The Sordoni Family Foundation concentrates its giving in northeastern Pennsylvania higher education and regional civic institutions, with a particular emphasis on scholarships and program support at small private universities and community colleges. It also funds regional policy organizations and health system affiliates, mixing targeted capital/academic program gifts (e.g., architecture and workforce initiatives) with unrestricted general operating support. Repeated multi-year grants to the same local institutions suggest a place-based strategy focused on educational access, workforce development, and regional civic infrastructure.
A distinctive feature of the Sordoni Family Foundation is its repeated support for Northeast Pennsylvania institutions through multi-year scholarship and operating grants. Marywood University appears several times in the recent grants list, including a $175,000 award for School of Architecture support in 2023 and scholarship funding in 2024 and 2025. That pattern is echoed across other regional colleges and civic organizations, suggesting a funder that combines higher-education support with place-based civic investment. The foundation’s recent giving also shows a mix of restricted and unrestricted support. Some awards are tied to specific purposes, such as scholarships, workforce initiatives, or architecture programs, while others are labeled general and unrestricted or general support. Its portfolio includes higher education, community development, public policy, health-related affiliates, and child advocacy organizations, all within a regional frame centered on Northeast Pennsylvania. Several grantees receive support across multiple years, including Lackawanna College, Commonwealth Foundation, and Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School. That repeat pattern points to ongoing relationships rather than one-off awards. The foundation also funds individual financial aid, adding another layer to its support for students and families in the region.
Higher education is a major part of the foundation’s work. Marywood University received $165,000 in 2025 for scholarship support, while Misericordia University received $60,000 in 2023 for scholarships. Alvernia University also received $25,000 in 2023 for the O'Pake Institute for Entrepreneurship. Workforce and institutional capacity show up alongside student aid. Lackawanna College received $50,000 in 2023 for a workforce initiative and additional $50,000 grants in 2024 and 2025 for general and unrestricted support. The foundation also funds civic and public-interest organizations. Commonwealth Foundation received $50,000 in 2023 for unrestricted use, $50,000 in 2024 for general operations, and another $50,000 in 2025 for general support. Health and child protection are present in the recent grants as well. Geisinger Health and Geisinger Health Foundation each received $50,000 in 2023–2024, and Children's Service Center of Wyoming Valley received $25,000 in 2023 for medical assessments and child forensic interviews for victims of abuse.
$490K
$7M
$575K
$568K
Most grants fall between $2K and $21K, with a median of $7K.
25th Percentile
$2K
Median
$7K
75th Percentile
$21K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in PA.
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Concentrated, place-based giving: relatively few large grants with multiple repeat recipients. Mix of earmarked program/capital gifts (scholarships, school support, workforce initiatives) and unrestricted operating support for regional nonprofits and institutions.
Notable grantees: Marywood University, Lackawanna College, Commonwealth Foundation for Public Policy Alternatives, Geisinger Health Foundation / Geisinger Health, Misericordia University
Typical grant size is modest to mid-sized, with a p25 of $2,000, a median of $6,500, and a p75 of $21,250. The recent grants list shows a small number of larger awards alongside many recurring operating and project grants. The foundation appears to favor continued relationships: Marywood University, Lackawanna College, Commonwealth Foundation, and Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School each appear in more than one year. It is a regular funder rather than a DAF, and it also funds individuals. Unsolicited applications are accepted through its general grantmaking programs.
Grant recipients are overwhelmingly in the United States, and the foundation’s giving is centered in Pennsylvania. Scranton appears repeatedly through Marywood University and Lackawanna College, while Wilkes-Barre appears across United Way of Wyoming Valley, The Institute, Greater Wilkes Barre Growth Partnership, and child advocacy organizations. Other Pennsylvania cities in the recent grants list include Harrisburg, Danville, Kingston, Reading, and Pittsburgh. The recent grants data shows 100% of recipient-country grants in the US.
Its active grant programs focus on arts and culture, economic development, education, health and human services, and nature and the environment. Recent grants show those priorities expressed through colleges, public-policy groups, health affiliates, child advocacy organizations, and environmental groups in Northeast Pennsylvania.
Yes. Its general grantmaking programs are listed as accepting unsolicited applications, including operating and project grant requests for organizations serving Northeast Pennsylvania.
