Pfau Charitable Foundation
Pittsburgh, PA · EIN 31-1411794. Reported 260 grants totalling $7,138,564 to 167 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. Pfau Charitable Foundation 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 $25,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $20,000 and $30,000; the smallest was $500 and the largest $100,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts | Cincinnati, OH | $200,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mindpeace | Cincinnati, OH | $200,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Lighthouse Youth Services Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $170,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Springer School and Center | Cincinnati, OH | $150,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Comprehensive Community Child Care | Cincinnati, OH | $130,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati Museum Association | Cincinnati, OH | $122,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati Works Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Ohio Valley Voices Inc | Loveland, OH | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Redwood School & Rehabilitation Center Inc | Fort Mitchell, KY | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Santa Maria Community Services | Cincinnati, OH | $120,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Crayons to Computers Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $110,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| 1N5 | Cincinnati, OH | $100,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Children's Law Center | Covington, KY | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Greater Cincinnati Fdn | Cincinnati, OH | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Diocesan Catholic Children's Homeinc | Fort Mitchell, KY | $95,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Interfaith Hospitality Nework of Gtr Cincinnait (ihngc) | Cincinnati, OH | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Legal Aid Society of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $95,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bethany House Services Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Freestore Foodbank Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $90,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Prokids | Cincinnati, OH | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Welcome House of Northern Kentucky Inc | Covington, KY | $90,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati Youth Collaborative | Cincinnati, OH | $85,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Breakthrough Cincinnati Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Children's Home of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park | Cincinnati, OH | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Stepping Stones Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Visionaries and Voices | Cincinnati, OH | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Found Village | Cincinnati, OH | $75,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| YWCA of Greater Cincinnati Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $70,500 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Beech Acres Parenting Center | Cincinnati, OH | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Cincinnati, OH | $70,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired | Cincinnati, OH | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Learning Grove Inc | Covington, KY | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| University of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $65,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra | Cincinnati, OH | $62,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Diabetes Association | Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Greater Cincinnati Behavioral Health Services | Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Literacy Network of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| People Working Cooperatively | Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Per Scholas Inc | Bronx, NY | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Sjo Kids Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Special Olympics Ohio Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $60,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of | Pittsburgh, PA | $55,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Family Nurturing Center of Kentucky | Florence, KY | $55,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Brighton Center Inc | Newport, KY | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cincinnati Inst of Fine Arts | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cincinnati Union Bethel | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Down Syndrome Association of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| East Tennessee Foundation | Knowville, TN | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Glad House | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Greater Cincinnati Television Educational Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Starfire Council of Greater Cincinnati I | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Starfire Council of Greater Cincinnati Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| United Way of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Focus on Youth | West Chester Twp, OH | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Ispace Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Cincinnati Eye Institute | Blue Ash, OH | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visu | Cincinnati, OH | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Cntrl Clinic Behavioral Health | Cincinnati, OH | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Epilepsy Alliance Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Joy Outdoor Education Center Foundation Inc | Clarksville, OH | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| La Soupe Inc | Milford, OH | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| May We Help | Cincinnati, OH | $40,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Eye Institute | Edgewood, KY | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Emergency Shelters of Northern Kentucky Inc | Covington, KY | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| From Fatherless to Fearless | West Chester, OH | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Ohio Humane Society | Cincinnati, OH | $35,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Talbert House | Cincinnati, OH | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Upspring | Cincinnati, OH | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Autism Connections | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Camp Koinonia Foundation Inc | Knoxville, TN | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cincinnati Center for Autism | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Opera Association | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| City Gospel Mission | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Citylink Center | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Emergency Shelter of Northern Ky | Covington, KY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hearing Speech & Deaf | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hearing Speech & Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ohio Justice & Policy Center | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ohio Justice and Policy Center | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Per Scholas Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Pointarc of Northern Kentucky Inc | Covington, KY | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Bawac Inc | Florence, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Big Brothers & Big Sisters of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Bonds