Critical Needs Grants

The Critical Needs Grants by the Scranton Area Community Foundation provide essential funding for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations addressing urgent community needs in Lackawanna County. These grants are intended for immediate deployment to support emergency operational costs, bridge funding for unexpected revenue shortfalls, and essential infrastructure needs. Organizations are encouraged to submit Letters of Intent at any time, ensuring timely assistance for pressing challenges that affect local residents.

NOTE: Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Critical Needs Grants will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year.
Scranton Area Community Foundation
The Scranton Area Community Foundation makes grants to foster good ideas that have the potential to strengthen our community and enrich the lives of the people of Scranton, Lackawanna County, and Northeastern Pennsylvania. The Foundation responds to community needs and opportunities with grants in such diverse fields as health, education, arts, environment, human services, and civic affairs.
Organizations that serve the needs of residents in Lackawanna County are encouraged to keep the Foundation informed of their programs and services and to share their ideas about addressing community needs and opportunities.
Critical Needs Grants will be made for emergencies or pressing, unanticipated needs to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. Letters of Intent (LOIs) for Critical Needs Grants will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis throughout the year. These grants are intended to be quickly deployed where and when needed.
To ensure that funding is prioritized for the most urgent cases, applicants requesting support for budget shortfalls will be asked to provide documentation of confirmed or enacted funding reductions (e.g., award letters, official notifications, or budget amendments). Support for anticipated shortfalls may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but may not be prioritized.
Resources needed to fill in a gap that would otherwise cause an interruption in the delivery of basic necessities or critical programs. This includes, but is not limited to, gaps caused by:

• Health-related incidentsNatural/Environmental disastersEquipment or technical failureEmergency infrastructure or property repairs

To ensure that funding is prioritized for the most urgent cases, applicants requesting support for budget shortfalls will be asked to provide documentation of confirmed or enacted funding reductions (e.g., award letters, official notifications, or budget amendments). Support for anticipated shortfalls may be considered on a case-by-case basis, but may not be prioritized.

Eligibility

Critical Needs grants in 2026 will be used to assist 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in responding to very timely, unbudgeted, and/or unexpected needs within a 6-8 week timeframe from the time of submission.Grants are awarded to registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that help to enhance the quality of life in Lackawanna County.Grant applications are evaluated according to specific criteria including community impact, organizational capability, and project feasibility and sustainability.Eligible requests may now include:Emergency operational support during financial crisesBridge funding for sudden and unexpected revenue shortfallsBudget gaps due to unforeseen reductions in expected funding