John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,128,098
• Total Assets: $41,445,853
• Decision Time: Quarterly review cycle
• Grant Range: $15,000 - $100,000
• Median Grant: $25,000
• Geographic Focus: Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky
• Application Deadlines: February 1, May 1, August 1, October 1

Contact Details

Address: 500 First Avenue, P7-PFSC-03-Z, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: (412) 258-3051 (PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Centre)

Cincinnati Regional Contact: Jessica Yankie 201 East Fifth Street Cincinnati, OH 45202 Phone: (513) 651-8807

Email: charitabletrusts@pnc.com

Pre-Application Support: Applicants are encouraged to contact the designated PNC Charitable Trusts programme administrator before submitting to confirm eligibility and timing.

Overview

The John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust is a private independent foundation established as a 501(c)(3) organisation with tax-exempt status granted in August 2007. With total assets of approximately $41.4 million, the trust distributes approximately $2.1 million annually through grants to nonprofit organisations in the Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky region. The trust is administered by PNC Bank, N.A., as trustee, which manages nearly 200 perpetual charitable trusts and private foundations on behalf of individual donors. The trust's grantmaking is guided by the donor's legacy and focuses on supporting organisations that provide direct services, address demonstrated community needs, and have measurable outcomes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust operates through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee with quarterly application cycles.

• General Grant Programme: $15,000 - $100,000 (median grant: $25,000)
  • Rolling quarterly basis with fixed deadlines: February 1, May 1, August 1, October 1
  • Applications reviewed quarterly
  • Grants awarded to organisations in Cincinnati, OH and Northern Kentucky

Priority Areas

The trust supports organisations in the following fields:

• Education: Youth development programmes, mentoring, college and career success, tutoring and educational skill development
• Social Services: Community services, financial stability programmes, family support services, homelessness services
• Healthcare: Health services and programmes that address community health needs
• Arts and Culture: Cultural institutions and arts programming
• Animal Welfare: Programmes supporting animal welfare
• Environment: Environmental conservation and protection initiatives
• Religion: Faith-based community programmes

Specific Focus Areas:

• Year-round programming that provides direct services to individuals
• Programmes that reflect the core social mission of the organisation
• Initiatives that address demonstrated community needs
• Projects with broad impact or that benefit underserved populations
• Programmes with measurable outcomes and long-term sustainability
• Organisations with diversified income streams and effective financial accountability

What They Don't Fund

• General operating costs
• Pilot programmes
• Event sponsorships
• Multi-year commitments
• For-profit organisations
• Organisations that discriminate based on race, colour, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, ancestry, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status
• Organisations requiring less than 3 years of operational history
• Projects outside the Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky geographic area

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: PNC Bank, N.A.

• Annual Trustee Compensation: Approximately $283,730
• PNC Bank manages the trust as part of its portfolio of nearly 200 charitable trusts and private foundations

The trust's grantmaking decisions are made through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee, which implements the legacies set forth by individual donors who established trust relationships with PNC by distributing grants to worthy 501(c)(3) nonprofit organisations at local and regional levels.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee process:

1. Pre-Application Contact: Before applying, applicants should contact Jessica Yankie (Cincinnati regional contact) at (513) 651-8807 or the general PNC Charitable Trust Grant Review Centre at (412) 258-3051 to confirm eligibility and timing.

2. Application Method: Submit proposals electronically through the PNC Charitable Trusts application system.

3. Required Documentation:

   • Organisational information and 501(c)(3) documentation
   • Current Internal Revenue Service tax-exempt designation
   • Project description addressing community need and demonstrating demand
   • Plan for documenting measurable outcomes
   • Evidence of at least 3 years of operational history
   • Demonstration of diversified income streams and financial accountability
   • Information on collaboration with other organisations (if applicable)

Decision Timeline

• Application Deadlines: Quarterly - February 1, May 1, August 1, October 1
• Review Process: Grant proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis
• Notification: Organisations are notified following quarterly committee meetings
• Fund Utilisation: Awarded funds must be utilised within 12 months
• Impact Reporting: Results must be completed electronically via Impact Report within the 12-month period

Reapplication Policy

• Organisations that receive funding must generally wait 18-24 months before reapplying
• The specific waiting period may vary depending on geographic location and programmatic focus
• Critical Requirement: Impact reports on previous awards must be submitted before a new application will be considered
• Organisations are encouraged to contact the designated PNC administrator to determine when their next application should be submitted

