Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care is based in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and is classified as a private foundation on its Form 990-PF. Established in 2011 following the sale of Mercy Hospital in Scranton, it is administered by the Scranton Area Community Foundation. It supports health care needs and community wellness, with a stated focus on the people of Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties, particularly vulnerable and underserved residents.
Key facts about Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care
In short: Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care gave $885K across 14 grants in 2024 (avg $63K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 83% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- EIN
- 27-5501471
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $884,500
- Grants made (2024)
- 14
- Average grant
- $63,179
- Median grant
- $29,250
- New grantees (estimate)
- 83% first-time grantees (10 of 12, 2024; small sample)
- Total assets
- $16,112,087
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$16.1M
+5.1% YoY
Annual Giving
$885K
+113.1% YoY
Grant Count
14
+133.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$63K
-8.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care reported a distributable amount of $781K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Is Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care open to new grantees?
83%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 10 of 12 grantees (83%) 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 $86K; repeat grants $10K. How we count
Medians: $47K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 8% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving fell 24% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is to support health care needs, including health education, community wellness, and payment for medical care for uninsured and underinsured people regardless of where they receive treatment. It also seeks to improve the physical, mental, and social well-being of residents of Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties.
Its website describes a $1.5 million, three-year Careers in Care initiative for the regional health care workforce, including nursing, and a $3.2 million multi-year scholarship commitment to the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine scholars program. The website also reports that the foundation has awarded more than $4 million in grants and scholarships since 2011.
The 2024 filing describes the foundation as providing grants to tax-exempt operating organizations. Its 2024 recipients included organizations whose own missions address a range of community needs. For example, Volunteers in Medicine describes its work as providing free primary and preventive care to working uninsured and underinsured people in Luzerne County. Allied Services Foundation says it provides care and people-oriented services to help community members overcome challenges. Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania describes counseling, advocacy, and educational programming, while Friendship House serves families and children with autism, emotional or behavioral difficulties, or trauma, as well as adults with mental illness or developmental or intellectual disabilities. Serving Seniors says it advocates for older adults, including people in long-term care and those transitioning from hospital care to home.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the foundation reported 14 grants totaling $884,500. The awards ranged from $10,000 to $320,000, with a median of $29,250. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania. Listed purposes were “support for programs.”
The largest reported award was $320,000 to Geisinger College of Health Sciences. Other large awards included $100,000 each to Scranton Counseling Center, Scranton Area Community Foundation, and Allied Services Foundation; $66,000 to Scranton Area Community Foundation; and $60,000 to Volunteers in Medicine. Additional listed recipients included Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA ($33,500), Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania ($25,000), Scranton Area Community Foundation ($25,000), Friendship House ($15,000), NEPA Gives Project Fund ($10,000), and Serving Seniors Inc. ($10,000).
The foundation’s filing invites applications from 501(c)(3) organizations for health and wellness projects serving people in Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties. It states that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. The process begins with an emailed letter of intent, and the foundation holds one annual grant cycle. The filing says applications should be for projects consistent with the foundation’s mission. In general, it does not support academic curriculum development at colleges or universities, academic or commercial research, national organizations without a local branch, needs assessments, annual campaigns, or general operating expenses not associated with a specific program or initiative. Organizations are ineligible for funding for two consecutive years; the foundation is not intended as a sustaining funding source, and multi-year grants and repeat funding are decided case by case.
The website’s 2026 Careers in Care nursing scholarship application cycle had a March 1, 2026 deadline and is past. That opportunity was for eligible students and health care workers from the three counties pursuing nursing education who intended to practice in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The website specified that scholarship funds were for the 2026/2027 academic year.
