Innovative Impact Grants (up to $25,000)

LOIs for Innovative Impact Grants are accepted and reviewed twice annually. LOIs for the Fall 2021 Innovative Impact Grant cycle are due September 1, 2021. The success of our community is highly dependent on the success of our nonprofit organizations.  The Scranton Area Community Foundation Innovative Impact Grants provide funding support to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations or government entities (including schools), looking to transform innovative ideas into successful initiatives that address the needs of people living in the Lackawanna County region. The Innovative Impact Grants seek to provide resources for a nonprofit or collaboration of nonprofits to make a measurable improvement in the region. These competitive grants are made to those nonprofits that are committed to new, innovative, transformational, and/or collaborative efforts to:
  • Carry out an important goal or address a specific challenge
  • Become more impactful, effective, and sustainable in their work
  • Achieve a greater impact in the community they serve
  • Meet their important missions
The application must meet the following requirements: Impact: Applicants must demonstrate how this program/project will make the community better, what data will be collected in order to measure success, and what goals have been set for the program/project to achieve. Budget: Applicants must supply a detailed program/project budget, which includes the uses and sources of funds. The organization’s budget must also be included. Sustainability: Applicants must demonstrate how the program/project will continue after grant funds are expended and what the plan is to build sustainability for the future. Timeline and Evaluation: Applicants must describe when the desired impact might be realized and which populations will benefit from the program/project. Additionally, applicants need to detail how the program/project will be evaluated both during the course of the program/project, and also following the program/project’s completion. Applicants are also strongly encouraged to establish collaborative partnerships. Innovative Impact Grants will be awarded based on the strength of the idea and the evidence presented for likely successful implementation. The following criteria will be used to evaluate the application:
  • Potential for improvement and impact
  • Potential for growth and sustainability of effort
  • Proven organizational effectiveness and readiness
  • Partnerships or participation in existing collaborations
For organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status, SAF accepts Innovative Impact Grant applications from fiscal sponsors. The fiscal sponsor organization must submit the grant application and, if the grant is approved, becomes the grantee and receives the funds.

Ready to Apply?

Our grant application process is streamlined through our online grant management portal. The grant application process begins with submitting a Letter of Intent (LOI) through the online portal. To submit an LOI, you will need to first create an account in our online grant management portal. All applicants are required to create an account. Note that your LOI/grant application can be saved as a draft, and when you log on again it’s easy to return to that draft, make edits, and submit the application when you’re ready to do so. Scranton Area Community Foundation’s Online Grant Management Portal: Apply for a Grant >