of Union | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cancer Family Care Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Capital Roots Inc | Troy, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Central Clinic Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Cincinnati Therapeutic Riding and Horsemanship (ctrh) | Milford, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cincinnati Urban Promise Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Economics Cntr for Edu & Res | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Envision Children | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Housig Opportunities Made Equal | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Ion Center for Violence | Covington, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ken Anderson Alliance | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Living Arrangements for the Developmentally Disabled | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission Inc | Covington, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northern Kentucky University Salmon P Chase College of Law | Highland Heights, KY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ohio River Foundation | Blue Ash, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Optim-All Services Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Peaslee Neighborhood Center Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Social Enterprise & Training Center | Schenectady, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Joseph Home | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| St Rita School for the Deaf | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Strategies to End Homelessness | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Taft Museum of Art | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Teach for America Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Tikkun Farm Inc | Mt Healthy, OH | $25,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Center for Addiction Treatment Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $23,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| North Fairmount | Cincinnati, OH | $22,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wesley Chapel Mission Center | Cincinnati, OH | $20,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Adventure Crew | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Diabetes Association Inc | Arlington, VA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boys Hope Girls Hope | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Contemporary Arts Center | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Equinox Inc | Albany, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Everybody Is Litt Academy | Forest Park, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Fernside Inc a Center for Grieving Children | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Forever Kings Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Health Care Access Now | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Inspiration Studios Inc | Hamilton, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Inter Parish Ministry | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Life Learning Center | Covington, KY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| National Society to Prevent Blindness | Chicago, IL | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Society of St Vincent De Paul | Buffalo, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Strategies to End | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wildwood Programs Inc | Schenectady, NY | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Women Helping Women | Cincinnati, OH | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| The Res Home Corp Dba Envision | Cincinnati, OH | $17,550 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| First Step Home Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hamilton Living Water Ministry | Cincinnati, OH | $17,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cise Foundation | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Ciseto Support Cise Education | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dohn Community High School | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Found House Interfaith Housing | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Give Like a Mother | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Groundwork Ohio River Valley | Yonkers, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| NAMI Southwest Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Society to Support Vision Care | Cincinnati, OH | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wave Foundation Inc | Newport, KY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Parachutes Special Advocates for Children of Butler County | Hamilton, OH | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Parachute Special Advocates | Hamilton, OH | $11,514 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Girl Scouts of Western Ohio | Cincinnati, OH | $11,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| America S River Roots Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Axis Teen Centers | Liberty Twp, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Care Closet | Lancaster, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| CASA for Clermont Kids | Batavia, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Churches Active in Northside | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Dearborn County Clearinghouse | Lawrenceburg, IN | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Genesis at Work Foundation Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Girls on the Run | Canton, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Heartfelt Tidbits Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Luke 5 Adventures Inc | Mason, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Notre Dame Urban Education Center | Covington, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Rzp Foundation Inc | Morrow, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Society of St Vincent Depaul Council of Northern Kentucky | Covington, KY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Francis Seraph Ministries | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Western Wildlife Corridor Inc | Cincinnati, OH | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Cincinnati Children Hospital | Cincinnati, OH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Our Tribe | Liberty Twp, OH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Jewish Vocational Service | Cincinnati, OH | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
58 of 167 (35%) 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 22%, 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.
- Lighthouse Youth Services Inc
LIGHTHOUSE SHEAKLEY CENTER - Interfaith Hospitality Nework of Gtr Cincinnait (ihngc)
SUPPORT THE TRANSPORTATION - Welcome House of Northern Kentucky Inc
EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR WOMEN - Cincinnati Youth Collaborative
SUPPORT MENTORING PROGRAMS - Breakthrough Cincinnati Inc
BRING BREAKTHROUGH SUMMER - Stepping Stones Inc
INVESTMENTS IN DREX CAMPUS,
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 176 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 | 50 | $1,410,500 | $25,000 |
| 2022 | 50 | $1,351,564 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 55 | $1,357,000 | $25,000 |
| 2024 | 55 | $1,462,000 | $25,000 |
| 2025 | 50 | $1,557,500 | $25,000 |
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
83% of its giving went to organizations in Ohio. 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 $25,000. 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 Ohio.
- 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 Pfau Charitable Foundation'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 31-1411794 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.