Application Success Factors

Based on documented guidance from PNC Charitable Trusts and successful grant examples from the Schroth Trust, the following factors increase application success:

Alignment with Trust Priorities:

• The trust has funded organisations like Cincinnati Youth Collaborative ($30,000 for mentoring, college and career success, and work readiness programmes), Santa Maria Community Services ($30,000 for financial stability through financial education and coaching), and The Salvation Army ($15,000 for youth development programmes including mentoring and tutoring). Applications should demonstrate similar focus on direct service delivery with measurable outcomes.

Demonstrating Community Impact:

• H.A. Musser, Jr., President and CEO of Santa Maria Community Services, emphasised how their grant would "support our work with individuals on completing a financial assessment, and identifying opportunities to save money." Successful applications clearly articulate specific, measurable ways the grant will serve individuals in the community.

Evidence of Organisational Capacity:

• Organisations must demonstrate at least 3 years of operational history
• Show diversified income streams and effective financial accountability
• Evidence of sustainable programming beyond the grant period
• Track record of achieving measurable outcomes (e.g., Cincinnati Youth Collaborative's documented success of 96% of senior students graduating high school on time)

Direct Service Delivery:

• The trust prioritises programmes that provide direct services to individuals rather than indirect or administrative functions
• Year-round programming is preferred over one-time events or short-term initiatives

Strategic Collaboration:

• Applications showing collaboration with other organisations or addressing gaps in community services are viewed favourably

Clear Outcomes and Evaluation:

• Include specific plans for documenting results and measuring impact
• Be prepared to submit detailed impact reports on use of funds

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Geographic Focus is Critical: The Schroth Trust exclusively funds organisations serving Cincinnati, Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Do not apply if your service area is outside this region.

• Plan Your Timeline: With quarterly deadlines and an 18-24 month waiting period between applications, time your submission strategically. Contact Jessica Yankie before applying to confirm eligibility and optimal timing.

• Median Grant is $25,000: While grants range from $15,000 to $100,000, with most recent top grants at $90,000-$100,000, the median is $25,000. Budget requests should align with demonstrated organisational capacity and project scope.

• Direct Service is Key: The trust focuses on year-round programming with direct community impact. Emphasise how your programme provides direct services to individuals and reflects your organisation's core mission.

• Past Performance Matters: Impact reports must be submitted before reapplying. If you've received a previous grant, your stewardship and outcomes reporting will directly affect future applications.

• Three-Year Track Record Required: Organisations must demonstrate at least three years of operational history. Newer organisations should wait until meeting this threshold.

• Diversified Funding Shows Strength: The trust looks for organisations with multiple income streams and strong financial accountability. Your application should demonstrate fiscal sustainability beyond this single grant.

References

• Grantmakers.io Profile - John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust. https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/207470868-john-a-schroth-family-charitable-trust/ (Accessed January 2026)

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - John A Schroth Family Charitabletrust. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/207470868 (Accessed January 2026)

• PNC Bank. "Charitable Trusts." https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/corporate-responsibility/philanthropy/charitable-trusts.html (Accessed January 2026)

• Santa Maria Community Services. "John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust Awards $30,000 to Santa Maria Community Services, Inc. to Support Financial Stability of Families." December 2020. https://santamaria-cincy.org/schroth/ (Accessed January 2026)

• Cincinnati Youth Collaborative. "CYC Receives 30K Grant from The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank Trustee, to Ensure Economic Opportunity for Our Youth." March 2018. https://www.cycyouth.org/cyc-receives-30k-grant-john-schroth-family-charitable-trust-pnc-bank-trustee-ensure-economic-opportunity-youth/ (Accessed January 2026)

• The Salvation Army Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. "Grant from The John A. Schroth Family Charitable Trust, PNC Bank Trustee." October 2014. https://swo.salvationarmy.org/SouthwestOhio/news/schroth-grant-2014 (Accessed January 2026)

• Candid Foundation Directory - John a Schroth Family Char Trust. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile/?key=SCHR092 (Accessed January 2026)

• Cause IQ - John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-john-a-schroth-family-charitable-trust,207470868/ (Accessed January 2026)