Partnership for Better Health logo

Partnership for Better Health

Public charity · Grantmaker Carlisle, PA EIN: 23-1352161 Website

Partnership for Better Health is a public charity based in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, formed in 2001. It funds grants and initiatives intended to improve health and address health disparities and their root causes among people and communities in its region.

Partnership for Better Health at a glance

In short: Partnership for Better Health gave $2.7M across 54 grants in 2025 (avg $50K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$2,719,149
+10.4% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
54
+17.4% vs 2024
Average grant
$50,355
-5.9% vs 2024
Median grant
$36,250
Total assets
$107,751,581
+8.4% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
39% first-time grantees (21 of 54, 2025)
Primary geography
Pennsylvania (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Partnership for Better Health

How to Apply

The Partnership provides an online application process for its grant programs.

Review Cycle
The website lists general application deadlines of August 3, December 1, and March 1; the August 3 date had passed as of October 2, 2026. The Spark Grants listing gives a deadline of December 1, 2026.
Deadline
The website lists general application deadlines of August 3, December 1, and March 1; the August 3 date had passed as…
Contact

Mailing address: 274 Wilson Street, Carlisle, PA 17013
Phone: (717) 960-9009
Website: https://forbetterhealthpa.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Partnership for Better Health funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Sadler Health Center Corporation: $545KSadler Health CenterCorporation$545KNLC Lifeworks: $165KNLC Lifeworks$165KCarlisle Cares: $135KCarlisle Cares$135KTomorrow's Neighbors: $100KTomorrow's Neighbors$100KYWCA Carlisle: $97KYWCA Carlisle$97KSubstance Abuse Services Inc: $90KSubstance Abuse Services Inc$90KChurch World Service Harrisburg (PA): $75KChurch World ServiceHarrisburg (PA)$75KPa Community Health Worker Collaborative: $69KPa Community Health WorkerCollaborative$69KLeaf Project Inc: $65KLeaf Project Inc$65KThe Harbor Church of the Nazarene Inc: $61KThe Harbor Church of theNazarene Inc$61K

The largest 2025 recipient was Sadler Health Center Corporation ($545K). Together the top 10 received $1.4M.

Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($16,825), which are not listed by name.

Grant Size Distribution

220 grants across all recorded years

143<$50K56$50–100K16$100–250K$250–500K5$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 143 grants of 220 (65%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The Partnership’s stated service area comprises all of Perry County, western and central Cumberland County, northern Adams County, and greater Shippensburg. Its 2025 reported grants went entirely to Pennsylvania recipients.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 54 itemized grants.

Cities

CarlisleShippensburgHarrisburgLemoyneLandisburgNew BloomfieldPhiladelphiaCamp HillGettysburgDillsburgFayettevilleBethlehemDuncannonMt Holly SpringsNewvilleDelmontEnolaPittsburghBendersvilleChadds Ford

Is Partnership for Better Health open to new grantees?

39%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 21 of 54 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $30K; repeat grants $64K. How we count

Medians: $25K first-time, $44K repeat.

  • 54% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving grew 21% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 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

$0$1M$2M$3M49 grants2021 37 grants2022 34 grants2023 46 grants2024 54 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.8M (2021) to $2.7M (2025). In 2025 it made 54 grants totaling $2.7M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Sadler Health Center Corporation Carlisle, PASupport the provision of dental services and community health worker support in addressing social determinants of health regardless of patients' ability to pay.$545,000
NLC Lifeworks Carlisle, PATo advocate and coordinate services for underserved community members in need of services to address social determinants of health; housing coalition of Cumberland county & housing strategic plan$165,000
Carlisle Cares Carlisle, PACoordinated entry;assist with the operations and improvements at our family shelter located in shippensburg, pa serving hundreds each year.$135,000
Tomorrow's Neighbors Carlisle, PATomorrow's Neighbors - General Operating Support$100,000
YWCA Carlisle Carlisle, PAGeneral operating support; second season: a gathering for women; establish and manage a county-wide human trafficking coalition to improve survivor support, education for caregivers and direct service Providers, and county-wide resource coordination.$97,280
Substance Abuse Services Inc Harrisburg, PAProvide Substance Use Disorder Services and Supports.$90,000
Church World Service Harrisburg (PA) Harrisburg, PAThe purpose of this grant is to ensure refugees have access to stable, permanent housing at a fragile time when the federal funding freezes have disrupted housing assistance for new neighbors throughout our region.$75,000
Pa Community Health Worker Collaborative Pittsburgh, PATo empower community health workers through training, advocacy, and collaboration to improve health outcomes and advance equity, as well as achieve sustainable financing for chws in Pennsylvania.$69,250
Leaf Project Inc Landisburg, PAGeneral operating support; to grow leaf's kitchen capacity in order to meet the needs of our community for healthy convenient food.$65,000
The Harbor Church of the Nazarene Inc Shippensburg, PATo expand recovery resources to our community beyond our own recovery house$60,776
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$107,751,581$5,818,512$4,110,896$2,719,14954$3,395,412
2024$99,366,496$6,556,664$3,724,661$2,461,91946$4,893,283
2023$91,499,514$3,739,001$3,418,028$2,020,33834$1,500,610
2022$86,864,205$4,189,583$3,555,363$2,250,12837$1,537,917
2021$107,369,093$3,866,688$2,950,771$1,786,92749$1,516,115

