Pasco L Schiavo Memorial Charitable Fund

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $2,000,000
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Quarterly for Microgrants; Annual for Forum & Impact Grants
• Grant Range: $500 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: Greater Hazleton and Weatherly areas, PA

Contact Details

• Website: https://luzfdn.org/pasco-l-schiavo-grants/
• Phone: 570-822-2065
• Email: info@luzfdn.org
• Online Application Portal: https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=luzfdngrants

Overview

The Pasco L. Schiavo Memorial Charitable Fund, established in 2022 following the death of attorney Pasco L. Schiavo, is a major grant-making fund managed by The Luzerne Foundation. Created by his sister Linda L. Schiavo as trustee, the fund distributes approximately $2 million annually to nonprofit organizations in the Greater Hazleton and Weatherly areas of Pennsylvania. Since its establishment, the fund has awarded over $1,230,000 in grants, with the original private foundation trust distributing an additional $3,156,439 before its dissolution in 2022. The fund's mission is to promote educational and humanitarian projects that benefit the local community, operating through three distinct grant programs ranging from microgrants to major multi-year commitments.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

• Pasco L. Schiavo Microgrants: $500 - $3,000 (rolling basis, quarterly awards through online portal)
• Pasco L. Schiavo Forum Grants: $5,000 - $10,000 (annual "Shark Tank" style pitch forum, typically July-August)
• Pasco L. Schiavo Impact Grants: $50,000 - $250,000 over two years (Letter of Inquiry required)

Priority Areas

• Arts & Culture
• Education & Scholarships
• Health & Wellness
• Historic Preservation & the Environment
• Neighborhoods & Community Development
• Social Services
• Youth Issues

What They Don't Fund

• Salaries
• Religious entities
• General operating costs (though some operating costs allowed within project budgets)
• Organizations outside the Greater Hazleton and Weatherly area (defined by school district boundaries)

Governance and Leadership

The fund is administered by The Luzerne Foundation, with Linda L. Schiavo serving as fund founder and trustee. Key administrative staff include:

• David Pedri: President & CEO of The Luzerne Foundation (former Luzerne County Manager and attorney)
• Paul Oswald: Chief Operating Officer
• Donna Eiden: Gifts & Scholarship Administrator
• Lindsay Landis: Community Impact Director

The fund honors Pasco L. Schiavo, who practiced law in Hazleton from 1962 until his death in 2018, served as a Luzerne County assistant district attorney, and was a member of the Disciplinary Board of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications are submitted through the online Grant Interface portal at https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=luzfdngrants. Organizations must be 501(c)(3) public charities in good standing serving the Greater Hazleton or Weatherly areas. Different application processes exist for each grant tier:

• Microgrants: Rolling applications reviewed quarterly
• Forum Grants: Applications typically open July 15 with late August deadline, requires in-person presentation
• Impact Grants: Begin with Letter of Inquiry

Decision Timeline

• Microgrants: Quarterly review and award cycle
• Forum Grants: Annual event with immediate awards at forum
• Impact Grants: Timeline varies based on Letter of Inquiry submission

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. In 2024, the forum awarded $155,000 to 26 nonprofits that presented.

Reapplication Policy

No published restrictions on reapplication for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Based on the fund's stated priorities and recent awards:

• Demonstrate clear benefit to Greater Hazleton or Weatherly communities
• Show alignment with one or more of the seven priority areas
• Present measurable outcomes and community impact
• Focus on project-specific funding rather than general operations
• For Forum Grants, prepare a compelling 5-minute presentation
• Capital projects are welcome and have received significant funding
• Educational and youth-focused projects align strongly with the fund's mission honoring an attorney who supported education

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Three distinct grant tiers allow organizations to scale their requests appropriately
• Strong geographic restrictions - must serve within Hazleton Area or Weatherly Area School District boundaries
• Online application portal streamlines the process for all grant levels
• Forum Grants offer unique opportunity for in-person presentation and immediate funding decisions
• Capital projects and equipment purchases are eligible, unlike many foundations
• New fund with significant resources - approximately $2 million in annual giving planned
• Educational projects particularly align with founder's legacy and giving history

References

• The Luzerne Foundation - Pasco L. Schiavo Grants. https://luzfdn.org/pasco-l-schiavo-grants/. Accessed February 2026.
• The Luzerne Foundation - The Pasco L. Schiavo Nonprofit Forum. https://luzfdn.org/event/the-pasco-l-schiavo-nonprofit-forum/. Accessed February 2026.
• Cause IQ - Pasco Luzerne Schiavo Memorial Charitable Fund. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/pasco-luzerne-schiavo-memorial-charitable-fund,922122140/. Accessed February 2026.
• Instrumentl - Pasco Schiavo Charitable Foundation Trust 990 Report. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/pasco-schiavo-charitable-fdn-tr. Accessed February 2026.
• Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce - The Luzerne Foundation Announced the Pasco L. Schiavo Memorial Fund. https://www.hazletonchamber.org/news/869-the-luzerne-foundation-announced-the-pasco-l-schiavo-memorial-fund.html. Accessed February 2026.
• Rosenn Jenkins & Greenwald - Community Involvement Spotlight: Lee S. Piatt and Pasco L. Schiavo Memorial Charitable Fund. https://www.rjglaw.com/community-involvement-spotlight-lee-s-piatt-and-pasco-l-schiavo-memorial-charitable-fund/. Accessed February 2026.
• Hazleton Standard Speaker - Luzerne Foundation awards grant to PA 211 Help Line. https://www.standardspeaker.com/2025/10/25/luzerne-foundation-awards-grant-to-pa-211-help-line/. Accessed February 2026.