John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests, so a small charity without an existing link should not expect a cold approach to be considered.
- Its grants span education, arts and culture, community services, health, faith, animal welfare and naval heritage, and the filing states no thematic priorities, so fit is best judged by whether your work resembles recipients already listed.
- Where a relationship already exists, a request in the typical band of $25,000 to $2,500,000 is the usual range, with the median grant at $250,000; treat that band as typical rather than as a limit, since the largest grant was about $13,500,000.
- Repeat giving is strong, with 72% of grant dollars to organisations going to groups funded in the foundation's two previous filings, so it tends to renew existing relationships rather than open new ones.
- No geographic focus is stated, though the filing shows grants mainly in Ohio and Maryland, so that pattern is worth noting rather than treating as a rule about who may apply.
Overview
John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cincinnati, OH.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 12 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The filings do not state thematic priorities; their grants are recorded as general support for a broad mix of organisations. Recipients include universities and colleges; arts and cultural organisations such as museums, theatres and symphony organisations; youth and social-service charities; healthcare organisations; food banks; churches; animal-welfare groups; and naval and maritime heritage organisations. Most recorded grant dollars went to Ohio organisations, alongside funding in other states. The record therefore describes a portfolio spanning education, arts and culture, community services, health, faith, animal welfare and naval heritage, rather than a stated programme or published set of applicant priorities.
Geographic Focus
No geographic focus is stated; the filings show grants mainly in Ohio and Maryland.
How to apply
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organisations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 72% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 119 grants to organisations were $250,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 17% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 72% of grant dollars went to organisations John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 43 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $400k (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Xavier University · General support$7,970,0002024 tax year
- Wesley Services Organization · General support$5,150,0002024 tax year
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati · General support$5,000,0002024 tax year
- ProKids · General support$3,000,0002024 tax year
- FotoFocus · General support$2,750,0002024 tax year
- Northern Cincinnati Foundation · General support$2,500,0002024 tax year
- Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra · General support$2,000,0002024 tax year
- Children's Theatre of Cincinnati · General support$2,000,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Lauren Fernandez — President
- Suzanne Reid — Trustee
- Thomas R Schiff — Trustee
- John J Schiff JR — Chairman
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $41,961,883 | $40,999,886 | $606,584,927 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $34,158,361 | $33,230,050 | $718,765,181 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $49,188,194 | $47,874,000 | $871,950,391 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
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At a glance
Applying to John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cincinnati, OH
Applying to John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cincinnati, OH