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The organization’s mission is to champion and invest in ideas, initiatives, and collaborations that advance equity and improve the health of people and communities in its region. Its stated values include equity, advocacy, collaboration, stewardship, and innovation.

Its funding opportunities include flexible general operating support for existing grantees working on health equity, project grants addressing root causes of poor health, and Spark Grants for emergent community needs. The website highlights issues including service navigation, behavioral health, direct health services not otherwise funded through reimbursement, language access, and community-based solutions. It also gives priority consideration to work that centers people with lived experience.

Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Sadler Health Center Corporation says it advances community health through inclusive, high-quality, compassionate care. Carlisle Cares describes its work as providing emergency shelter, resources, and supportive services to people and families experiencing homelessness in Cumberland County. Tomorrow’s Neighbors says it provides re-entry services and supportive, affordable housing for people returning from incarceration. The LEAF Project describes connecting youth to food, land, and one another through farm work, culinary skills, and community outreach.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, the Partnership reported 54 grants totaling $2,719,149. Grants ranged from $7,200 to $545,000, with a median of $36,250. All reported grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania.

The largest reported grants included $545,000 to Sadler Health Center Corporation for dental services and community health worker support; $165,000 to NLC LifeWorks for services addressing social determinants of health and housing work; $135,000 to Carlisle Cares for coordinated entry and family shelter operations and improvements; and $100,000 to Tomorrow’s Neighbors for general operating support. Other large grants included $97,280 to YWCA Carlisle, $90,000 to Substance Abuse Services Inc., and $75,000 to Church World Service Harrisburg.

The website lists general operating grants of $10,000–$50,000 per year, project grants of $5,000.01–$100,000 per year, and Spark Grants of up to $5,000 per year. General operating grants are for eligible existing grantees; first-time awards are one year, with successful applicants eligible to apply for multi-year grants. Project grants are one year for first-time applicants, with prior recipients invited to apply for two-year grants for the same project. Applicants must meet the applicable nonprofit and geographic eligibility requirements. Applications are submitted online. The guidelines exclude uses such as annual fund drives, operating deficits, retroactive expenses, and capital expenditures over $50,000 for program-related needs.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Trish Niemitz RN as chairperson; Roderick Frazier DDS as vice chair; Marisol Barber as treasurer; and Gail Wenk Du Pont as secretary. Other listed board members are Joyce Bylander, Katie Crane, Bradley Griffie Esq, Sherry Knowlton, Michael Lyman PhD, and Laura Megivern.

Partnership for Better Health is led by Rebecca H. Raley Ma, Executive Director on every filing since 2023; 3 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Rebecca H. Raley Ma

    Executive Director

    On filings since 2023

    45 hrs/week

    $124K (2023) → $27K (2025)

  • Carol Thornton Mpa

    Executive Director

    New on the 2025 filing

    45 hrs/week

    $111K (2025)

  • Trish Niemitz RN

    Chairperson

    Secretary → Board Member, 2023

    Board Member → Chairperson, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ann Carney

    Finance Director

    On filings since 2024

    30 hrs/week

    $20K (2024) → $70K (2025)

  • Lakshmi Polavarapu MD

    Board Member

    Board Member → 5th Member -Exec. Committee, 2023

    5th Member -Exec. Committee → Board Member, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Mark Price PhD

    Board Member

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Marisol Barber

    Treasurer

    Board Member → Secretary, 2024

    Secretary → Treasurer, 2025

    On filings since 2023

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Joyce Bylander

    5th Member Exe. Committee

    Board Member → 5th Member Exe. Committee, 2025

    On filings since 2024

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Katie Crane

    Board Member

    On filings since 2024

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bradley Griffie Esq.

