The Willary Foundation
The Willary Foundation is a family foundation based in Scranton, Pennsylvania. It supports interesting, creative, and imaginative ideas and projects that benefit communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania, and seeks to foster groups with unique, innovative, or unusual efforts.
The Willary Foundation at a glance
In short: The Willary Foundation gave $549K across 23 grants in 2024 (avg $24K), mostly in Pennsylvania. 61% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $548,990
- -8.5% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 23
- -11.5% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $23,869
- +3.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $9,753,779
- +1.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 61% first-time grantees (14 of 23, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Pennsylvania (92% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Willary Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists the Willary Foundation grant application form as the required form and materials. It directs applicants to see the application form for award restrictions and lists PNC Bank, care of Kenneth Spruill, as the application contact.
- Review Cycle
- April 1 and October 1, as listed on the foundation’s website.
- Deadline
- April 1 and October 1, as listed on the foundation’s website.
- Contact
Application contact: Pnc Bank Co Kenneth Spruill
Mailing address: PO Box 283, Scranton, PA 18501
Phone: (570) 614-0088
Website: https://willary.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Willary Foundation
Who The Willary Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Saint Joseph's Center ($50K). Together the top 10 received $369K.
Grant Size Distribution
107 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 107 (86%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation says it supports projects benefiting communities in Northeastern Pennsylvania. In 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to recipients in Pennsylvania; the remaining shares went to California (5%), New York (1%), Virginia (1%), and Kansas (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 23 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Willary Foundation open to new grantees?
61%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 14 of 23 grantees (61%) were first-time recipients. With only 23 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 4 points. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $31K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 13% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (−17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 89% 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 (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $487K (2020) to $660K (2021). In 2024 it made 23 grants totaling $549K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Saint Joseph's Center Scranton, PA | Children's Learning Center | $50,000 |
| Geisinger Health Foundation Danville, PA | Community Behavioral Health | $50,000 |
| Northeastern Pa Educational Pittston, PA | General Operating | $50,000 |
| Food Dignity Project Kingston, PA | Farm Stands | $47,500 |
| Scranton Area Foundation Scranton, PA | Building for the Future | $35,000 |
| Philharmonic Society of Ne PA Wilkes-Barre, PA | Building Bridges | $30,000 |
| Northeast Regional Cancer Institute Scranton, PA | Community Based Cancer | $30,000 |
| Catherine McAuley Center Scranton, PA | Prevention of Homelessness | $26,000 |
| Nativity Miguel School of Scranton Dunmore, PA | After School Program | $25,000 |
| Mycil Center for Independent Living Scranton, PA | TSC Is Spreading Petals for | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Willary Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation files Form 990-PF as a private foundation.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $9,753,779 | $819,052 | $647,553 | $548,990 | 23 | $566,625 | $746,248 | $635,790 |
| 2023 | $9,577,418 | $835,098 | $698,181 | $599,792 | 26 | $617,133 | $768,925 | $586,803 |
| 2022 | $9,429,201 | $1,023,666 | $673,778 | $564,000 | 19 | $581,863 | $953,357 | $593,132 |
| 2021 | $9,079,674 | $917,293 | $748,185 | $660,183 | 19 | $670,772 | $836,596 | $680,797 |
| 2020 | $8,912,084 | $-6,331 | $579,168 | $486,585 | 20 | — | $118,829 | $580,843 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Willary Foundation reported a distributable amount of $636K for 2024 — 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 describes its work as developing creative and imaginative projects that benefit Northeastern Pennsylvania communities. Its 2024 grants included support for children’s learning, community behavioral health, food access, cancer-related services, homelessness prevention, after-school programming, and community projects.
Grantees’ own missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Northeast Regional Cancer Institute says its mission is to ease the burden of cancer in Northeastern Pennsylvania, focusing on local needs and collaborative solutions. Scranton Area Foundation says it works to enhance quality of life in Northeastern Pennsylvania through endowment management, grantmaking, and charitable resources. Allied Services Foundation says it helps community members overcome challenges and reach their potential through care and services.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded $548,990 through 23 grants. Awards ranged from $3,000 to $50,000, with a median grant of $25,000.
Among its largest 2024 grants were $50,000 each to Saint Joseph’s Center for a children’s learning center, Geisinger Health Foundation for community behavioral health, and Northeastern PA Educational for general operating support. Other notable awards included $47,500 to Food Dignity Project for farm stands, $35,000 to Scranton Area Foundation for “Building for the Future,” and $30,000 each to the Philharmonic Society of NE PA and the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute.
The foundation’s website lists grant application deadlines of April 1 and October 1.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joseph C. Scranton as board chair, Julien Scranton as vice chair, William W. Scranton III as treasurer, S. Caitlin Scranton as secretary, and Elizabeth S. Valosek as trustee. The foundation’s website names Mary L. Scranton and William W. Scranton as founders.
The Willary Foundation is led by Joseph C. Scranton, Board Chair since 2023 (on filings since 2020); none of the 5 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph C. Scranton
Board Chair
Trustee → Board Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth S. Valosek
Trustee
Advisory Committee Member → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julien Scranton
Vice Chair
Advisory Committee Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
S. Caitlin Scranton
Secretary
Advisory Committee Member → Secretary, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William W. Scranton III
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Peter K. Scranton (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Susan Scranton Dawson (2020–2022) — Trustee
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.
Frequently asked questions about The Willary Foundation
How much does The Willary Foundation give each year?
The Willary Foundation gave $549K across 23 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $600K across 26 grants.
What is The Willary Foundation's typical grant size?
The Willary Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $25,000, and its average grant was $23,869, across 23 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Willary Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does The Willary Foundation give grants?
The Willary Foundation gives mostly in Pennsylvania: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Scranton, PA (7 grants) and Wilkes-Barre, PA (3 grants).
Does The Willary Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 22% of The Willary Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (5 of 23) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Willary Foundation's largest grantees?
The Willary Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Saint Joseph's Center ($50,000), Geisinger Health Foundation ($50,000) and Northeastern Pa Educational ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 27% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is The Willary Foundation?
The Willary Foundation reported $9.8M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $567K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $636K (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 The Willary Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its work as developing creative and imaginative projects that benefit Northeastern Pennsylvania communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Willary Foundation?
The 2024 filing lists the Willary Foundation grant application form as the required form and materials. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Willary Foundation's EIN?
The Willary Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7014785. 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Willary Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Willary Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-willary-foundation-morg_1dddcc1a871f4d12ac64bd0791c8f4b1
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_237014785_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Willary Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-willary-foundation-morg_1dddcc1a871f4d12ac64bd0791c8f4b1},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 The Willary 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.
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