Donald Guthrie Foundation - Funder Overview

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $75,000 (Community Benefit Grants, FY 2024)
• Decision Time: Applications reviewed twice annually; funds available within 90 days of committee approval
• Grant Range: $2,500 - $10,000
• Geographic Focus: 12-county service area in Northern Pennsylvania (Bradford, Sullivan, Tioga counties) and Southern/Central New York (Chemung, Steuben, Tioga, Cortland, Tompkins counties, and others)
• Application Method: Online submission, rolling basis with twice-yearly review

Contact Details

Donald Guthrie Foundation for Medical Research

• Address: 1 Guthrie Square, Sayre, PA 18840
• Phone: (570) 882-4620
• Website: www.guthrie.org
• Grant Information: www.guthrie.org/about-us/community-benefits
• Application Portal: www.guthrie.org/about-us/community-benefits/community-grants-application

Overview

The Donald Guthrie Foundation for Medical Research was established in 1944 by Dr. Donald Guthrie and his wife's uncle, Herbert Baker. Dr. Guthrie, who came to Sayre, PA in 1910 from the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, brought with him a vision of novel medical care. The Foundation has been tax-exempt since June 1948 (EIN: 24-6022957) and operates as a 501(c)(3) research institute conducting basic and clinical research activities. Located on the Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital campus, the Foundation awards Community Benefit Grants annually to nonprofits across the Southern Tier of New York and Northern Tier of Pennsylvania. The Foundation's strategic focus centers on addressing critical health challenges identified through Guthrie's Community Health Needs Assessment, with current priorities including mental health and substance use disorders, obesity, and cancer screening and prevention. Dr. Burt Cagir, MD, serves as Executive Director of the Foundation, also holding roles as Executive Director of Research and Human Protections Administrator for Guthrie's research activities.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Community Benefit Grants: $2,500 - $10,000 The Donald Guthrie Foundation Community Benefit Grant Program funds projects that address identified areas of need within the community based on Guthrie's Community Health Needs Assessment. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed twice annually by the Community Benefit Committee. The program awarded $75,000 in grants during fiscal year 2024, with individual grants typically ranging from $2,500 to $10,000.

Research Grants: Up to $5,000 Fellows designing investigator-initiated research projects are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in grant funding from the Donald Guthrie Foundation for medical research initiatives.

Priority Areas

Based on the 2023-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment, the Foundation prioritizes funding for:

• Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders: Programs providing mental health services, trauma therapy, recovery support, and substance abuse treatment
• Obesity Prevention: Initiatives promoting physical activity, nutrition education, and healthy lifestyles
• Cancer Screening and Prevention: Projects that increase access to cancer screening and prevention services
• Food Security: Mobile food pantries and programs addressing food insecurity
• Child Welfare and Safety: Services for children in foster care, victims of abuse, and at-risk youth
• Health Access: Programs that improve access to healthcare services in underserved areas

Recent funded projects have included:

• Mental health services for trafficking survivors and trauma-affected youth
• Clinical internship programs for mental health professionals
• Mobile food pantries serving food-insecure families
• Child advocacy center facility improvements
• Youth swim lessons and sports programs
• Recovery programs for substance abuse
• Case management and housing support for homeless individuals

What They Don't Fund

• Sponsorship of fundraising events (handled separately through sponsorship program)
• Programs that discriminate based on protected characteristics
• Marketing programs aimed solely at brand awareness
• Programs benefiting specific individuals rather than broader community impact
• Projects outside the Guthrie 12-county service area

Governance and Leadership

Executive Leadership

Dr. Burt Cagir, MD - Executive Director and Principal Officer Dr. Cagir has served as Executive Director of the Donald Guthrie Foundation since January 2020. He also serves as Executive Director of Research, Physician Leader, and Human Protections Administrator for research conducted at Guthrie. Additionally, Dr. Cagir holds the position of Regional Associate Dean for the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine (GCSOM) at Guthrie.

Community Benefit Committee

The Donald Guthrie Foundation Community Benefit Committee, comprised of community members and Guthrie caregivers, reviews grant applications twice per year. Committee members include:

• Brooks Eldredge-Martin (Chair) - Towanda, PA
• Kate Ellison, MPPM - VP, Government and Community Affairs, Guthrie
• Charles Fedele, MD - Sayre, PA
• Mary Finlayson - Waverly, NY
• Tricia Huston - Director, Resource Development, Guthrie
• Christine Kruklitis - Sayre, PA
• Skylar Lewis, PA-C, MMS - Primary Care APP Lead, Guthrie Medical Group, Wellsboro
• Vani Modi - Elmira, NY
• Bert Olechnowicz, MBA - Decision Support Forecast Analyst, Guthrie
• Amy Sabanegh - Sayre, PA

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted online through the Guthrie website at www.guthrie.org/about-us/community-benefits/community-grants-application. The Foundation operates on a rolling application basis, accepting submissions throughout the year, with reviews conducted twice annually.