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Gail Wenk Du Pont

    Secretary

    New on the 2025 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Laura Megivern

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Michael Lyman PhD

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca Myers Msw

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Roderick Frazier DDS

    Vice Chair

    New on the 2025 filing

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Sherry Knowlton

    Board Member

    New on the 2025 filing

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (24)
  • Former: Barbara Kirk (2021–2024) — Int. Finance Director · Filing note: Retired 11223
  • Former: Benjamin Dum Jr. (2021–2024) — Treasurer
  • Former: Molly Fortney (2021–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Win Cleland PhD (2021–2024) — 5th Member -Exec. Committee
  • Former: Medha D. Makhlouf JD (2022–2024) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Rebecca Myers (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Robert Frazier DDS (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Stephen Bartoli Cima (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Taro Landis Chief (2023–2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Carol Thornton (2024) — Int. Executive Director
  • Former: Gail Wenk Dupont (2024) — Board Member
  • Former: Christopher Farrands CPA (2021–2023) — Chairperson
  • Former: George Pomeroy PhD (2021–2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Helen Houpt Mls (2023) — Board Member
  • Former: Jennifer Byers (2023) — Finance Director
  • Former: Alvin Blitz (2021–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Ellen Peters (2021–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Helen Houpt (2021–2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Rebecca H. Raley (2021–2022) — Executive Director
  • Former: Stephen Bartoli (2021–2022) — Treasurer
  • Former: Taro Landis (2022) — Board Member
  • Former: Deborah Fulham Winston (2021) — Chairperson
  • Former: Lori Amey (2021) — Board Member
  • Former: Nancy Gregor (2021) — Board Member

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.

Compensation Overview

From 2025 IRS filing

Carol Thornton MPA — Exec. Director (Beg. 1/14/24): $111KCarol Thornton MPAExec. Director (Beg. 1/14/24)$111KAnn Carney — Finance Director: $70KAnn CarneyFinance Director$70KRebecca H Raley MA — Exec. Director (Until 1/14/24): $27KRebecca H Raley MAExec. Director (Until 1/14/24)$27K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $111K, to Carol Thornton MPA (Exec. Director (Beg. 1/14/24)). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about Partnership for Better Health

How much does Partnership for Better Health give each year?

Partnership for Better Health gave $2.7M across 54 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $2.5M across 46 grants.

What is Partnership for Better Health's typical grant size?

Partnership for Better Health's median grant in 2025 was $36,250, and its average grant was $50,355, across 54 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Partnership for Better Health that year got $30K on average.

Where does Partnership for Better Health give grants?

Partnership for Better Health gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Carlisle, PA (14 grants), Shippensburg, PA (10 grants), Harrisburg, PA (5 grants) and Gettysburg, PA (3 grants).

Does Partnership for Better Health give general operating support?

Yes: 30% of Partnership for Better Health's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 54) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.

Who are Partnership for Better Health's largest grantees?

Partnership for Better Health's largest 2025 grantees include Sadler Health Center Corporation ($545,000), NLC Lifeworks ($165,000) and Carlisle Cares ($135,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($16,825), which are not listed by name. Together they received 31% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Partnership for Better Health?

Partnership for Better Health reported $107.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $5.8M.

What does Partnership for Better Health fund?

The organization’s mission is to champion and invest in ideas, initiatives, and collaborations that advance equity and improve the health of people and communities in its region. Its stated values include equity, advocacy, collaboration, stewardship, and innovation. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Partnership for Better Health?

The Partnership provides an online application process for its grant programs. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑

What is Partnership for Better Health's EIN?

Partnership for Better Health's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-1352161. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS October 13, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 2, 2022)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS January 16, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS December 23, 2024)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS December 10, 2025)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Live grants for the work Partnership for Better Health funds

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Partnership for Better Health funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/partnership-for-better-health-morg_731900bf1ce642b197f20810d94d244a

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_231352161_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Partnership for Better Health funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/partnership-for-better-health-morg_731900bf1ce642b197f20810d94d244a},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-22. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}

The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.

Figures come from Partnership for Better Health'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.

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