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Jay And Jeanie Schottenstein Foundation

Annual Giving
$14.2M
Grant Range
$1K - $10.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $14,195,423 (2023)
  • Success Rate: Not applicable (invitation only)
  • Decision Time: Not disclosed
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $1,000,000+ (most common: ~$25,000)
  • Geographic Focus: National (U.S.) and International (Israel focus), with local emphasis on Columbus, Ohio

Contact Details

Address: 4300 E. Fifth Ave., Columbus, OH 43219
Phone: (614) 449-4253
Website: None (foundation maintains a low profile)
Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not maintain a website or public contact system for grant inquiries.

Overview

Founded in 1985 by Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein, this private foundation has become one of the most significant supporters of Jewish causes in the United States. Jay Schottenstein is an Ohio retail magnate who serves as Chairman and CEO of Schottenstein Stores Corporation, American Eagle Outfitters, and American Signature. In 2023, the foundation distributed $14.2 million through 66 grants. The foundation's strategic approach focuses on transformative "charitable moonshots" that create lasting impact in Jewish education, religious institutions, community development, and archaeological preservation. The Schottensteins are particularly known for underwriting the completion of the 73-volume Schottenstein Edition of the Talmud (following Jay's father Jerome's initial sponsorship) and for funding the Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel in Jerusalem. The foundation received the 2023 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Columbus Jewish News for their philanthropic contributions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific names or structured application processes. Instead, grants are awarded through trustee discretion based on the founders' personal interests and relationships with organizations.

Grant Amounts: Grants typically range from a few thousand dollars to several million, with the most common grant size around $25,000. Multi-million dollar commitments have been made for major institutional projects.

Distribution: Made 66 grants in 2023, 69 grants in 2022, and 63 grants in 2021, showing consistent annual activity.

Priority Areas

Primary Focus - Jewish Causes (Approximately 90%+ of giving):

  • Jewish educational institutions (K-12 and higher education)
  • Torah translation and scholarship projects
  • Orthodox Jewish communities and synagogues
  • Israeli institutions and causes
  • Jewish social services and community organizations
  • Archaeological preservation in Israel

Secondary Focus - Columbus Community:

  • Education (particularly at Ohio State University)
  • Healthcare and medical research
  • Community development
  • Arts and culture

Major Past Recipients Include:

  • Yeshiva University (Schottenstein Honors Program)
  • Mesorah Heritage Foundation (ArtScroll Talmud project)
  • Friends of the Israeli Antiquities Authority (National Campus for Archaeology)
  • University of Pennsylvania (Schottenstein Jesselson Library)
  • Ohio State University (Jeffrey Schottenstein Program for Resilience - $10.15 million; Wexner Medical Center cardiovascular research)
  • Columbus Community Kollel
  • Columbus Torah Academy (over $2 million)
  • Jewish Federation of Columbus
  • Chabad institutions
  • United Hatzalah
  • Agudath Israel
  • Hillel
  • Hadassah
  • Nationwide Children's Hospital
  • United Way of Central Ohio

What They Don't Fund

  • Organizations without a Jewish mission or Columbus community connection
  • Unsolicited requests from unknown organizations
  • Organizations outside their established network of relationships

Governance and Leadership

Founders and Primary Decision Makers:

  • Jay Schottenstein (Founder): Chairman and CEO of American Eagle Outfitters, Schottenstein Stores Corporation, and American Signature; board member of Yeshiva University. Born 1954 in Columbus to a prominent Jewish retailing family; graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 1976.
  • Jeanie Schottenstein (Co-Founder): Active partner in philanthropic decisions

Philanthropic Philosophy:

Jay Schottenstein has articulated clear values driving their giving:

  • "My affinity for philanthropy is guided by faith, family and caring for others."
  • "One's value is not determined by possessions, rather by the number of people we have positively impacted."
  • "We believe the more you give, the more God gives you."
  • "What you give determines your net worth, not what you have."

The Schottensteins emphasize that their Jewish heritage and values, "such as kindness, caring for others and tzedakah, are what gives us the framework for our behavior."

Grantmaking Approach:

According to philanthropy researchers, the foundation's "proactive grantmaking approach depends on the founders' personal interests rather than a theory of change or research-based approach." They work to "find leaders they believe in and work with them to ensure the mission and the cause they champion has what it needs to succeed."

