James Frances McCandless Trust
The James Frances McCandless Trust is a private foundation established in Pennsylvania in 1978 and based in Pittsburgh, PA. It operates as an independent charitable foundation with a focus on supporting human services, family services, and child welfare initiatives. The trust is managed by PNC Bank N.A., which serves as its trustee.
Key facts about James Frances McCandless Trust
- EIN
- 25-1347840
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $248,022
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $17,716
- Median grant
- $19,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 57% first-time grantees (8 of 14, 2024)
- Total assets
- $5,362,286
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (91% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated June 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who James Frances McCandless Trust funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for James Frances McCandless Trust's 14 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (91%) and Ohio (6%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (5 grants), Sharon, PA (2 grants) and Hermitage, PA (2 grants). 7% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
Is James Frances McCandless Trust open to new grantees?
57%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 8 of 14 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $17K; repeat grants $19K. How we count
Medians: $16K first-time, $20K repeat.
- 0% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−2%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 95% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with James Frances McCandless Trust
- How to evaluate James Frances McCandless Trust as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$5.4M
-0.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$248K
-2.2% YoY
Grant Count
14
-12.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+11.8% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, James Frances McCandless Trust reported a distributable amount of $290K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The trust gives primarily to charitable or religious organizations for the benefit of sick, disabled, or otherwise needy children. Its funding priorities include:
- Emergency shelter
- Youth scholarships
- Summer meal programs
- Mental health services for single mothers
- Youth development and sports programs
- Child welfare and family services
- Daycare and early childhood education
Grantmaking
The trust indicates it is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new applicants receiving funding.
Grant Range
$68 (based on historical data)
Average Grant
$68 (based on historical data)
Ready to take the next step with James Frances McCandless Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The trust supports projects across multiple U.S. states and regions, including:
- Pennsylvania
- California
- Illinois
- Massachusetts
- Texas
- Virginia
- Washington D.C.
Specific cities where the trust has funded initiatives include Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas, and Santa Rosa.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 14 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2024:
- Total Assets: $5,362,286
- Total Revenues: $325,504
- Total Expenses: $333,169
- Annual Expenses (alternative reporting): approximately $326,495
- Annual Revenue (alternative reporting): $411,183
Tax Status:
- EIN: 25-1347840
- Tax-exempt since September 1978
- IRS 501(c)(92) classification
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $5,362,286 | $5,364,632 | $5,274,901 |
| Revenue | $325,504 | $411,183 | $185,961 |
| Expenses | $333,169 | $326,495 | $378,918 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $276,693 | $277,318 | $319,990 |
| Net Investment Income | $277,046 | $357,813 | $135,644 |
| Distributable Amount | $290,391 | $271,834 | $281,993 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
80 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Buhl Community Recreation Center ($25,000), Community Food Warehouse of Mercer Count ($25,000), Children's Aid Society of Mercer County ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| BUHL COMMUNITY RECREATION CENTER Sharon, PA | PROGRAM | $25,000 |
| COMMUNITY FOOD WAREHOUSE OF MERCER COUNT Sharon, PA | SUMMER MEAL BUS | $25,000 |
| CHILDREN'S AID SOCIETY OF MERCER COUNTY Mercer, PA | JUMPSTART DAYCARE | $25,000 |
| PITTSBURGH YOUTH LEADERSHIP Pittsburgh, PA | 2024 BICYCLE TRIPS | $20,000 |
| FAMILY HOUSE INC Pittsburgh, PA | FAMILY ASSISTANCE FUND | $20,000 |
| HOMELESS CHILDRENS EDUCATION FUND Pittsburgh, PA | TEEN OUTREACH PROGRAM | $20,000 |
| RIDGEWOOD AT SHENANGO VALLEY Hermitage, PA | WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VAN | $20,000 |
| BUHL PARK CORPORATION Hermitage, PA | FIRST TEE PROGRAM | $18,000 |
| MISSION OF MERCY PITTSBURGH Pittsburgh, PA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $17,000 |
| MAPLE TREE CANCER ALLIANCE Dayton, OH | FREE EXERCISE ONCOL | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Trustee: PNC Bank N.A. (dedicates 11 hours annually and receives compensation of $54,556)
- Staff: 1 employee
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| PNC Bank N a | Trustee | 11 | $57,974 |
Contact Information
- Address: 500 1st Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-3128
- Phone: 412-442-3927
- Website: pncsites.com/pncfoundation/cha
Frequently Asked Questions
What does James Frances McCandless Trust fund?
The trust gives primarily to charitable or religious organizations for the benefit of sick, disabled, or otherwise needy children. Its funding priorities include: • Emergency shelter • Youth scholarships • Summer meal programs • Mental health services for single mothers • Youth development and sports programs • Child welfare and family services • Daycare and early childhood education
How do I apply for a grant from James Frances McCandless Trust?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 18 grants in 2024 • Total awarded in 2024: approximately $254,000 • Average grant size: $68 (based on historical data) **Recent Grants (2024):** • Children's Aid Society of Mercer County (Jumpstart Daycare): $25,000 • Buhl Community Recreation Center (Program): $25,000 • Homeless Children's Education Fund (Teen Outreach Program): $20,000 • Buhl Park Corporation (First Tee Program): $18,000 The trust indicates it is open to new applicants, with approximately 12% of new…
Where does James Frances McCandless Trust make grants?
The trust supports projects across multiple U.S. states and regions, including: • Pennsylvania • California • Illinois • Massachusetts • Texas • Virginia • Washington D.C. Specific cities where the trust has funded initiatives include Pittsburgh, Chicago, Dallas, and Santa Rosa.
What size grants does James Frances McCandless Trust award?
In 2024, James Frances McCandless Trust awarded 14 grants totaling $248K — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is James Frances McCandless Trust required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, James Frances McCandless Trust reported a distributable amount of $290K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is James Frances McCandless Trust's EIN?
James Frances McCandless Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-1347840. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.