, healthcare facilities
  • Religious organizations: Churches and faith-based community organizations
  • Civic projects: Municipal improvements, conservation, public infrastructure
  • Community services: Fire departments, rescue services, community centers

Recent funded projects include:

  • St. Michael's Church: $125,000 matching grant for church repairs (Fall 2017)
  • Borough of Litchfield: $12,500 for street light refinishing and decorations (Fall 2017)
  • Litchfield Garden Club: $50,000 for tree planting on streets adjacent to Litchfield Green (Fall 2017)
  • Oliver Wolcott Library: $24,453.83 for wireless network improvements and $5,930 for supplemental heating (Fall 2015)
  • Oliver Wolcott Library: $11,500 for "OWL Box" lending machine project

The foundations have historically supported major capital improvements for the Litchfield Historical Society, Oliver Wolcott Library, White Memorial Conservation Center, Litchfield Community Center, and Livingston Ripley Waterfowl Sanctuary.

What They Don't Fund

  • Individuals: No grants to individuals
  • Annual appeals: General operating support or annual fundraising campaigns
  • General endowment funds: Endowment contributions are excluded
  • Organizations outside geographic area: Only municipalities within the Town of Litchfield and Boroughs of Litchfield and Bantam are eligible

Governance and Leadership

The foundations were established by Sonia P. Seherr-Thoss (1919-2006) and Hans C. Seherr-Thoss (1912-1992). Sonia was the granddaughter of Henry Phipps, a partner of steel industrialist Andrew Carnegie, and served on numerous boards including the Litchfield Historical Society, Oliver Wolcott Library, Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust, and White Memorial Foundation.

Current Leadership:

  • President: Bruce Schnitzer

The Board of Directors meets twice annually to review applications. In March 2022, the board announced the death of Harry Seherr-Thoss (1946-2022), a long-serving director. President Bruce Schnitzer stated: "This is a sad day for our community," reflecting the foundations' deep community connections.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Trust accepts applications through a formal application process twice annually. Prospective applicants should:

  1. Visit the Applicant Information page on the foundation website
  2. Download the application form (available as editable Word document or PDF with instructions)
  3. Complete all required materials
  4. Submit by the posted deadline for either Spring or Fall cycle

Eligibility Requirements: Applicants must meet one of these criteria:

  • Be exempt from income taxes under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code
  • Be affiliated with a municipal entity within or associated with the Town of Litchfield
  • Be a recognized religious organization

Geographic Restriction: Only municipalities within the Town of Litchfield and the Boroughs of Litchfield and Bantam are eligible.

Applications must demonstrate how the request aligns with the foundation's stated purpose of supporting community organizations in Litchfield.

Decision Timeline

  • Spring Cycle: Applications due early April; board meets late April (approximately 3 weeks)
  • Fall Cycle: Applications due early October; board meets early November (approximately 4-5 weeks)

Notification methods are not publicly specified; applicants should expect communication following board meetings.

Success Rates

Success rates and total application numbers are not publicly disclosed.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Given the foundations' focus on supporting a limited geographic area and their biannual cycle, unsuccessful applicants may reasonably reapply in subsequent cycles with revised or different projects.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundations' history and funded projects, successful applications likely demonstrate:

Community Impact: The foundations exist to "provide support for cultural, educational, historical or other activities on behalf of the town of Litchfield where the town would otherwise provide but for the lack of funds." Projects filling genuine community gaps appear prioritized.

Capital Projects and Equipment: Historical funding patterns show strong support for tangible improvements—building repairs, equipment purchases, infrastructure enhancements—rather than ongoing operating expenses.

Clear Project Scope: Funded grants show specific, well-defined projects (e.g., "refinish 18 street lights," "wireless network improvements") rather than general requests.

Range of Project Sizes: The foundations fund both major capital campaigns ($125,000 church restoration) and smaller equipment needs ($5,930 heating unit), suggesting flexibility based on demonstrated need.

Established Organizations: Recipients include longstanding community institutions (Litchfield Historical Society, Oliver Wolcott Library, churches, municipal entities), though this may reflect the limited pool of eligible organizations in a small town.

Geographic Authenticity: The foundations' deep commitment to Litchfield specifically—where the founders farmed and lived—suggests applications should clearly demonstrate benefit to Litchfield residents rather than broader regional impact.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Stay hyperlocal: This is one of the most geographically focused funders you'll encounter—only Town of Litchfield and Boroughs of Litchfield and Bantam qualify. Don't apply if you're outside this area.

  • Think capital and equipment: The foundations' history shows strong preference for tangible improvements (buildings, equipment, infrastructure) over operating support or endowments.

  • Avoid excluded categories: Do not submit annual appeals, endowment requests, or applications for individuals—these are explicitly excluded.

  • Demonstrate community gap: Frame your request as addressing a need "where the town would otherwise provide but for the lack of funds"—this language from their mission statement suggests they see themselves filling municipal budget gaps.

  • Plan for biannual cycles: With only two deadlines per year, timing matters. Miss a deadline and you'll wait six months for the next opportunity.

  • Scale appropriately: Recent grants range from under $6,000 to over $125,000, so both small and large projects are considered. Match your request to your actual need and organizational capacity.

  • Connect to founders' legacy: The Seherr-Thoss family's deep roots in Litchfield (since 1948) and Sonia's service on boards of major recipients (Historical Society, Library) suggest the foundations value long-term community institutions.

References

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