About Luzerne Foundation
The Luzerne Foundation’s recent grantmaking shows a strong pattern of support for education and community services in Luzerne County, with repeated large awards to local institutions and service organizations. One of the clearest examples is Luzerne County Community College, which received $310,806 in 2024 and $91,493 in 2025 for educational purposes. Another recurring recipient is Patriots Cove Inc, awarded $297,000 in 2024 and $300,000 in 2025 for social services. The foundation also backed Mmi Preparatory School with $202,374 in 2023, $162,938 in 2024, and $205,387 in 2025, showing sustained support across multiple years.
Its portfolio extends beyond schools and direct services. Geisinger Health System Foundation received $100,500 in 2023, $151,000 in 2024, and $220,000 in 2025 for health and wellness, while Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA appears in several years with awards tied to health, education, and community development. The mix of grantees suggests a foundation that uses grantmaking to reinforce local institutions, basic services, and youth-serving programs across the county and surrounding region.
What Luzerne Foundation Funds
Education is a major thread in the foundation’s work. Luzerne County Community College was awarded $310,806 in 2024 for educational purposes, and Mmi Preparatory School received $205,387 in 2025 for educational work. The foundation also supported Penn State - Hazleton with $110,000 in 2023 and The Osterhout Free Library with $95,411 in 2023, both linked to education.
Health and wellness is another visible area. Geisinger Health System Foundation received $220,000 in 2025 for health and wellness, and St Luke's University Health Network received $83,697 in 2025 for the same category. Social services also appear prominently, including $300,000 in 2025 to Patriots Cove Inc and $129,000 in 2024 to Hunts for Healing Inc. Faith-based programming is part of the mix as well, with Vernon Baptist Church receiving $180,000 in 2023 and Christ Fellowship Church Inc receiving $90,000 in 2025.
How Luzerne Foundation Gives
Typical grants are modest relative to the largest awards: the p25 is $9,341, the median is $12,500, and the p75 is $27,204. At the same time, the recent grant list includes several six-figure awards, indicating that the foundation also makes larger strategic gifts. Recipients recur across years, including Patriots Cove Inc, Mmi Preparatory School, Geisinger Health System Foundation, Greater Wyoming Valley Area YMCA, and Hunts for Healing Inc. The foundation operates through multiple named funds and grant programs, including general purpose grantmaking, TLF grant cycles, the Nonprofit Forum Grants, Youth Advisory Committee Grants, Greenlight Project Grants, Pasco L. Schiavo Grants, Scholarships, and the Nonprofit Accelerator. Some programs accept unsolicited applications, while others are invitation-based or presentation-based.
