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John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$2.2M
Grant Range
$15K - $0.1M
Decision Time
3mo

John A Schroth Family Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,200,000
  • Total Assets: $48,000,000
  • 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 Center)

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 program 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) organization with tax-exempt status granted in August 2007. With total assets of approximately $48 million, the trust distributes approximately $2.2 million annually through grants to nonprofit organizations 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. In 2024, the trust made 58 grants, demonstrating an active commitment to supporting local community organizations across multiple sectors including education, healthcare, community services, and the arts. The trust's grantmaking is guided by the donor's legacy and focuses on supporting organizations that provide direct services, address demonstrated community needs, and have measurable outcomes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

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

  • General Grant Program: $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 organizations in Cincinnati, OH and Northern Kentucky

Priority Areas

The trust supports organizations in the following fields:

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

Specific Focus Areas:

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

What They Don't Fund

  • General operating costs
  • Pilot programs
  • Event sponsorships
  • Multi-year commitments
  • For-profit organizations
  • Organizations that discriminate based on race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, age, ancestry, marital status, disability, or protected veteran status
  • Organizations 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 organizations 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 Center 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:

    • Organizational 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 organizations (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: Organizations are notified following quarterly committee meetings
  • Fund Utilization: Awarded funds must be utilized within 12 months
  • Impact Reporting: Results must be completed electronically via Impact Report within the 12-month period

Reapplication Policy

  • Organizations 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
  • Organizations 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 organizations like Cincinnati Youth Collaborative ($30,000 for mentoring, college and career success, and work readiness programs), Santa Maria Community Services ($30,000 for financial stability through financial education and coaching), and The Salvation Army ($15,000 for youth development programs 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, emphasized 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 Organizational Capacity:

  • Organizations 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 prioritizes programs 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 organizations or addressing gaps in community services are viewed favorably

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 organizations 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 organizational capacity and project scope.

  • Direct Service is Key: The trust made 58 grants in 2024 totaling $2.2 million, focusing on year-round programming with direct community impact. Emphasize how your program provides direct services to individuals and reflects your organization'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: Organizations must demonstrate at least three years of operational history. Newer organizations should wait until meeting this threshold.

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

References

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