The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust is a private foundation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In its 2025 filing, it reported 26 grants totaling $275,515 to charitable organizations.
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust at a glance
In short: The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust gave $276K across 26 grants in 2025 (avg $11K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $275,515
- +14.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 26
- +13.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $10,597
- +1.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $3,750
- Total assets
- $4,597,859
- -0.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 19% first-time grantees (5 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (82% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust
- How to Apply
-
Contact Lynne Ellis and provide the materials listed above.
- Review Cycle
- Submit materials 90 days before the end of each calendar quarter, as stated in the 2025 filing.
- Deadline
- Submit materials 90 days before the end of each calendar quarter, as stated in the 2025 filing.
- Contact
Application contact: Lynne Ellis
Mailing address: 110 Delta Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15238
Phone: (412) 963-9363
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Eye & Ear Foundation Of Pittsburgh ($60K). Together the top 10 received $245K.
Grant Size Distribution
120 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 114 grants of 120 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, 82% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania and 18% to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 26 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust open to new grantees?
19%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 5 of 26 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $13K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $300 first-time, $5K repeat.
- 69% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 34% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 120% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $204K (2023) to $314K (2021). In 2025 it made 26 grants totaling $276K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Eye & Ear Foundation Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $60,000 |
| Johns Hopkins Medicine Baltimore, MD | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $50,000 |
| University Of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $35,000 |
| Shriners Hospitals For Children Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $25,000 |
| The Salvation Army Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $25,000 |
| Tunnel To Towers Foundation Canonsburg, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $15,300 |
| Phipps Conservatory Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $10,000 |
| Pittsburgh Zoo Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $10,000 |
| The Carnegie Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $10,000 |
| Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera Pittsburgh, PA | Unrestricted Contribution to Public Charity | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,597,859 | $221,720 | $302,681 | $275,515 | 26 | $275,515 | $194,554 | $229,555 |
| 2024 | $4,623,459 | $286,046 | $269,271 | $239,720 | 23 | $239,720 | $256,495 | $227,939 |
| 2023 | $4,596,417 | $-202,243 | $215,404 | $203,753 | 21 | $203,753 | $193,969 | $205,461 |
| 2022 | $5,081,464 | $-26,159 | $228,067 | $205,800 | 21 | $205,800 | $198,808 | $229,209 |
| 2021 | $5,335,690 | $743,573 | $342,828 | $313,950 | 29 | $317,060 | $719,213 | $265,023 |
| 2020 | $4,934,945 | $195,867 | $284,123 | $252,350 | 23 | — | $171,243 | $237,584 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust reported a distributable amount of $230K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the University of Pittsburgh describes itself as a public research university serving its home region, Pennsylvania, and the nation. Pittsburgh Public Theater says its mission is to provide artistically diverse theatrical experiences, while Pittsburgh Opera says it aims to enrich Pittsburgh and the tri-state area culturally.
Other 2025 recipients include Community Care Connections, which says it provides programs and services to empower people with disabilities to live more safely and independently, and the Butler County Humane Society, which describes its work as sheltering homeless, adoptable animals and promoting humane treatment through education and other programs.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the trust reported 26 grants totaling $275,515. Grants ranged from $75 to $60,000, with a median of $3,750. Its largest listed awards were $60,000 to The Eye & Ear Foundation of Pittsburgh, $50,000 to Johns Hopkins Medicine, and $35,000 to the University of Pittsburgh. Other notable grants included $25,000 each to Shriners Hospitals for Children and The Salvation Army, both in Pittsburgh.
The trust’s 2025 filing states that it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. It lists Lynne Ellis as the contact for applications and requests the organization’s name and address, its purpose, a copy of its determination letter, and the amount requested. The filing lists no restrictions on awards.
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's 2025 filing lists 2 officers; none of the 2 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David F. Rath
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Frank E. Rath Jr.
Trustee
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust
How much does The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust give each year?
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust gave $276K across 26 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $240K across 23 grants.
What is The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's typical grant size?
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's median grant in 2025 was $3,750, and its average grant was $10,597, across 26 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust that year got $13K on average.
Where does The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust give grants?
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 82% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (18%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pittsburgh, PA (21 grants).
Does The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (26 of 26) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's largest grantees?
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's largest 2025 grantees include The Eye & Ear Foundation Of Pittsburgh ($60,000), Johns Hopkins Medicine ($50,000) and University Of Pittsburgh ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust?
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust reported $4.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $276K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $230K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust fund?
No mission statement for the trust is provided. Its 2025 grants show support for a range of organizations. For example, the University of Pittsburgh describes itself as a public research university serving its home region, Pennsylvania, and the nation. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust?
Contact Lynne Ellis and provide the materials listed above. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's EIN?
The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 25-6020192. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-frank-e-rath-spang-and-company-charitable-trust-morg_bdc5d32895cc4a089e4f1c6246ad192c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_256020192_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Frank E Rath Spang \& Company Charitable Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-frank-e-rath-spang-and-company-charitable-trust-morg_bdc5d32895cc4a089e4f1c6246ad192c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from The Frank E Rath Spang & Company Charitable Trust's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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