Samuel and Edith Justus Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,248,976 (2023)
• Number of Grants: 25 awards (2023)
• Average Grant Size: ~$50,000
• Total Assets: $26.1 million (2023)
• Geographic Focus: Venango County, Pennsylvania
• Application Deadlines: February 1, May 1, August 1, October 1 (quarterly)
• Reapplication Period: 18-24 months

Contact Details

Trustee: PNC Bank N.A.
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
EIN: 47-1840657

Program Contact:
Dustin Zitterbart
Email: Dustin.Zitterbart@pnc.com
Phone: (814) 678-8653

General Inquiries:
Email: charitabletrusts@pnc.com
Website: https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/corporate-responsibility/philanthropy/charitable-trusts.html

Pre-Application Contact: Applicants are strongly encouraged to contact Dustin Zitterbart prior to submitting an application to verify eligibility and discuss their project.

Overview

The Samuel and Edith Justus Charitable Trust was established in honor of Samuel Justus, who made his fortune on the Oil City Oil Exchange and co-founded the Penn-Refining Company (which later became part of Pennzoil) in 1866 with Louis Walz and Henry Suhr. Samuel married Edith Culbertson in 1888. Originally, Justus established a trust fund in his will to build a home for orphans and widows, but as social service agencies evolved to handle these needs, the trust was restructured to benefit disadvantaged youth and community needs in Venango County through services and projects.

The trust received its 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in February 2015 and is classified as a private grantmaking foundation (NTEE code T20). With total assets of $26.1 million, the trust distributed $1,248,976 across 25 grants in 2023 and 30 grants in 2022, demonstrating consistent and active grantmaking. The trust is professionally managed by PNC Bank N.A. as trustee and generates revenue primarily through dividends and asset sales.

The foundation is part of a network of PNC-managed charitable trusts serving Venango County, including the separately managed Edith C. Justus Fund, along with the Eileen J. Luce Charitable Trust, Elizabeth S. Black Trust, Anna C. Lawler Charitable Trust, and several others.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

General Community Grants - Rolling quarterly deadlines
The trust operates a single grant program with quarterly review cycles, making one-time awards to eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations serving Venango County, PA.

Notable recent grant examples include:

• $210,906 to Keystone Smiles Community Learning Center
• $147,000 to Community Services of Venango County
• $121,650 to Bridge Builders Community Foundation
• Support for the Oil Region Astronomical Society (ORAS)

Priority Areas

The trust supports projects and programs in Venango County that enrich the community and meet its social and economic needs. Specifically, the trust prioritizes:

Program Characteristics:

• Year-round programming (not one-time events)
• Direct services to individuals aligned with the organization's core social mission
• Demonstrated community need with documented demand
• Broad impact or benefit to underserved populations

Organizational Capacity:

• Measurable outcomes with plans for documenting results
• Long-term sustainability beyond the grant period
• Diversified income streams and effective financial accountability
• Strong track record of operation (minimum 3 years in full service)

Collaborative Approach:

• Collaboration with other organizations
• Complementing rather than duplicating existing nonprofit work

Program Maturity:

• The specific program or project must have at least one complete year of operation with a measurable impact report available

What They Don't Fund

The trust does not provide grants for:

• General operating costs
• Event, conference, or seminar sponsorships or entry fees
• Pilot or new programming (programs must have at least one year of operation)
• Multi-year commitments (grants are one-time awards)
• For-profit organizations
• Individuals or private foundations
• Fraternal, political, advocacy, or labor organizations
• Religious organizations (except for non-sectarian activities)
• 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 outside of Venango County, PA

Governance and Leadership

Trustee: PNC Bank N.A.
The trust is administered by PNC Bank's Charitable Trust Grant Review Committee, located at Tower at PNC Plaza, 300 Fifth Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15222.

Regional Contact: Dustin Zitterbart serves as the designated contact for Venango County applicants and manages the application review process for the Samuel Justus Charitable Trust.

PNC Bank manages approximately 200 perpetual charitable trusts and private foundations, collectively issuing approximately $65 million in grants annually to recipients in fields including health, social services, education, religion, the arts, and more.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Pre-Application Contact Required: Organizations are strongly encouraged to contact Dustin Zitterbart (Dustin.Zitterbart@pnc.com / 814-678-8653) prior to submitting an application to verify eligibility. First-time applicants or organizations that haven't applied recently should make every effort to reach out at least one month prior to an upcoming application deadline.

Quarterly Application Deadlines:

• February 1
• May 1
• August 1
• October 1

Grant proposals are reviewed on a quarterly basis following these deadlines.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Organizations must have 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
• Organizations must have 3 years of operation in full service to others
• The specific program/project must have at least one complete year of operation with available measurable impact data
• Organization must serve Venango County, PA
• Previous grant recipients must have submitted their Impact Report before a new application will be considered

Application Method: Applications are typically submitted through PNC's online grant portal or as directed by the program administrator.

Required Documentation: Organizations should be prepared to provide evidence of their 501(c)(3) status, demonstration of need, measurable outcomes from at least one year of program operation, financial statements showing diversified income streams, and documentation of collaborative partnerships.