Education support often takes the form of scholarships, student aid, and program funding. Recent grants include scholarship awards to Marywood University and Misericordia University, plus program support for a school of architecture and workforce-related support for Lackawanna College.
It shows a recurring pattern. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Marywood University, Lackawanna College, Commonwealth Foundation, and Wyoming Seminary College Preparatory School, with repeat awards ranging from scholarship support to general operating grants.
The typical grant-size distribution is p25 $2,000, median $6,500, and p75 $21,250. That suggests many awards are relatively small, with some larger institutional grants in the recent grant list.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Sordoni Family Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Tax-exempt nonprofit organizations (must submit IRS determination letter dated after 1969 classifying the organization as tax exempt under section 509(a)); must provide organizational information, project description, budget, timetable, evaluation plan, and most recent Form 990.
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Create a free accountDeadlines and eligibility are summarized from public sources and may change — always confirm the details on the funder's official application page before applying.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY - SCHOLARSHIP | SCRANTON, PA | $165,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LACKAWANNA COLLEGE | SCRANTON, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC POLICY ALTERNAT | HARRISBURG, PA | $50,000 | 2025 | General Support |
| WYOMING SEMINARY COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL | KINGSTON, PA | $41,958 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREATER WILKES BARRE GROWTH PARTNERSHIP | WILKESBARRE, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE INSTITUTE | WILKES BARRE, PA | $25,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY | PITTSBURGH, PA | $20,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| PATRIOTS COVE INC | NOXEN, PA | $15,000 | 2025 | One of a kind underwater observation station Fund |
| LUZERNE COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER INC | WILKES BARRE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| CASA OF LUZERNE COUNTY | PLAINS, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | CASA General Fund |
| UNITED WAY OF WYOMING VALLEY | WILKESBARRE, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | The NF Liquid Biopsy program at CHOP |
| THE UNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIES | SCRANTON, PA | $10,000 | 2025 | United Way Community Impact Funding |
| NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST | DALLAS, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | Annual Dinner & Auction Fund |
| PENNSYLVANIA HERITAGE FOUNDATION | HARRISBURG, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | Eckley Miners Village |
| NORTHERN TIER INDUSTRY EDUCATION CONSORTIUM INC | TUNKHANNOCK, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | To Support Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Disadvantaged Students |
| NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST | DALLAS, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HUNTERS SHARING THE HARVEST INC | GREENVILLE, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREATER WYOMING VALLEY AREA YMCA | WILKES BARRE, PA | $5,000 | 2025 | YMCA Child Care Program Expansion Scholarship Fund |
| FOOD DIGNITY PROJECT INC | FORTY FORT, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | The Food Dignity Project |
| LEADERSHIP WILKES-BARRE | WILKES BARRE, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | LNE Scholarship fund and Program Development Fund |
| CANDYS PLACE | FORTY FORT, PA | $2,500 | 2025 | Sponsorship fund of our Fire and Ice Gala which raises funds to keep all of our cancer support services free to all cancer clients and their caregivers |
| NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY | HARVEYS LAKE, PA | $2,000 | 2025 | Young Apprentice Program |
| BACK MOUNTAIN REGIONAL FIRE AND EMS INC | DALLAS, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LUZERNE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WILKES BARRE, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNITE THE WORLD | KINGSTON, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | The A.R.K. Charity Project of Luzerne County |
| FORTY FORT VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY | FORTY FORT, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| HARVEYS LAKE FIRE & AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION | HARVEYS LAKE, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| LEADERSHIP LACKAWANNA | SCRANTON, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Operating Expenses |
| KUNKLE FIRE COMPANY INC | DALLAS, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | General & Unrestricted |
