Scranton Area Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: Over $1 million (grants) + $840,000 (scholarships)
• Total Assets: Over $100 million
• Grant Range: $2,000 - $20,000
• Grants Awarded: 60 awards (2023), 97 awards (2022)
• Geographic Focus: Lackawanna County and Northeastern Pennsylvania
• Charitable Funds Managed: 450+ funds
• EIN: 23-2890364
• Charity Navigator Rating: 4 Stars (93% score)

Contact Details

Address: 612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18510

Phone: (570) 347-6203

Email: info@safdn.org

Website: www.safdn.org

Grants and Scholarships Director: Cathy Fitzpatrick

• Phone: (570) 347-6203 x301
• Email: cathyf@safdn.org or grants@safdn.org

Overview

Founded in 1954 as a community trust by Worthington Scranton and Marion Margery Scranton, the Scranton Area Foundation (also known as Scranton Area Community Foundation) has grown from modest beginnings to become a major philanthropic force in Northeastern Pennsylvania, now managing over $100 million in assets across 450+ charitable funds. The Foundation serves as both steward and grantmaker, enhancing quality of life in the region through strategic grantmaking in health, education, arts, environment, human services, and civic affairs. Under the leadership of President & CEO Laura Ducceschi, who brings over 15 years of philanthropic experience, the Foundation distributed over $1 million in grants and $840,000 in scholarships in recent years. The Foundation earned a prestigious 4-Star rating (93%) from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Women in Philanthropy Grants

• Amount: Average $5,000, maximum $10,000
• Focus Areas (2024-2025): Civic Engagement & Advocacy, Financial Education, Housing, Childcare, Mental Health, and STEAM Education
• Eligibility: 501(c)(3) nonprofits and educational institutions supporting programs focused on women and girls in Lackawanna County
• Decision Process: Final grant decisions made by vote of WIP supporters
• Application Method: Online portal with specific deadline (historically March deadline with May finalist presentations)

Robert H. Spitz Foundation Grants

• Amount: $2,000 - $20,000 (no set funding parameters; varies by project)
• Total Distributed: Over $6 million to date
• 2021 Example: $717,500 to 45 organizations
• Priority Areas (Fall 2025):
  • Animal Welfare (humane education, adoption, spay/neuter, TNR, rescue, veterinary care, support for economically disadvantaged and elderly pet owners)
  • Environmental Programs (preservation/protection, awareness/education about climate/environmental issues, mitigation of harmful practices, promotion of recreation/public health)
• Application Method: Online portal through SACF

Community Needs Grants

• Amount: Varies widely ($2,500 - $15,000 typical range)
• Purpose: Fund nonprofit initiatives addressing critical needs and enhancing quality of life for Lackawanna County residents
• Recent Examples: $12,000 for Emergency Services, $7,000 for job training programs, $15,000 for youth facilities
• Application Method: Online portal, begins with Letter of Intent

Critical Needs Grants

• Amount: Up to $5,000 (for requests over $5,000, contact Grants Director)
• Purpose: Emergency or pressing, unanticipated needs
• Timeline: Rolling basis throughout the year, intended to be quickly deployed
• 2025 Eligible Requests: Emergency operational support during financial crises, bridge funding for sudden revenue shortfalls, essential infrastructure or equipment needs, budget gaps due to unforeseen reductions in expected funding
• Application Method: Letter of Intent accepted on rolling basis

Tomorrow's Leaders Today Grants

• Focus Areas: Domestic violence, environmental preservation and education, food insecurity
• Recent Recipients: CHOP Out Hunger, Imagine Performing Arts Center, Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education Center

Priority Areas

The Foundation responds to community needs and opportunities with grants in:

• Health and human services
• Education and STEAM programs
• Arts and culture
• Environment and sustainability
• Civic affairs and advocacy
• Housing and childcare
• Financial education
• Mental health services
• Animal welfare

What They Don't Fund

Specific exclusions were not detailed in available materials. For projects or requests that fall outside typical funding parameters, contact the Grants Director for guidance.

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Laura Ducceschi, MA, MBA, CAP®, CFRE - President & CEO

• Moosic native with over 15 years of philanthropic and nonprofit management experience
• Returned to NEPA after years helping nonprofits in Philadelphia area
• Earned Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) designation
• Key Quote: "Getting this role was an achievement; to do good was a dream of mine."
• On Community: "We have a very generous community, and I believe that others will also step up and support this very important cause."
• On Inclusivity: "It's welcoming, it's inclusive, it invites the community in and says 'there's space for you here, you're welcome to convene your boards to come in and learn.'"

Senior Staff

• Maggie Martinelli, MBA - Chief Operating Officer
• Cathy Fitzpatrick - Director of Grants and Scholarships
• Joel Grabin, MBA - Director of Finance
• Brittany Pagnotti, MBA, CFRE - Director of Donor Relations and Communications
• Vivian Williams, MBA - Director of Community Impact

Board of Governors

The Board establishes policy, leads endowment building efforts, reviews investment performance, and oversees grantmaking. Board members are chosen for their understanding of regional issues and professional expertise. Members include:

• Dr. Thomas Minora (Secretary)
• William Conaboy, Esq.
• Marion Munley, Esq.
• Jerry Musheno, R.Ph.
• Bryan J. Frantz, DMD, MS
• Barbara O'Hara, Esq.
• Paul Woelkers, R.T.(R), Hon. D.H.L.

