Scranton Area Foundation

Fund administrationthe Scranton Area community Foundation (saf) added twenty four (24) new funds in 2022, including 11 non-endowed funds and 13 endowed funds, bringing the total number of funds to 308. The Foundation distributed over $6 million dollars in hundreds of grants to nonprofit and charitable organizations, and nearly $1 million dollars in scholarships to 236 Area students. The Foundation's board of directors approved an unprecedented $1 million dollar special grants distribution for 2022, doubling what would have been a normal community needs and critical needs grant distribution for the year. Saf also manages two private foundations, the nepa health care Foundation and the robert h. spitz Foundation. The nepa health care Foundation continued its innovative careers in care scholarship program in 2022, helping to address the nursing shortage in northeastern pa. Through this program, the nepa health care Foundation provided scholarships to 61 students in local nursing programs. Due to the success of the first year, the health care Foundation decided to double the amount of scholarship support available for this year's scholarship cycle. The Foundation has also supported a grant program for health care workforce pipeline programs. Total support to provide scholarships, help further expand and develop the workforce pipeline and other related issues impacting the regional nursing workforce will exceed $1.7 million dollars through this multi-year commitment.the robert h. spitz Foundation distributed over $760,000 in grant funding to organizations across our region in 2022, focusing on breaking the cycle of poverty, removing economic barriers and encouraging independence through safe, affordable housing and education. Priorities also included veterans' programs, animal welfare and support for jewish culture, heritage and community as well as environmental programs and projects.community initiatives the Scranton Area community Foundation leads several community initiatives, making a significant difference in the lives of people and animals across northeast Pennsylvania. Nepa thrives - this year our workforce initiative, nepa thrives, further defined and strengthened its focus on northeastern Pennsylvania's workforce challenges, in order to create a robust and growing regional economy where all individuals, families and employers thrive. This is guided by a regional steering committee that includes funders, employers, and representatives from government and education. In 2022, nepa thrives hired a project manager who began leading a mapping project to help identify the assets, needs and employment barriers in lackawanna and luzerne counties. The Foundation was also chosen to host the northeastern Pennsylvania workforce leadership academy, a fellowship program designed to support leaders in workforce development committed to the advancement of the local workforce ecosystem. Saf was one of only eight organizations across the country selected to deliver an academy in partnership with the aspen institute. The academy will run from march through december 2023.nepa moves - comprising over 90 regional stakeholders, this initiative formed in 2017 to address regional transportation concerns and continues to focus on equitable transportation. Nepa moves has focused on the cities of Scranton, pittston and wilkes-barre to identify options to better connect the 3 major cities utilizing american rescue plan act and coronavirus aid, relief, and economic security act funding. A strategic plan is being developed, to be unveiled in 2023. This plan will lead the initiative for the next 3+ years.women in philanthropy (wip) - wip is a collective philanthropy model that brings together community-minded individuals working together to create systemic, sustainable change in the lives of disadvantaged women and children in the lackawanna county community. There are several initiatives that wip focuses on, including: steam (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) education, health and wellness initiatives, small business development, and financial well-being and economic education. Wip's more recent focus areas include affordable childcare, affordable housing and civic engagement and advocacy. In 2022, wip commissioned a childcare study in partnership with the agency for community empowerment and public health management corporation to understand the obstacles women and families face today in northeastern pa in attaining quality, affordable childcare. Wip also worked with the city of Scranton to determine how to most effectively use american recovery plan act dollars specifically set aside for childcare. In addition, the Foundation supported the development of a wip led grassroots effort, to enhance voter education and registration and hosted a civic engagement summit which promoted the development of leadership and advocacy skills across the region as well as the engagement of youth in civic education and civic leadership.nepa animal welfare collaborative - established in 2019, the nepa animal welfare collaborative is a collective of over 40 animal shelters, rescues, advocates, and sanctuaries in the region that are interested in coming together to advance various causes in animal welfare and to increase the collective resources available to these agencies. Activities of the collaborative include education, professional development, fundraising and other practices that move the goals of the collaborative forward to ensure animals in northeast Pennsylvania live a life free from abuse and neglect. In 2022, the collaborative hosted a nepa pet expo and animal welfare summit which drew hundreds of people to learn about the many animal care organizations in our Area, meet adoptable animals, and to see presentations on topics such as pet first aid. In addition, the nepa rescue vet, supported by the collaborative, started to address the severe veterinary shortage in nepa by offering low-cost appointments for animals in participating shelters, rescues and sanctuaries.nepa gives - a regional giving day that raises awareness of the critical work being carried out by nonprofit organizations across the region, the third annual nepa gives raised over $1 million to benefit 216 local charitable causes. Donations were enhanced with bonus funds raised by saf and its partners. Center for community leadership and nonprofit excellence - saf provides funding to help local nonprofit organizations manage the projects and programs that enhance the quality of life in northeastern pa. In addition to providing funding, saf helps to maximize nonprofit organizations' ability to meet their critical missions by providing access to programs, training, and related technical assistance. In 2022, the center hosted 14 trainings and workshops for hundreds of nonprofit leaders and provided 12 capacity building grants to help build the infrastructure and operational support for local charitable organizations.diversity, equity and inclusion (dei) - in 2022 saf hosted four regional roundtable discussions on issues specifically surrounding dei in our community. About 200 community leaders in northeast pa participated in the discussions. Saf staff are compiling information from these discussions for a report that we hope will act as a resource and blueprint for organizations looking to create or continue community-driven solutions, and for funders looking for points of entry.