| FINE ARTS FIESTA | WILKES BARRE, PA | $1,000 | 2025 | Arts education fund |
| TRUSTEES OF WILKES-BARRE & WYOMING VALLEY VETERANS | PLAINS TWP, PA | $500 | 2025 | to support VAMC Patriot's Day Golf Tournament |
| THE LUZERNE FOUNDATION | WILKES BARRE, PA | $500 | 2025 | To support the Harveys Lake Firework display |
| MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY - SCHOLARSHIP | SCRANTON, PA | $115,000 | 2024 | Scholarship fund |
| COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FOR PUBLIC POLICY ALTERNAT | HARRISBURG, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | General Operations |
| GEISINGER HEALTH | DANVILLE, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| LACKAWANNA COLLEGE | SCRANTON, PA | $50,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| WYOMING SEMINARY COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL | KINGSTON, PA | $47,578 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE INSTITUTE | WILKES BARRE, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREATER WILKES BARRE GROWTH PARTNERSHIP | WILKESBARRE, PA | $25,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CAMP FREEDOM INC | CARBONDALE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| UNITED WAY OF WYOMING VALLEY | WILKESBARRE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | Poverty to Possibility fund |
| FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYL | WILKES BARRE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE UNITED WAY OF LACKAWANNA AND WAYNE COUNTIES | SCRANTON, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | General Fundraising Support |
| THE CHILDRENS HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA | PHILADELPHIA, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| CASA OF LUZERNE COUNTY | PLAINS, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| LUZERNE COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER INC | WILKES BARRE, PA | $10,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST | DALLAS, PA | $8,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY | WILLOW GROVE, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
| MUHLENBERG COLLEGE | ALLENTOWN, PA | $5,000 | 2024 | General & Unrestricted |
WYOMING SEMINARY COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$41,958General & Unrestricted
GREATER WILKES BARRE GROWTH PARTNERSHIP
$25,000General & Unrestricted
THE INSTITUTE
General & Unrestricted
RUFFED GROUSE SOCIETY
$20,000General & Unrestricted
PATRIOTS COVE INC
$15,000One of a kind underwater observation station Fund
LUZERNE COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
CASA OF LUZERNE COUNTY
$10,000CASA General Fund
The NF Liquid Biopsy program at CHOP
United Way Community Impact Funding
NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST
$5,000Annual Dinner & Auction Fund
PENNSYLVANIA HERITAGE FOUNDATION
$5,000Eckley Miners Village
NORTHERN TIER INDUSTRY EDUCATION CONSORTIUM INC
$5,000To Support Work-Based Learning Opportunities for Disadvantaged Students
NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST
$5,000General & Unrestricted
HUNTERS SHARING THE HARVEST INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
YMCA Child Care Program Expansion Scholarship Fund
FOOD DIGNITY PROJECT INC
$2,500The Food Dignity Project
LEADERSHIP WILKES-BARRE
$2,500LNE Scholarship fund and Program Development Fund
CANDYS PLACE
$2,500Sponsorship fund of our Fire and Ice Gala which raises funds to keep all of our cancer support services free to all cancer clients and their caregivers
NORTHEASTERN PENNSYLVANIA CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY
$2,000Young Apprentice Program
BACK MOUNTAIN REGIONAL FIRE AND EMS INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
LUZERNE COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$1,000General & Unrestricted
UNITE THE WORLD
$1,000The A.R.K. Charity Project of Luzerne County
FORTY FORT VOLUNTEER FIRE COMPANY
$1,000General & Unrestricted
HARVEYS LAKE FIRE & AMBULANCE ASSOCIATION
$1,000General & Unrestricted
LEADERSHIP LACKAWANNA
$1,000Operating Expenses
KUNKLE FIRE COMPANY INC
$1,000General & Unrestricted
FINE ARTS FIESTA
$1,000Arts education fund
TRUSTEES OF WILKES-BARRE & WYOMING VALLEY VETERANS
$500to support VAMC Patriot's Day Golf Tournament
MARYWOOD UNIVERSITY - SCHOLARSHIP
$115,000Scholarship fund
WYOMING SEMINARY COLLEGE PREPARATORY SCHOOL
$47,578General & Unrestricted
THE INSTITUTE
$25,000General & Unrestricted
GREATER WILKES BARRE GROWTH PARTNERSHIP
$25,000General & Unrestricted
CAMP FREEDOM INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
FAMILY SERVICE ASSOCIATION OF NORTHEASTERN PENNSYL
$10,000General & Unrestricted
CASA OF LUZERNE COUNTY
$10,000General & Unrestricted
LUZERNE COUNTY CHILD ADVOCACY CENTER INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
NORTH BRANCH LAND TRUST
$8,000General & Unrestricted
PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY
$5,000General & Unrestricted