Application Requirements:

• Organizations should submit only one grant request per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30) per organization
• Applications must be submitted on or before specified deadlines to be considered for each award cycle
• The Foundation's fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30

Post-Submission Process:

• Once submitted, a Community Benefit Committee member will reach out to discuss your application
• The twice-yearly review cadence allows organizations to plan and prepare stronger applications and aligns with the fiscal cycles of community partners

Decision Timeline

• Review Frequency: Applications reviewed twice per year
• Notification: Applicants receive a letter informing them of the decision
• Funding Timeline: Funds available to all successful candidates within 90 days of committee approval

The twice-yearly cycle allows the committee to review all applications together, prioritize needs, and distribute resources more effectively, consistent with best practices in grantmaking.

Reporting Requirements

Grant recipients must submit an annual update or report on the program/project no later than 3 months following the end of the Guthrie fiscal year (June 30). The report should include:

• Description of the outcomes or actions implemented with awarded funds
• Impact on the community served
• Progress toward stated goals

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Community Health Needs Assessment

The strongest applications directly address one or more of the priority areas identified in Guthrie's 2023-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment: mental health and substance use disorders, obesity, and cancer screening and prevention. Successful grants have demonstrated clear connections to these priorities.

Geographic Service Area Match

Projects must serve populations within Guthrie's 12-county service area across Northern Pennsylvania and Southern/Central New York. Recent successful grants have served communities in Bradford, Sullivan, and Tioga counties in Pennsylvania, and Chemung, Steuben, Cortland, Tompkins, and Broome counties in New York.

Demonstrated Community Impact

Funded projects show measurable impact on health outcomes and reach vulnerable or underserved populations. Examples include:

• The Children's House Child Advocacy Center received $10,000 for facility enhancements serving child abuse victims in Bradford and Sullivan counties
• CHOP Out Hunger received $7,500 for mobile pantries delivering fresh groceries to food-insecure students and families
• Endless Mountain Mission Center received $5,000 for case management and housing services focusing on mental health treatment access

Evidence-Based Approaches

Projects incorporating evidence-based practices or models, particularly in mental health treatment (such as EMDR therapy for trauma), substance abuse recovery, and obesity prevention, have been successful.

Collaborative Partnerships

Organizations demonstrating partnerships with other community agencies or healthcare providers strengthen their applications. The Foundation values initiatives that coordinate services and reduce duplication.

Realistic Budget and Scope

Grant requests typically range from $2,500 to $10,000, with $5,000 and $10,000 being the most common award amounts. Successful applications present clear, realistic budgets that match the scope of the proposed project to available funding.

Sustainability Considerations

While not explicitly required, projects that demonstrate potential for sustainability beyond the grant period or that leverage additional funding sources show strategic planning that appeals to the committee.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Target the Three Priorities: Explicitly connect your project to mental health/substance use, obesity, or cancer screening and prevention as identified in the 2023-2025 Community Health Needs Assessment
• Geographic Fit is Essential: Your project must serve populations within the 12-county Guthrie service area; clearly identify which counties you serve
• Timing Strategy: With twice-yearly reviews, plan your submission to align with your project timeline and organizational fiscal year; the rolling application allows flexibility in timing
• Budget Appropriately: Most grants fall in the $3,000-$10,000 range; requesting amounts consistent with recent awards increases competitiveness
• Expect Committee Contact: A committee member will reach out to discuss your application after submission; be prepared to elaborate on your project and answer questions
• One Application Per Year: Organizations may only submit one grant request per fiscal year (July 1 - June 30), so choose your strongest project
• Plan for Reporting: Build in capacity to provide an annual update 3 months after fiscal year-end; demonstrating accountability strengthens relationships for future funding

References

1. Donald Guthrie Foundation - Cause IQ Profile. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/donald-guthrie-foundation,246022957/ (Accessed March 2026)

2. Donald Guthrie Foundation - GuideStar Profile. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/24-6022957 (Accessed March 2026)

3. "Donald Guthrie Foundation Awards $52,500 in Grants to Six Regional Nonprofits." Guthrie News. https://www.guthrie.org/news/donald-guthrie-foundation-awards-52500-grants-six-regional-nonprofits (Accessed March 2026)

4. "Community Benefit Application Guidelines." Guthrie. https://www.guthrie.org/about-us/community-benefits/community-benefit-application-guidelines (Accessed March 2026)

5. "Grants and Sponsorships." Guthrie. https://www.guthrie.org/about-us/grants-and-sponsorships (Accessed March 2026)

6. "Community Benefits." Guthrie. https://www.guthrie.org/about-us/community-benefits (Accessed March 2026)

7. "Donald Guthrie Foundation Celebrates Community Organizations Working to Improve Health Conditions." Guthrie News. https://www.guthrie.org/news/donald-guthrie-foundation-celebrates-community-organizations-working-improve-health-conditions (Accessed March 2026)

8. "Guthrie Awards Grants to Support Community Health." Guthrie News. https://www.guthrie.org/news/guthrie-awards-grants-support-community-health-0 (Accessed March 2026)

9. Donald Guthrie Foundation - ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/246022957 (Accessed March 2026)

10. "About the Donald Guthrie Foundation." University of Toronto Press Publishing. https://utppublishing.com/journals/guthrie/about-the-foundation (Accessed March 2026)