Eli Beer from United Hatzalah noted that Jay Schottenstein's core value is "tikkun olam" (repairing the world), with most of their conversations focused on "how they can help people in education, health, and sports."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

The foundation explicitly states that it "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds." Grants are awarded through trustee discretion, with Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein personally identifying organizations and causes they wish to support.

The foundation maintains a low profile, does not operate a website, and does not provide public application guidelines or forms.

Getting on Their Radar

The foundation's approach to identifying grant recipients is highly relationship-based:

Known Pathways to Support:

  • Board Connections: Jay Schottenstein serves on the board of Yeshiva University, which has been a major beneficiary. Board service and institutional leadership roles create pathways for funding consideration.
  • Jewish Institutional Networks: The foundation identifies opportunities through established Jewish communal organizations, including federations, major synagogues, and national Jewish organizations like Chabad, Agudath Israel, and Hillel.
  • Columbus Community Presence: Organizations with established presence in Columbus, Ohio, particularly those with Jewish connections, have received support.
  • Family Networks: The foundation involves multiple generations of the Schottenstein family in philanthropy, suggesting that personal and family connections play a role in identifying beneficiaries.

Specific Intelligence:

  • The foundation appears to identify major projects through Jewish communal networks and personal relationships with institutional leaders rather than through formal proposals
  • Organizations that have received support typically had pre-existing relationships with the Schottenstein family or were introduced through trusted intermediaries in the Jewish philanthropic community

Decision Timeline

Not disclosed. As an invitation-only funder making grants through trustee discretion, there is no standard timeline for unsolicited applications.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications, as the foundation does not accept them.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable. The foundation makes proactive grants to preselected organizations rather than responding to applications.

Application Success Factors

Note: Since this foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, these factors reflect what characterizes organizations that have successfully received support:

Strong Jewish Mission and Impact:

  • Nearly all funding goes to organizations with explicitly Jewish missions focused on education, religious life, scholarship, or support for Israel
  • Organizations that advance Jewish learning, preserve Jewish texts and heritage, or strengthen Jewish communities align with core priorities

Transformative "Moonshot" Projects:

  • The foundation has supported ambitious, multi-year projects with lasting impact, such as the 73-volume Talmud translation (completed over 15 years following initial family sponsorship) and the National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel
  • Projects that create permanent infrastructure or resources for Jewish learning and preservation appeal to the foundation's approach

Leadership and Personal Connection:

  • Jay Schottenstein emphasizes finding "leaders they believe in" and working with them to ensure missions succeed
  • Organizations where foundation leaders have direct board involvement, personal relationships, or can directly observe impact receive sustained support

Columbus Community Connection:

  • Local Columbus organizations, particularly in education, healthcare, and Jewish community services, receive consistent support
  • The foundation maintains strong ties to Ohio State University and other Columbus institutions

Multi-Year Commitment Potential:

  • Several recipients, including Columbus Torah Academy ($2+ million over time) and Mesorah Heritage Foundation, have received sustained support over multiple years
  • The foundation appears to build long-term partnerships with organizations rather than making one-time grants

Recent Example of Funded Work:

  • The Jeffrey Schottenstein Program for Resilience at Ohio State University ($10.15 million) supports student mental health and resilience across campus
  • The Jay and Jeanie Schottenstein National Campus for the Archaeology of Israel houses two million archaeological artifacts including Dead Sea Scroll fragments, with conservation labs open to public viewing

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Invitation-Only Funder: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation proactively identifies and selects grantees based on personal interests and relationships.
  • Jewish Focus is Paramount: Nearly all funding supports Jewish causes. Organizations without a Jewish mission are unlikely to receive support unless they have strong Columbus community connections.
  • Relationship-Building is Essential: Access to funding requires personal connections to the Schottenstein family, board service on institutions they support, or introductions through trusted Jewish communal organizations.
  • Think Long-Term and Transformative: The foundation favors ambitious projects that create lasting impact over incremental programs. "Charitable moonshots" that advance Jewish learning, preservation, or community infrastructure align with their approach.
  • Values-Driven Philanthropy: The Schottensteins emphasize tikkun olam (repairing the world), tzedakah (charitable giving as obligation), and supporting leaders they believe in. Understanding and demonstrating these values is essential.
  • Columbus Connection Helps: Local Columbus organizations, particularly those serving the Jewish community or major institutions like Ohio State University, have an advantage.
  • Multi-Million Dollar Capacity: The foundation has demonstrated willingness to make major multi-million dollar commitments to projects and institutions that align with their mission, particularly in higher education and cultural preservation.

References

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