Arnold Foundation
Arnold Foundation is a private foundation based in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. Its 2025 filing reports 12 grants totaling $48,000, including grants for community welfare and scholarships.
Arnold Foundation at a glance
In short: Arnold Foundation gave $48K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $4K), top state North Carolina. 8% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $48,000
- -43.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 12
- -50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $4,000
- +12.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $4,000
- Total assets
- $583,367
- +2.9% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 8% first-time grantees (1 of 12, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- North Carolina (48% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Arnold Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that individual applicants should submit a brief resume of academic qualifications. Any charitable organization is eligible. The filing says the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and gives preference to residents of the Luzerne County area to the extent funds are available.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing states that applications are accepted at any time.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing states that applications are accepted at any time.
- Contact
Application contact: Arnold Foundation
Mailing address: 1094 Highway 315, Wilkes Barre, PA 18702-6943
Phone: (570) 823-8855
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Arnold Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Steps to Hope ($7K). Together the top 10 received $43K.
Grant Size Distribution
90 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 90 grants of 90 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2025 filing reports that grant dollars went to recipients in North Carolina (48%), Pennsylvania (25%), South Carolina (19%), and Tennessee (8%). The foundation’s 2024 filing states a preference for residents of the Luzerne County area, to the extent funds are available.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Arnold Foundation open to new grantees?
8%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 12 grantees (8%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $4K; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $4K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 92% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 56% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $48K (2025) to $85K (2024). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $48K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Steps to Hope Columbus, NC | Welfare of Community | $7,000 |
| The Marley Project Camden, SC | Welfare of Community | $5,000 |
| Charlotte Family Housing Charlotte, NC | Welfare of Community | $4,000 |
| The Care Ring Charlotte, NC | Welfare of Cummunity | $4,000 |
| Foothills Humane Society Columbus, NC | Welfare of Community | $4,000 |
| Rotary Club of Tryon Foundation Tryon, NC | Welfare of Community | $4,000 |
| Upstate Community Hospice House Landrum, SC | Welfare of Community | $4,000 |
| St Judes Childrens Hospital Memphis, TN | Welfare of Community | $4,000 |
| Denise Pinto Jenkins TWP, PA | Scholarship | $4,000 |
| Meridith Purcell Pittston, PA | Scholarship | $3,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Arnold Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $583,367 | $79,724 | $63,438 | $48,000 | 12 | $48,000 | $25,121 | $85,059 |
| 2024 | $567,081 | $96,122 | $99,186 | $85,200 | 24 | $85,200 | $23,268 | $78,580 |
| 2023 | $570,145 | $64,578 | $66,994 | $50,000 | 16 | $50,000 | $20,748 | $77,793 |
| 2022 | $572,561 | $36,667 | $76,714 | $64,000 | 20 | $64,000 | $23,953 | $79,500 |
| 2021 | $612,608 | $42,384 | $72,950 | $60,000 | 18 | — | $23,295 | $66,786 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Arnold Foundation reported a distributable amount of $85K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants list purposes including “welfare of community” and scholarships. Among the organizations it supported, Steps to Hope says its mission is to address domestic and sexual abuse through education, advocacy, and victim assistance; Charlotte Family Housing says it works to help working families experiencing homelessness achieve long-term self-sufficiency; and Foothills Humane Society says it shelters and adopts animals, prevents cruelty, and educates the public about responsible animal ownership.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation gave 12 grants totaling $48,000. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $7,000, with a median of $4,000. The largest grants included $7,000 to Steps to Hope, $5,000 to The Marley Project, and $4,000 each to Charlotte Family Housing, The Care Ring, Foothills Humane Society, Rotary Club of Tryon Foundation, Upstate Community Hospice House, and St. Jude Children’s Hospital. It also awarded scholarships of $4,000 to Denise Pinto, $3,000 each to Meridith Purcell and Vanessa Pinto, and $2,000 to Everhart Museum.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Deborah M Biscontini as president; Arnold K Biscontini as treasurer and “VICE PRESIDE”; and Joseph J Paciotti as secretary.
