First Federal Charitable Foundation
The First Federal Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Hazleton, Pennsylvania, that supports worthwhile community causes through grants to nonprofit organizations serving the region. It was established in 1998, when 5% of proceeds from First Federal’s initial stock offering—described by the foundation as the equivalent of $5 million—was set aside to create it.
First Federal Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: First Federal Charitable Foundation gave $266K across 1 grant in 2025 (avg $266K), mostly in Pennsylvania. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $266,285
- -33.2% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 1
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $266,285
- -33.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $266,285
- Total assets
- $8,359,500
- +7.2% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to First Federal Charitable Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Megan Kennedy. The foundation has an application form available on its website. Its filing describes an award restriction tied to the seven-county business area of the former First Federal Bank.
- Review Cycle
- Approximately two weeks before the board meeting.
- Deadline
- Approximately two weeks before the board meeting.
- Contact
Application contact: Megan Kennedy
Mailing address: 8 W Broad Street, Hazleton, PA 18201
Phone: (570) 501-2784
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who First Federal Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
55 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 48 grants of 55 (87%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon, and Columbia Counties as its service area. It also says organizations headquartered in another county may apply if they serve one of those counties and use the grant there. Its filing describes a restriction tied to the seven-county business area of the former First Federal Bank and states that its charitable activity benefits communities in northeastern and central Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of the 2025 grant dollars on its one itemized grant.
States
Cities
How First Federal Charitable Foundation gives
- Giving fell 22% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 78% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $106K (2021) to $398K (2024). In 2025 it made 1 grant totaling $266K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| See Attached See Attached, PA | See Attached | $266,285 |
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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 | $8,359,500 | $996,803 | $469,825 | $266,285 | 1 | $384,858 | $924,689 | $491,555 |
| 2024 | $7,800,417 | $457,946 | $585,144 | $398,450 | 1 | $513,462 | $391,709 | $429,564 |
| 2023 | $7,927,269 | $98,909 | $486,437 | $304,150 | 25 | $422,387 | $131,391 | $401,628 |
| 2022 | $8,318,196 | $293,496 | $525,682 | $340,050 | 19 | $451,842 | $264,140 | $440,523 |
| 2021 | $8,553,993 | $1,691,240 | $310,391 | $106,000 | 9 | — | $1,619,507 | $439,563 |
| 2020 | $7,165,959 | $1,052,008 | $604,365 | $302,700 | 22 | — | $989,244 | $394,152 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, First Federal Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $492K 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
The foundation’s mission is to support worthwhile community causes by nurturing nonprofit institutions and programs that serve those in need, empowering organizations to expand their services, and promoting opportunities for new programs to serve the unserved. Its stated areas of community need include artistic and cultural expression, civic and economic development, community improvement, education, health and human services, home ownership opportunities, and general welfare.
The foundation supports nonprofit organizations, including organizations addressing varied community needs. For example, Hazleton Integration Project Inc. describes its mission as maintaining a multipurpose community center for educational, recreational, and multicultural activities. Brighter Journeys describes its work as supporting parents of children with special needs and providing necessary items to families who cannot afford them. Meals on Wheels describes its mission as delivering meals to homebound individuals.
Grantmaking
The foundation reported 25 grants totaling $304,150 in 2023, one grant totaling $398,450 in 2024, and one grant totaling $266,285 in 2025. In 2025, the single listed grant was recorded as “SEE ATTACHED”; the recipient and purpose were not specified in the filing data. The 2023 examples below illustrate the range of organizations it supported:
The foundation’s website says eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) organizations located in Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon, or Columbia Counties. Organizations headquartered elsewhere may apply for a grant to be used in one of those counties. Its application requests information about the organization, its mission and service area, community need, the proposed use and measurement of grant funds, financial viability, and coordination with other organizations. The foundation’s filing states that giving is not restricted to preselected organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Thomas Kennedy as chairman, Anthony Cusatis as president, Megan Kennedy as executive director, and Peter Haentjens, Joan Goodman, and Joseph Ustynoski as directors. The foundation’s website identifies the chairman as Thomas L. Kennedy and lists Joseph Ustynoski as an attorney.
First Federal Charitable Foundation is led by Megan Kennedy, Executive Director on every filing since 2020; 1 of 6 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Megan Kennedy
Executive Director
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$77K (2020) → $86K (2025)
Anthony Cusatis
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Kennedy
Chairman
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joan Goodman
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Joseph Ustynoski
Director
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Peter Haentjens
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Former officers (3)
- Former: John Raynock (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: William Spear (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: R. P. Haentjens (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $86K, to Megan Kennedy (Exec DIR).
Frequently asked questions about First Federal Charitable Foundation
How much does First Federal Charitable Foundation give each year?
First Federal Charitable Foundation gave $266K across 1 grant in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $398K across 1 grant.
How large is First Federal Charitable Foundation?
First Federal Charitable Foundation reported $8.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $385K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $492K (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 First Federal Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support worthwhile community causes by nurturing nonprofit institutions and programs that serve those in need, empowering organizations to expand their services, and promoting opportunities for new programs to serve the unserved. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from First Federal Charitable Foundation?
Contact Megan Kennedy. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does First Federal Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation’s website identifies Luzerne, Schuylkill, Carbon, and Columbia Counties as its service area. It also says organizations headquartered in another county may apply if they serve one of those counties and use the grant there.
What is First Federal Charitable Foundation's EIN?
First Federal Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 06-1512796. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2020–2025
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Figures come from First Federal Charitable 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.
First Federal Charitable Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?