Ready to take the next step with Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation identifies Lackawanna, Luzerne, and Wyoming Counties in Northeastern Pennsylvania as its service area. Its 2024 reported grant dollars went entirely to Pennsylvania recipients.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $415K (2023) to $1.2M (2021). In 2024 it made 14 grants totaling $885K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Geisinger College of Health Sciences ($320K). Together the top 10 received $865K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 34 grants of 57 (60%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Geisinger College of Health Sciences Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $320,000 |
| Scranton Counseling Center Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $100,000 |
| Scranton Area Community Foundation Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $100,000 |
| Allied Services Foundation Wilkes Barre Township, PA | Support for Programs | $100,000 |
| Scranton Area Community Foundation Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $66,000 |
| Volunteers in Medicine Wilkes-Barre, PA | Support for Programs | $60,000 |
| Children's Advocacy Center of Nepa Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $33,500 |
| Jewish Family Service of Northeastern Pennsylvania Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $25,000 |
| Scranton Area Community Foundation Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $25,000 |
| Friendship House Scranton, PA | Support for Programs | $15,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,112,087 | $967,365 | $1,068,625 | $884,500 |
| 2023 | $15,326,230 | $825,358 | $576,181 | $415,000 |
| 2022 | $13,720,178 | $720,393 | $1,058,695 | $850,000 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,112,087 | $15,326,230 | $13,720,178 |
| Revenue | $967,365 | $825,358 | $720,393 |
| Expenses | $1,068,625 | $576,181 | $1,058,695 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $964,026 | $497,704 | $947,826 |
| Net Investment Income | $836,329 | $750,614 | $641,699 |
| Distributable Amount | $781,328 | $706,705 | $743,586 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Peter A. Cognetti, MD, as chair and director; Joseph D. Burke, Esq., as vice-chair and director; Michael Cordaro as treasurer and director; and Marie Roke Thomas, PhD, as secretary and director. Other directors listed are Joseph Bannon, MD; James Clemente; Matthew Haggerty; Robert Knowles; Shubbra Shetty, MD; and Terrence Nealon Jr., Esq.
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care is led by Peter A. Cognetti MD, Chair & Director since 2024 (on filings since 2022); none of the 12 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Peter A. Cognetti MD
Chair & Director
Director → Chair & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
James Clemente
Director
Chair & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Haggerty
Director
Secretary, Treasurer & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Knowles Jr.
Director
Vice Chair & Director → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Marie Roke Thomas PhD
Secretary & Director
Director → Secretary & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Cordaro
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Shubbra Shetty MD
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tonyehn Verkitus
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph Bannon MD
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph D. Burke Esq.
Vice Chair & Director
New on the 2024 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Wodder Psyd
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Terrence Nealon Jr. Esq.
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (14)
- Former: Donna Martucci (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Henry J. Sallusti (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Honorable Terrence R. Nealon (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Barbara Grimaud Esq. (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Jay Bannon MD (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Joe Burke Esq. (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Tom Tulaney II (2022–2023) — Director
- Former: Christopher J. Dressel Jr. MD (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: James Mileski (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Jeremiah W. Eagen MD (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Kerry O'Grady (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mark T. Mitchell (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Michelle M. McGowan (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Natalie Gelb (2020–2021) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Contact
Application contact: Laura Ducceschi
Mailing address: 615 Jefferson Avenue Suite 102, Scranton, PA 18510
Phone: (570) 347-6203
Email: ld@safdn.org
Frequently asked questions about Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care
How much does Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care give each year?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care gave $885K across 14 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $415K across 6 grants.
What is Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's typical grant size?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's median grant in 2024 was $29,250, and its average grant was $63,179, across 14 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care that year got $86K on average.
Where does Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care give grants?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Scranton, PA (10 grants).
Does Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for Programs" (14 grants).
Who are Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's largest grantees?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's largest 2024 grantees include Geisinger College of Health Sciences ($320,000), Scranton Area Community Foundation ($191,000 across 3 grants) and Scranton Counseling Center ($100,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 69% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care reported $16.1M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $964K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $781K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care fund?
The foundation’s mission is to support health care needs, including health education, community wellness, and payment for medical care for uninsured and underinsured people regardless of where they receive treatment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's EIN?
Northeastern Pennsylvania Health Care's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 27-5501471. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
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