The Luzerne Foundation is a community foundation based in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, serving Luzerne County. Established in 1994, the organization operates as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for county residents through strategic philanthropy and community engagement. The foundation functions as a steward of charitable giving, helping individuals, families, businesses, civic groups, and other nonprofit organizations realize their philanthropic goals.
Key facts about The Luzerne Foundation
- EIN
- 23-2765498
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,378,060
- Grants made (2024)
- 110
- Average grant
- $30,710
- Median grant
- $15,221
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (33 of 110, 2024)
- Total assets
- $74,484,995
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (86% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Who The Luzerne Foundation funds
By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Luzerne Foundation's 110 itemized 2024 grants were Pennsylvania (86%). The most frequent recipient cities were Wilkesbarre, PA (27 grants), Scranton, PA (7 grants), Hazleton, PA (7 grants) and Dallas, PA (6 grants). None of its 110 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Educational" (31 grants), "Social Services" (12 grants) and "Arts & Culture" (12 grants).
Is The Luzerne Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 33 of 110 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $15K; repeat grants $37K. How we count
Medians: $11K first-time, $20K repeat.
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Next steps with The Luzerne Foundation
- How to evaluate The Luzerne Foundation as a funder
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Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$74.5M
+10.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.4M
-2.4% YoY
Grant Count
110
+1.9% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$31K
-4.2% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission Statement: The Luzerne Foundation works to enhance the lives of Luzerne County residents by evaluating and addressing community needs through strategic grantmaking, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to causes that matter to them.
Focus Areas: The foundation supports work across seven vital fields of interest:
- Social services
- Education and scholarships
- Arts and culture
- Health and wellness
- Youth issues
- Historic preservation and the environment
- Neighborhood and community development
Grantmaking
The Luzerne Foundation supports over 360 charitable funds and has awarded more than $160 million in grants to nonprofits and initiatives throughout the region. The foundation offers flexible fund options and provides donor-centric guidance to help donors make effective charitable decisions.
Ready to take the next step with The Luzerne Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Luzerne Foundation serves all of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with headquarters in Wilkes-Barre.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 110 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $67.7 million
- Total Revenue: $7.1 million
- Total Expenses: $6.2 million
- Total Liabilities: $10.8 million
Staffing: The foundation employs 6-8 staff members.
Rating: The Luzerne Foundation holds a Four-Star rating with a 96% score based on accountability and finance metrics.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $74,484,995 | $67,693,225 | $61,439,723 |
| Revenue | $7,444,003 | $7,103,977 | $20,972,961 |
| Expenses | $6,543,999 | $6,208,645 | $5,708,646 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $1,827,260 | $1,489,828 | $1,558,850 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
520 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
9 open opportunities from The Luzerne Foundation
Greenlight Project Grants
The Luzerne Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Luzerne Foundation Grants
The Luzerne Foundation
Amount
Varies
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Luzerne Foundation: Millennium Circle Fund Grant
The Luzerne Foundation
Amount
Up to US $25,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Patriots Cove Inc ($300,000), Geisinger Health System Foundation ($220,000), Mmi Preparatory School ($205,387).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| PATRIOTS COVE INC Noxen, PA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $300,000 |
| GEISINGER HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION Danville, PA | HEALTH & WELLNESS | $220,000 |
| MMI PREPARATORY SCHOOL Freeland, PA | EDUCATIONAL | $205,387 |
| GREATER WYOMING VALLEY AREA YMCA Wilkesbarre, PA | HEALTH & WELLNESS | $106,260 |
| HUNTS FOR HEALING INC Laceyville, PA | SOCIAL SERVICES | $94,300 |
| LUZERNE COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE Nanticoke, PA | EDUCATIONAL | $91,493 |
| CHRIST FELLOWSHIP CHURCH INC Palm Beach Gardens, FL | FAITH BASED | $90,000 |
| ETHEL WALKER SCHOOL Simsbury, CT | EDUCATIONAL | $84,263 |
| ST LUKE'S UNIVERSITY HEALTH NETWORK Bethlehem, PA | HEALTH & WELLNESS | $83,697 |
| US CHARITABLE GIFT TRUST Indianapolis, IN | PHILANTHROPY | $80,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Key Staff:
- Paul Oswald, Chief Operating Officer
- Lindsay Landis, Community Impact Director
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 IRS filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tara Mugford Wilson | Board Chairperson | 0.1 | — |
| John Dowd | Immediate Past Chair | 0.1 | — |
| Thomas Macneely | Vice Chairman | 0.1 | — |
| Robert Gill | Treasurer | 0.1 | — |
| Rob Neher | Secretary | 0.1 | — |
| Lauren Allen | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Will Beekman | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Shawn Casey | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Layne Crothers | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Debbie Eastwood | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Jamie Flack | Director | 0.1 | — |
| John Henry | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Mary Hirthler | Director | 0.1 | — |
| David Hourigan | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Megan Kennedy | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Reyna Logsdon | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Malorie McLaughlin | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Maureen Metz | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Alexander Sloot | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Madhan Srinivasan | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Brian Stahl | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Kevin Walsh | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Greg Weaver | Director | 0.1 | — |
| Jackie Brozena | Director (Until 06/30/24) | 0.1 | — |
| John Loyack | Director (Until 06/30/24) | 0.1 | — |
| Robert Korjeski | Chief Financial Officer | 3 | $13,900 |
| C David Pedri Esq | President and CEO | 45 | $199,392 |
| Paul J Oswald | Chief Operating Officer | 45 | $88,577 |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation continues to award grants to area nonprofits and initiatives. Recent grant activity includes support for the PA 211 Help Line and participation in collaborative grantmaking efforts such as the Greenlight Project, which awarded $54,232 in grants to support northeastern Pennsylvania communities. The foundation has also awarded $120,000 and $165,000 in grants to area nonprofits in recent grant cycles.
The Luzerne Foundation: HomeThe foundation actively promotes scholarship opportunities, including the NEPA Chapter of AIA Scholarship Fund for architectural students.
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does The Luzerne Foundation fund?
**Mission Statement:** The Luzerne Foundation works to enhance the lives of Luzerne County residents by evaluating and addressing community needs through strategic grantmaking, promoting responsible philanthropy, and connecting donors to causes that matter to them. **Focus Areas:** The foundation supports work across seven vital fields of interest: • Social services • Education and scholarships • Arts and culture • Health and wellness • Youth issues • Historic preservation and the environment •…
How do I apply for a grant from The Luzerne Foundation?
The Luzerne Foundation supports over 360 charitable funds and has awarded more than $160 million in grants to nonprofits and initiatives throughout the region. The foundation offers flexible fund options and provides donor-centric guidance to help donors make effective charitable decisions. The foundation maintains a donor-advised fund structure, allowing donors to direct the distribution or investment of funds. The organization also facilitates the creation of specialized funds, including scho…
Where does The Luzerne Foundation make grants?
The Luzerne Foundation serves all of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, with headquarters in Wilkes-Barre.
What size grants does The Luzerne Foundation award?
In 2024, The Luzerne Foundation awarded 110 grants totaling $3.4M — an average of about $31K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is The Luzerne Foundation's EIN?
The Luzerne Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-2765498. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Luzerne Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.