Advisory Council

Comprised of community leaders appointed for their knowledge of community issues and opportunities: Warren Acker, Donna Barbetti, Richard Bishop, Rose Broderick, Paul Browne, William Calpin Jr., among others.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Portal Required: The Foundation ONLY accepts grant requests through its online grant management portal. No paper or emailed applications are accepted.

Step 1: Create an Account

• All applicants must create an account in the online grant management portal using an email address as username and contact information
• Account allows you to save drafts and return to edit before submission

Step 2: Submit Letter of Intent (LOI)

• The grant application is a 2-step process beginning with submission of LOI
• LOI can be saved as a draft and edited before final submission

Step 3: Full Application (By Invitation)

• All submitted LOIs are reviewed
• Selected organizations are invited to submit a full grant application through the online portal before the grant application deadline
• Not all LOI submissions result in full application invitations

Application Resources

• Written tutorial available: "Applicant Tutorial – Grants"
• Technical assistance available from staff

Critical Needs Grants Exception: Letters of Intent accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines vary by grant program:

• Critical Needs Grants: Intended to be quickly deployed; rolling review
• Women in Philanthropy: Historically, March application deadline with May finalist presentations
• Robert H. Spitz Foundation: Seasonal grant cycles (e.g., Fall 2025, Spring 2025)
• Community Needs Grants: Specific deadlines announced for each cycle

Exact timeframes from submission to decision are not publicly specified and likely vary by program and time of year. Contact the Grants Director for current timeline expectations.

Success Rates

The Foundation awarded 60 grants in 2023 and 97 grants in 2022. Specific success rate data (percentage of applications funded) is not publicly available. The two-step LOI process suggests competitive review, with only selected organizations invited to submit full applications.

Reapplication Policy

Specific reapplication policies for unsuccessful applicants are not detailed in public materials. However, there is precedent for reapplication:

• Organizations were able to reapply to the COVID-19 Response Fund as needed
• For definitive information about reapplication policies for specific grant programs, contact Cathy Fitzpatrick, Director of Grants and Scholarships

Application Success Factors

Evaluation Criteria

Grant applications are evaluated according to:

• Community Impact: Projects should address a demonstrated community need
• Organizational Capability: Organization's capacity to successfully implement the project
• Project Feasibility and Sustainability: Projects should be well-defined with clear implementation plans

Recent Funding Patterns

The Foundation has funded diverse projects including:

• Emergency Services: $12,000 to United Neighborhood Centers for food, rent, utility assistance, and housing support serving 12,000+ clients
• Job Training: $7,000 to PA Inclusive for Transitional Academy Social Club enhancing opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• Youth Services: $15,000 to NEPA Youth Shelter for After School Drop In Teen Center remodeling
• Environmental Education: $10,000 to Camp Speers YMCA for outdoor environmental education
• Housing Innovation: $20,000 to NeighborWorks for Shared Equity Housing models
• Career Development: $15,000 to Skills in Scranton for career awareness programs
• Infrastructure: $5,000 to organizations for critical needs like boiler replacement and HVAC repair

Strategic Approach

The Foundation emphasizes:

• Well-defined projects: Clear articulation of need, approach, and expected outcomes
• Community responsiveness: Addressing emerging and changing community needs
• Flexibility: Through the 2026 Community Support Initiative, the Foundation is conducting listening and learning efforts to understand sector-wide challenges
• Local focus: Strong preference for Lackawanna County impact, with some regional reach to Northeastern Pennsylvania

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization
• Must serve Lackawanna County residents (primary focus) or Northeastern Pennsylvania
• For Women in Philanthropy grants: must support programs focused on women and girls
• For Critical Needs: must demonstrate emergency or pressing, unanticipated need

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Two-step process is selective: The LOI-to-full-application process means early screening occurs; make your LOI compelling and clearly aligned with Foundation priorities
• Local impact is paramount: Emphasize specific benefits to Lackawanna County residents and communities
• Be specific about community need: Applications are evaluated on community impact; demonstrate clear need with data and examples
• Critical Needs pathway exists: For genuine emergencies or unanticipated needs, the rolling Critical Needs grants provide faster access to smaller amounts
• Multiple funding streams available: Match your project to the most appropriate program (WIP for women/girls, Spitz for animal/environment, Community Needs for broader initiatives)
• Portal proficiency required: Familiarize yourself with the online system; use the tutorial and save drafts early
• Relationship matters: The Foundation values community partnership; consider attending their events and engaging with staff before applying, particularly through initiatives like NEPA Gives
• Size your request appropriately: Most grants range $2,000-$20,000; requests over $5,000 for Critical Needs require direct contact with the Grants Director
• Organizational capacity counts: Beyond project merit, demonstrate your organization's ability to successfully implement and sustain the initiative

References

• Scranton Area Community Foundation Official Website: https://safdn.org (Accessed February 2026)
• Cause IQ Profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/scranton-area-foundation,232890364/ (Accessed February 2026)
• Charity Navigator Profile: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/232890364 (Accessed February 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/232890364 (Accessed February 2026)
• Candid Foundation Directory: https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=SCRA001 (Accessed February 2026)
• The Times-Tribune articles on grant awards (2025)
• University of Scranton Royal News articles on foundation grants (2024-2026)
• The Greater Scranton Chamber announcements
• Wikipedia: Scranton Area Community Foundation (Accessed February 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/232890364 (Accessed February 2026)