Decision Timeline

Review Period: Proposals are reviewed quarterly following submission deadlines. This means a typical review cycle occurs approximately every three months.

Notification: Applicants are notified of funding decisions following the quarterly review meetings. Specific timeline from submission to decision notification is typically within the quarter following the deadline.

Grant Implementation: Upon receiving a grant award, funds must be utilized within 12 months, and results must be completed electronically via Impact Report.

Success Rates

No specific success rate data is publicly available. However, based on the trust's grantmaking activity:

• 25 grants were awarded in 2023
• 30 grants were awarded in 2022
• 27 grants were awarded in 2021

This consistent level of activity suggests the trust maintains an active and responsive grantmaking program.

Reapplication Policy

Waiting Period: Organizations who receive funding are generally asked to wait 18 to 24 months before applying again, depending on geographic location and programmatic focus. Your region and specific circumstances may impact the timeline when you are eligible to reapply.

Impact Report Requirement: Organizations must submit an Impact Report on previous awards before a new application will be considered. This report documents the results and outcomes of the funded project.

Reapplication Timing: Contact the program administrator to confirm your specific reapplication timeline based on when your previous grant was awarded.

Application Success Factors

Pre-Application Communication is Critical

The trust explicitly emphasizes that applicants should contact the program administrator before applying, especially if applying for the first time or after a significant time gap. This pre-application conversation allows you to:

• Verify current eligibility criteria
• Confirm your project aligns with funding priorities
• Understand any recent changes to application procedures
• Get feedback on your project concept before investing time in a full application

Demonstrate Proven Track Record

The trust specifically requires:

• Organizations must have 3 years of full operation
• The specific program/project must have at least one complete year with measurable impact data

This means the trust is not interested in pilot programs or new initiatives. Applications should emphasize:

• Historical program data and outcomes
• Evidence of sustained community impact
• Track record of effective service delivery

Emphasize Collaboration and Complementarity

The trust values organizations that "complement rather than duplicate the work of other non-profit organizations" and "involve collaboration with other organizations." Strong applications will:

• Identify partner organizations and describe collaborative relationships
• Demonstrate how the program fills a unique gap in community services
• Show coordination with other service providers to avoid duplication

Show Financial Sustainability and Accountability

The trust prioritizes organizations with "diversified income streams and demonstrate effective financial accountability." Applications should:

• Document multiple revenue sources beyond grants
• Show strong financial management practices
• Present a sustainability plan that extends beyond the grant period
• Demonstrate how the grant will enable specific outcomes without creating long-term dependency

Document Community Need and Measurable Impact

Applications must include:

• Demonstrated demand for the service in Venango County
• Clear, measurable outcomes
• A plan for documenting and reporting results
• Evidence from the first year of program operation showing impact

The trust's emphasis on "plans for documenting results" suggests they value data-driven approaches and organizations that can clearly articulate how they measure success.

Focus on Direct Services to Underserved Populations

The trust prioritizes programs that:

• Provide direct services to individuals (not just advocacy or awareness)
• Benefit underserved populations
• Have broad community impact
• Offer year-round programming rather than one-time events

Grant Size Considerations

The trust notes that "size of grants depends on the fit with donors' intent, availability of funds, breadth of organizations represented in the grant proposal mix, and the project's social impact." This suggests:

• Stronger alignment with mission may yield larger grants
• Social impact metrics are important in determining award amounts
• The trust seeks to maintain diversity in its grantee portfolio

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

1. Pre-application contact is essential - Don't skip the step of reaching out to Dustin Zitterbart before applying. This conversation can save time and significantly strengthen your application.

2. Only apply with established programs - The trust does not fund pilot programs. Your program must have at least one complete year of operation with measurable results to show.

3. Geographic restriction is absolute - You must serve Venango County, PA. The trust does not make exceptions to this geographic limitation.

4. Demonstrate collaboration, not competition - Show how your program complements and coordinates with other nonprofits rather than duplicating their work.

5. One-time funding model - Plan for a single grant award, not ongoing support. Your application should demonstrate sustainability beyond the grant period.

6. Complete your Impact Report to remain eligible - If you've received previous funding, submit your Impact Report before reapplying. Failure to do so makes you ineligible.

7. Quarterly deadlines provide flexibility - With four annual deadlines, you have flexibility in timing your application, but plan ahead for the pre-application consultation.

References

• PNC Charitable Trusts Official Website: https://www.pnc.com/en/about-pnc/corporate-responsibility/philanthropy/charitable-trusts.html (Accessed February 2026)
• Samuel and Edith Justus Charitable Trust, ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/471840657 (Accessed February 2026)
• Samuel-Edith Justus Charitable Trust, Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/samuel-and-edith-justus-charitable-trust,471840657/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Grantmakers.io Profile - Samuel and Edith Justus Charitable Trust: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/471840657-samuel-and-edith-justus-charitable-trust/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Samuel Justus Historical Background, Oil150.com: http://www.oil150.com/essays/article?article_id=67 (Accessed February 2026)
• Oil Region Astronomical Society (ORAS) About Page: https://www.oras.org/about-oras.html (Accessed February 2026)
• IRS Form 990-PF filings for EIN 47-1840657, various years (2021-2024)