James Frances Mccandless Trust
Pittsburgh, PA · EIN 25-1347840. Reported 84 grants totalling $1,307,256 to 73 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. James Frances Mccandless Trust did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $15,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $10,022 and $20,000; the smallest was $4,000 and the largest $25,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buhl Community Recreation Center | Sharon, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Community Food Warehouse of Mercer Count | Sharon, PA | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Pittsburgh Youth Leadership | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Upmc Horizon Community Health | Pittsburgh, PA | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| South Hills Interfaith Ministries | Bethel Park, PA | $35,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Family House Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Prince of Peace Center | Farrell, PA | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Mercer Area Library Inc | Mercer, PA | $32,300 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Children's Aid Society of Mercer County | Mercer, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hilltop Alliance | Pittsburgh, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Special Olympics | Washington, DC | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Special Olympics Pennsylvania Inc | Norristown, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Special Olympics Pennsylvanie Inc | Norristown, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Paul Homes | Greenville, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Womens Center & Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American Heart Assoc | Dallas, TX | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Childrens Aid Society of Mercer County | Mercer, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Computer Reach | Wilkinsburg, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Greater Valley Community Services | Braddock, PA | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Homeless Childrens Education Fund | Pittsburgh, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Neighborhood Resilience Project | Pittsburgh, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| North Hills Affordable Housing Hearth | Glenshaw, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon | Pittsburgh, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Prince of Pease Center | Farrell, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ridgewood at Shenango Valley | Hermitage, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Whole Life Services Inc | Hermitage, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Buhl Park Corporation | Hermitage, PA | $18,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Storehouse for Teachers | Pittsburgh, PA | $17,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Best of the Batch Foundation | Homestead, PA | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Mission of Mercy Pittsburgh C/O a Call to Care Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities | Chicago, IL | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Salvation Army | Alexandria, VA | $16,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| 1HOOD Media Academy | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| 412 Food Rescue Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Amachi Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| American National Red Cross | Washington, DC | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Depaul School for Hearing and Speech | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Mercer County | Farrell, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Human Services Center | New Castle, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Jewish Federation of Greater Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Latino Community Center | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maple Tree Cancer Alliance | Dayton, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Mercer County Coalition for Drug Awareness | Sharon, PA | $15,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| National Council of Young Mens Christian | Chicago, IL | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Operational Troop Appreciation | Mckeesport, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Stop the Judgment Project | Wexford, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| YMCA of Franklin & Grove City | Franklin, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Youthplaces | Pittsburgh, PA | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Best Buddies International Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $13,399 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Light of Life Ministries Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $12,606 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Coraopolis Community Development Corp | Coraopolis, PA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Hilltop Urban Farm | Pittsburgh, PA | $12,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Community Counseling Center | Hermitage, PA | $12,230 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Womanspace East Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $12,175 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| CASA of Allegheny County | Pittsburgh, PA | $11,490 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $11,237 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Strong Women Strong Girls | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,022 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Braddock Carnegie Library | Braddock, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Canine Companions for Independence | Santa Rosa, CA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| First Step Recovery Homes Inc | Mckeesport, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Hope Center for Arts and Technology | Sharon, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Jeremiahs Place | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pittsburgh Community Services Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Smart Futures | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Volunteers of America Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Young Black Motivated Kings & Queens | Pittsburgh, PA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ama United States Amateur Boxing Inc | Dover, MA | $9,921 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Sister Thea Bowman Black Catholic Education Foundation | Pittsburgh, PA | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Horses With Hope | Bethel Park, PA | $7,285 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bike Pittsburgh Inc | Pittsburgh, PA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Allegheny Youth Development | Pittsburgh, PA | $4,591 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Pittsburgh School for the Choral Arts | Pittsburgh, PA | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
11 of 73 (15%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 0%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Whole Life Services Inc
WHEELCHAIR TRANSPORTATION - Ridgewood at Shenango Valley
WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE VAN - Computer Reach
COMPUTER GIVEAWAY SUPPORT - Depaul School for Hearing and Speech
EARLY INTERVENTION - TP LL - Anchorpoint Counseling Ministry
SINGLE MOMS MENTAL HEALTH - Amachi Pittsburgh
MENTORING FOR YOUTH PROGRAM
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 54 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 18 | $252,505 | $15,000 |
| 2022 | 18 | $291,503 | $15,000 |
| 2023 | 16 | $253,506 | $16,000 |
| 2024 | 14 | $248,022 | $19,000 |
| 2025 | 18 | $261,720 | $13,750 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
89% of its giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $15,000. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from James Frances Mccandless Trust's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 500 First Ave P7-Pfsc-03-Z, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 25-1347840 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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