Moses Taylor Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $3,878,029 (2024)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: 30 days for Rolling Grants; quarterly board meetings for Open Cycle Grants
• Grant Range: Up to $40,000 (Rolling); $40,000+ (Open Cycle); recent awards ranged $113,000-$300,000
• Geographic Focus: 11 counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania (primary focus on Lackawanna County and surrounding areas)

Contact Details

Address: 125 N. Washington Avenue, Suite 205, Scranton, PA 18503

Phone: (570) 207-3731

Website: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org

General Email: grants@mosestaylorfoundation.org

Program Officer Contacts:

• Christine Marcos (cmarcos@mosestaylorfoundation.org): School-Based Health, Older Adult Health, Community-Wide Nonprofit Effectiveness
• Lisa Savero-Mooney: Health Care Access and Quality, Organization-Specific Nonprofit Effectiveness
• Ellen Stevens: Proposal submission and online portal questions

Overview

The Moses Taylor Foundation was established in 2012 from the net proceeds of the Moses Taylor Health Care System sale to Community Health Systems. Named after the philanthropist who donated $250,000 to build a hospital in 1892, the Foundation approved its first grant in November 2015 and invested $10 million throughout the region during its first three years. Since then, the Foundation has grown to support approximately $4 million in annual grantmaking, distributing nearly $17 million between 2019-2023 and over $26 million total across 403 grants since inception. The Foundation's mission is "to improve the health of people in Northeastern Pennsylvania," with a vision "to provide opportunities for people in Northeastern Pennsylvania, especially the most vulnerable, to lead healthy lives." Recent accomplishments include $1.2 million in COVID-19 relief support through 38 rapid grants and a $2.1 million mental and behavioral health initiative launched in 2024.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Rolling Grants: Under $40,000 - Available year-round for smaller projects; applications reviewed on an ongoing basis with decisions typically within 30 days.

Open Cycle Grants: $40,000 and above - Reviewed three times per year at designated deadlines; allows for multi-year funding consideration (up to three years); requires 45-minute virtual proposal meeting with board.

Request for Proposals (RFP): Variable amounts for specific health-related topics identified by the Foundation.

Priority Areas

Community Responsive Grants prioritize:

• Primary healthcare
• Mental health and behavioral health
• Dental care and oral health
• Healthcare workforce
• Human services

Four Strategic Focus Areas:

1. Health Care Access and Quality: Improving access to and quality of health services
2. School-Based Health: Supporting school nurses and expanding school-based health centers
3. Older Adult Health: Reducing social isolation in older adults and improving senior health outcomes
4. Nonprofit Effectiveness: Capacity building for organizations, including operational support and technical assistance

What They Don't Fund

• Individuals
• Religious organizations for religious purposes
• Fundraising events
• Endowment funds
• Medical research
• Debt retirement
• Annual appeals
• Scholarships

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO: Danielle Breslin (appointed March 2022) - Brings over 25 years of experience optimizing health outcomes with a focus on historically marginalized communities. Breslin states: "I am so grateful for this opportunity to work alongside the Moses Taylor Foundation Board and staff to build upon their outstanding reputation and to advance the important work happening throughout Northeastern Pennsylvania. The organization's core values mirror my own, and we share a foundational commitment to listening to, and learning alongside, the communities we serve."

Board Leadership:

• Maria Marsili, Esq. - Current Board Chair; one of the Foundation's original board members (joined 2012); vice president and special assets officer at First National Bank
• William R. Lazor, CPA/PFS, CFE - Immediate Past Chair; joined the board in January 2016
• Kimberly Santarsiero - Treasurer; joined the board in January 2016

Staff:

• Thomas Kelly, Jr. - Chief Financial Officer
• Christine Marcos - Senior Program Officer
• Lisa Savero-Mooney - Program Officer
• Will Craven - Operations and Grants Officer (joined November 2025)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Step 1: Pre-Submission Meeting (REQUIRED) All prospective grantees must schedule a brief pre-submission meeting with the appropriate program officer before applying. Send an email with the subject line "Proposal Meeting Request" to the relevant program officer based on your focus area.

Step 2: Electronic Submission Submit proposals through the Foundation's online portal at https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/grantmaking/online-portal/. Add noreply@yourcause.com and grants@mosestaylorfoundation.org to your safe senders list to ensure receipt of correspondence.

Application Requirements:

• Rolling Grants: Organizational Profile, Executive Summary, Project Budget, and Letters of Support
• Open Cycle Grants: More comprehensive application including all of the above plus additional narrative sections

Eligibility:

• Must have 501(c)(3) status or be a government entity
• Must serve people in the 11-county region: Bradford, Carbon, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Monroe, Pike, Schuylkill, Sullivan, Susquehanna, Wayne, and Wyoming counties

Decision Timeline

Rolling Grants (under $40,000):

• Applications accepted year-round
• Ongoing review process
• Applicants typically notified within 30 days of initial request

Open Cycle Grants ($40,000+):

• Specific submission deadlines three times per year (currently: June 23, 2025; September 19, 2025; March 20, 2026)
• Staff review for completeness
• Potential 45-minute virtual proposal meeting with board
• Funding decisions made during quarterly board meetings
• Email notification of approval or denial

Current Opportunities: Check https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/grantmaking/current-opportunities/ for active RFPs and deadline information.

