John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation
The John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation is a private foundation established in 1983 and based in Cincinnati, Ohio. It is designated as a 501(c)(3) organization and operates as a family foundation. The foundation was founded by John J. "Jack" Schiff Sr. and Mary R. Schiff. Mr. Schiff helped found Cincinnati Financial Corporation, a major property and casualty insurance company, and served as Chairman of the Executive Committee of Cincinnati Financial Corp.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$176.6M
+1.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$47.9M
+44.1% YoY
Grant Count
43
+19.4% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$1.1M
+20.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42.1M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's grant-making focuses on:
- Education
- Arts and culture
- Human services
- Philanthropy infrastructure and voluntarism
The foundation has a strong emphasis on supporting organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area, though it also funds select organizations in Massachusetts and New York.
Grantmaking
The foundation operates through trustee-selected grants rather than formal application programs. There is no public website or publicly listed application process.
Grant Range
$2,525 to $8,000,000
How to Apply
.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primary focus: Ohio (particularly the Greater Cincinnati area)
Secondary focus: Massachusetts and New York
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Most Recent Financial Data (Fiscal Year Ending June 2024):
- Total Assets: $173,980,241
- Total Revenues: $33,105,207
- Total Expenses: $34,158,361
- Investment Income and Dividends: $19,007,607
- Total Liabilities: $0
- Annual Giving: Approximately $48,000,000
Previous Year (2023):
- Total Assets: $165,000,000
- Revenue: $36,136,000
- Expenses: $42,000,000
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $176,610,296 | $173,980,241 | $164,514,894 |
| Revenue | $51,818,249 | $33,105,207 | $36,136,853 |
| Expenses | $49,188,194 | $34,158,361 | $41,961,883 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $48,323,607 | $33,555,611 | $41,332,133 |
| Net Investment Income | $51,768,662 | $33,062,457 | $36,072,103 |
| Distributable Amount | $42,135,049 | $33,435,547 | $32,661,970 |
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 2025
Grant Size Distribution
199 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Xavier University ($7,970,000), Wesley Services Organization Fka Wesley Hall Inc ($5,150,000), Boys & Girls Club of Greater Cincinnati ($5,000,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| ACTIVITIES BEYOND THE CLASSROOM CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $625,000 |
| ART ACADEMY OF CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| ARTSWAVE COTUIT, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $111,000 |
| BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF GREATER CINCINNATI CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $5,000,000 |
| CAHOON MUSEUM OF AMERICAN ART OSTERVILLE, MA | GENERAL SUPPORT | $100,000 |
| CANCER SUPPORT COMMUNITY (WELLNESS COMMUNITY) CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $25,000 |
| CAPE COD WRITERS CENTER CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $50,000 |
| CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL MEDICAL CENTER CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,500,000 |
| CINCINNATI ART MUSEUM CINCINNATI, OH | GENERAL SUPPORT | $1,700,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Founders:
- John J. "Jack" Schiff Sr.
- Mary R. Schiff
Current leadership and trustee information is not publicly disclosed.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| JOHN J SCHIFF JR | CHAIRMAN | 2 | $35,000 |
| THOMAS R SCHIFF | TRUSTEE | 2 | $35,000 |
| SUZANNE REID | TRUSTEE | 2 | $35,000 |
| LAUREN FERNANDEZ | PRESIDENT | 20 | $52,083 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO Box 145496 Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
Telephone: 513-870-2580
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation fund?
The foundation's grant-making focuses on: • Education • Arts and culture • Human services • Philanthropy infrastructure and voluntarism The foundation has a strong emphasis on supporting organizations in the Greater Cincinnati area, though it also funds select organizations in Massachusetts and New York.
How do I apply for a grant from John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation?
The foundation operates through trustee-selected grants rather than formal application programs. There is no public website or publicly listed application process. **Grant Activity:** • Made 41-43 grants in recent years (2024) • Median grant amount: $400,000 • Grant range: $2,525 to $8,000,000 • Typical awards: $3,000 to $13,510,886 **Recent Major Grants (2024):** • Xavier University: $7,970,000 (General Support) • Children's Theatre of Cincinnati: $5,000,000 (General Support) • Cincinnati Art …
Where does John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation make grants?
Primary focus: Ohio (particularly the Greater Cincinnati area) Secondary focus: Massachusetts and New York
What size grants does John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation award?
In 2025, John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation awarded 43 grants totaling $47.9M — an average of about $1.1M per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2025, John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation reported a distributable amount of $42.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation's EIN?
John J & Mary R Schiff Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 31-1077222. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.