Shuff Foundation

The Shuff Foundation is a corporate foundation classified under NTEE code T21, administered by PNC Bank N.A. from its Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office at 500 1st Ave. Despite its Pennsylvania address, the foundation's grantmaking is almost exclusively directed toward organizations in Frederick County, Maryland. Established in 1999, the foundation has $12.7 million in assets and zero liabilities. PNC Bank serves as the sole trustee, receiving $170,294 in annual compensation for management. The foundation generates income primarily from asset sales (57%) and dividends (43%), with negligible outside contributions. Its website (shuff.org) is currently a parked domain with no active content, reflecting the bank-managed nature of the fund — this is a trust-administered foundation rather than one with active staff or public-facing operations.

The Shuff Foundation maintains a remarkably consistent grantmaking pattern, distributing approximately $630,000–$690,000 annually in charitable disbursements (81% of total expenses). In 2024, the foundation made 10 grants totaling $621,565, with a clear two-tier structure:

Major grantees (top 2): - Hood College: $250,304 (40% of total giving) - Frederick Memorial Hospital: $238,979 (38% of total giving)

Community grantees (remaining 8): $4,891–$20,907 each, supporting religious congregations, social services, and health charities in the Frederick area.

The grant range spans from $4,891 (Frederick CC Foundation Inc.) to $250,304 (Hood College), with a median of approximately $18,000. All grants are designated for "General Operating" support, providing unrestricted funding to recipients. The same core group of recipients appears year after year, suggesting the foundation operates on a fixed allocation formula established by the original donor.

Compared to Frederick County peers, the Shuff Foundation is mid-sized but distinctive in its bank-administered structure and fixed recipient list. The Delaplaine and Ausherman foundations accept applications and offer more dynamic grantmaking. The Community Foundation of Frederick County is substantially larger and serves as the region's primary community foundation. The Shuff Foundation's niche is providing reliable, annual general operating support to its established group of Frederick-area institutions.

In its most recent fiscal year (2024), the Shuff Foundation reported: - Revenue: $886,243 (from dividends of $382,399 and asset sales of $503,843) - Expenses: $810,939 - Charitable disbursements: $656,474 (81.0% of expenses) - Officer compensation: $170,294 (PNC Bank trustee fee) - Total assets: $12,720,499 with zero liabilities

The foundation's assets have grown steadily from approximately $9.95 million in 2011 to $12.72 million in 2024, demonstrating sound investment management by PNC Bank even while maintaining consistent annual distributions. The 2024 grantee list remains largely unchanged from prior years, with Hood College and Frederick Memorial Hospital continuing as the two dominant recipients. The foundation's website (shuff.org) remains inactive/parked, consistent with its nature as a bank-managed trust without a public application process.

The Shuff Foundation is a preselected-only funder that does not accept unsolicited grant requests. The foundation's giving pattern suggests it operates under a trust agreement with fixed beneficiary designations. For organizations hoping to be considered:

1. Understand the trust structure: As a PNC Bank-administered corporate foundation, funding decisions may be governed by the original trust document rather than annual discretionary choices. The consistent recipient list across years suggests limited flexibility to add new grantees. 2. Focus on Frederick County, MD: Despite the Pittsburgh address, virtually all grants go to Frederick County organizations. Only national health charities (Arthritis Foundation, American Cancer Society) receive support outside the Frederick area. 3. Institutional scale matters: The two largest recipients (Hood College and Frederick Memorial Hospital) are major Frederick institutions. The foundation appears to favor well-established organizations with long community histories. 4. Religious organizations are included: Several churches (Catholic, Lutheran, United Church of Christ) receive consistent support, indicating the original donor's religious affiliations play a role in grantee selection. 5. Contact PNC Bank's philanthropic services: If an organization believes it aligns with the foundation's mission, reaching out to PNC Bank's charitable trust administration division in Pittsburgh may be the most direct path to inquiry, though success is unlikely given the fixed grantee pattern.