Arnold Foundation is led by Deborah M. Biscontini, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Deborah M. Biscontini
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Arnold K. Biscontini
Treasurer & Vice President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Joseph J. Paciotti
Secretary
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Arnold Foundation
How much does Arnold Foundation give each year?
Arnold Foundation gave $48K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $85K across 24 grants.
What is Arnold Foundation's typical grant size?
Arnold Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $4,000, and its average grant was $4,000, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Arnold Foundation that year got $4K on average.
Where does Arnold Foundation give grants?
Arnold Foundation's top state is North Carolina, with 48% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Pennsylvania (25%) and South Carolina (19%). The most frequent recipient cities were Columbus, NC (2 grants), Charlotte, NC (2 grants) and Jenkins TWP, PA (2 grants).
Does Arnold Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on Arnold Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Welfare of Community" (7 grants) and "Scholarship" (3 grants).
Who are Arnold Foundation's largest grantees?
Arnold Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Steps to Hope ($7,000), The Marley Project ($5,000) and Charlotte Family Housing ($4,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 33% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Arnold Foundation?
Arnold Foundation reported $583K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $48K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $85K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Arnold Foundation fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2025 grants list purposes including “welfare of community” and scholarships. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Arnold Foundation?
The foundation’s 2024 filing states that individual applicants should submit a brief resume of academic qualifications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Arnold Foundation's EIN?
Arnold Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6417708. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Arnold Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Duke Energy Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Duke Energy Foundation funds workforce and local economic development, disaster resilience, conservation, clean water, and economic opportunity in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000; applications for grants of $20,000 or less are accepted year-round, after applicants discuss proposals with a state representative.
Assets
$1.9M
Grants
41
Total Given
$25.6M
Mary E Carnrick Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Mary E Carnrick Foundation’s 2023 grants supported North Carolina organizations working in housing and homelessness, education, food assistance, and disability services. It awarded 32 grants totaling $365,000, typically $5,000–$20,000 (median $10,000); requests should be submitted to the Board of Directors, though the filing does not specify a deadline, and its 2023 return was marked final.
Assets
—
Grants
32
Total Given
$365K
Ncfibarnhardt Foundation
Charlotte, NC
The Charlotte-based foundation supports North Carolina nonprofits in areas including hunger relief, community services, children and families, arts, health, education, and youth development. In 2025, it made 53 grants ranging from $150 to $208,000, with a median grant of $5,000. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$13.4M
Grants
53
Total Given
$704K
The Cannon Foundation Inc
Concord, NC
The Cannon Foundation funds capital, equipment, and infrastructure projects in human services, higher education, healthcare, and community, primarily for established organizations with significant operations in North Carolina. Recent grants ranged from $2,500 to $500,000, with a median of $50,000. It accepts inquiries through a staged application process, with quarterly deadlines.
Assets
$351.7M
Grants
218
Total Given
$14.6M
Dowd Foundation Inc
Charlotte, NC
Dowd Foundation supports a broad range of charitable organizations, including education, health, community services, and conservation, primarily in North Carolina. Its 2024 grants ranged from $250 to $500,000, with a median of $5,000. It gives only to preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$79.6M
Grants
162
Total Given
$4.4M
Foundation for the Carolinas
Charlotte, NC
Foundation For The Carolinas funds education and youth development, environmental and wildlife work, health and human services, and animal welfare, with a reported median grant of $25,000 in 2024. Its competitive programs focus on Charlotte-Mecklenburg, the Carolinas, and specific local communities, while donor-advised funds may support eligible nonprofits more broadly; it accepts applications for some competitive grants, but most grants are recommended by fund advisors and have no application process.
Assets
$3.9B
Grants
1,605
Total Given
$609.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Pennsylvania
The filing figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0. About GrantGraph Open
Figures come from Arnold Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Arnold Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?