ASHTABULA — If you think making a living is difficult these days, consider the task facing the trustees of the Ashtabula Foundation.

Every year, they have give money away. As much as $1 million of it.

“It is not easy to give away money,” said Roy Bean, vice president and marketing committee chairman for the foundation, a private, non-profit philanthropic organization. Its primary mission is working for the betterment of Ashtabula County.

In 2008 the foundation gave away $1,075,456, the largest amount ever in its 86-year history. Then the Great Recession hit, revenue from the foundation’s investments dived and trustees scaled back the awards to just under $700,000 the following year. Last year’s awards totaled $688,022.

The recession also brought about a revamping of how the foundation’s trustees market the foundation. For decades, it operated below the radar of most residents; unless they served on the board of a church or civic organization, chances are they had no idea of the foundation’s history or purpose. Bean said that obscurity has started to affect the foundation’s ability to grow its asset base, which approached $20 million at the beginning of the recession.

“We decided, after becoming aware of significant bequests that have been made to organizations out of the area ... that we should do a better job of promoting ourselves,” Bean said. He said when retirees who made their money in Ashtabula County relocate to Florida or another retirement community, they often forget about the foundation and the many organizations that depend upon it for community enhancement projects. As a result, their bequests often go to organizations in their adopted state.

Bean said the trustees hope current residents would take the foundation into consideration as they plan their estates before retirement and possible relocation.

“They may designate funds for specific purposes or specify them as undesignated to meet future, changing needs in a changing society,” said Glen Warner, a past president and long-time trustee. “Whichever choice, the funds are invested for growth and held with high ethical standards for maximum effectiveness ...”

There is also a preconception in the community that the foundation primarily funds church projects. That myth may be fueled by the high-profile nature of the new church addition or elevator that got a helping hand from the foundation. But Bean said there has been a shift in recent years to focus more on humanitarian needs; since 2002, the foundation has awarded more than $900,000 in the human services category.

The $433,880 in grants awarded during the first quarter of this year reflect that trend. They range from $1,500 each for the Longest Day of Play, Ashtabula County Choral Music Society and Spiderweb to $50,000 for Community Counseling Center, $30,000 for Catholic Charities and $20,000 for Beatitude House, a transitional housing project for single mothers.

“Because we are the largest foundation in the county, we can have a major impact on many projects in a year,” said Rick Coblitz, board president. “In recent years, a lot of our focus has been on humanitarian needs that have helped a lot of people, along with our multiple-year commitments ...”

The list of recipients reads like a who’s who of Ashtabula County charities, and includes Country Neighbor, Community Action, HALO, Homesafe and the Legal Aid Society.

The humanitarian bent continued in the second quarter’s round of giving, as well. Gran Signora Manor received a grant to repair plumbing, Conneaut Human Resources Center got money for heating and air conditioning repairs and the Samaritan House received operating funds.

The latter is an anomaly — unless it is for a startup, the foundation’s trustees prefer to focus on brick-and-mortar or new programming to meet an emerging need.

Overall, the board committed $654,321 in grants for 2012. That includes honoring its annual contribution to the $750,000, five-year grant to the Health and Science Building at Kent State University Ashtabula Campus and commitment to the Civic Development Corporation’s campaign.

Applications are accepted throughout the year, with the deadline early in the new year. Trustees categorize the requests into human services, community development and other projects, education, recreation/conservation, arts/culture/historical and religion. A committee investigates every application.

“This way we feel it is much more equitable, fair and consistent when making our decisions,” Bean said. “We must prioritize the requests based on a level of need and how many will benefit.”

Any organization may apply without regard to its size. Applications are online at ashtabulafoundation.org.

“A detailed application form is required and reviewed for credibility, effectiveness and disposition,” Warner said.

The Foundation got its start with a $5,000 investment by Rudolf Henry Pfaff of Ashtabula Bow Socket fame. The first grants were made two years later: $300 for the community fund, $100 for the YMCA. Additional bequests followed from other Pfaff family members and in-laws.

From 1961 to 2007, the foundation made a total of $20.1 million in grants.