Success Rates

The Foundation does not publicly disclose specific success rates or acceptance percentages. Recent grant activity shows:

• 65 awards in 2024
• 62 awards in 2023
• 44 awards in 2022
• 57 awards in 2021

Reapplication Policy

Declined applicants receive a message with details regarding the Foundation's decision and recommendations for future consideration. Previously declined requests do not necessarily impact future applications. The Foundation will consider only one quarterly grant request from an organization at any given time. Organizations interested in reapplying after an unsuccessful application should contact program officers directly for guidance.

Application Success Factors

The Moses Taylor Foundation emphasizes that "grantmaking should be a collaborative process" where "each project begins as an idea and gains strength through active listening and meaningful conversation."

Key Evaluation Criteria:

1. Alignment with Foundation's Mission and Focus Areas: Projects must clearly demonstrate how they improve health in Northeastern Pennsylvania and align with one or more of the four strategic focus areas.

2. Organizational Capacity: The Foundation looks for organizations with:

   • A clear mission, vision, and strategy
   • Strong track record of service to the community with a history of running successful programs and projects
   • Sufficient staffing and partnerships to ensure success, including appropriate executive and staff leadership
   • Partner relationships needed to successfully implement the proposed project

3. Project Soundness: Applications must demonstrate:

   • Clear, realistic, and measurable goals and outcomes
   • Appropriate budget that is clear and realistic with reasonable line items
   • Long-range plan reflecting the organization's ability to sustain the project beyond the grant period
   • Total project budget (not just the amount requested from the Foundation), including information on all other funding sources

4. Potential for Impact: The Foundation prioritizes projects that address community health needs and demonstrate measurable benefits to vulnerable populations.

Recent Successful Projects: The 2024 mental and behavioral health initiative funded nine organizations including Catholic Social Services, Community Care Behavioral Health Organization, Geisinger Health Foundation, Greater Scranton YMCA, Keystone Human Services, The Wright Center for Community Health, United Neighborhood Centers of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Wayne Memorial Community Health Centers, and Wyoming County Health Family Partnership. President Breslin noted these organizations were selected because they are "deeply ingrained in their respective communities, paving pathways to solutions with compassion and care" and utilize "innovative, evidence-based solutions to strengthen the care continuum, increase the availability and diversity of providers, integrate mental health services in health care and non-health care settings, or eliminate barriers to care."

Budget Guidance: Use the Foundation's budget template or similar document detailing all relevant project expenses. Allowable expenses include personnel, capital, equipment, technology, supplies, and travel.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Pre-submission meeting is mandatory - Schedule early with the appropriate program officer to discuss alignment and receive guidance before investing time in a full application
• Choose the right grant type - Projects under $40,000 can use the streamlined Rolling Grant process with faster turnaround; larger requests require Open Cycle applications with quarterly deadlines
• Demonstrate community embeddedness - The Foundation values organizations that are "deeply ingrained in their respective communities" and emphasizes collaborative approaches
• Show sustainability - Include a long-range plan demonstrating how the project will continue beyond the grant period
• Focus on vulnerable populations - The Foundation's vision explicitly prioritizes "the most vulnerable" residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Use measurable outcomes - Clear, realistic, and measurable goals are essential to the evaluation process
• Leverage collaboration - Strong partnerships and evidence of community engagement strengthen applications; the Foundation sees grantmaking as a collaborative process built on "active listening and meaningful conversation"

References

• Moses Taylor Foundation Official Website: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org (accessed January 2026)
• Moses Taylor Foundation History Page: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/about-us/history/ (accessed January 2026)
• Moses Taylor Foundation How to Apply: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/grantmaking/how-to-apply/ (accessed January 2026)
• Moses Taylor Foundation Guidelines and Criteria: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/grantmaking/guidelines-and-criteria/ (accessed January 2026)
• Moses Taylor Foundation FAQs: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/grantmaking/frequently-asked-questions/ (accessed January 2026)
• Moses Taylor Foundation Current Opportunities: https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/grantmaking/current-opportunities/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Moses Taylor Foundation Approves $2.1 Million in Grant Funding to Address Mental and Behavioral Health Challenges in Northeastern PA": https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/moses-taylor-foundation-approves-2-1-million-in-grant-funding-to-address-mental-and-behavioral-health-challenges-in-northeastern-pa/ (accessed January 2026)
• "Introducing Our New President and CEO": https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/introducing-our-new-president-and-ceo/ (accessed January 2026)
• "New Board Officers Announced": https://mosestaylorfoundation.org/new-board-officers-announced/ (accessed January 2026)
• Moses Taylor Foundation Report to the Community: https://reporttothecommunity.mosestaylorfoundation.org/ (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Moses Taylor Foundation: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/232281586 (accessed January 2026)
• Cause IQ - Moses Taylor Foundation Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/moses-taylor-foundation,232281586/ (accessed January 2026)