As I step into the role of Board Chair of the Scranton Area Community Foundation, I do so with deep appreciation for this community and respect for the responsibility entrusted to our Board.

The past year has brought real challenges across Northeastern Pennsylvania. Rising costs, increased demand for services, and ongoing uncertainty have placed added strain on individuals, families, and the charitable organizations that serve them.

In moments like these, the role of a community foundation is both clear and complex: responding to urgent needs today while stewarding resources to serve this region for generations to come.

Over the past year, the Scranton Area Community Foundation has taken a thoughtful and intentional approach to meeting this moment. After careful consideration, we made the deliberate decision to deploy significantly more grant funding for 2026 than in a typical year—responding to heightened needs while remaining mindful of our long-term fiduciary responsibility. This decision was informed by insight from our nonprofit partners and grounded in a shared commitment to responsive philanthropy.

That intentionality began last summer, when the Foundation’s Distribution (Grantmaking) Committee expanded our definition of critical needs to better reflect current realities, including emergency operational support, coverage of unforeseen budget gaps, and bridge funding for sudden revenue shortfalls.

As we move into 2026, nonprofits across Lackawanna County continue to face funding uncertainty and increased demand. To ensure we continue to meet the moment, the Foundation is actively engaging nonprofit partners through a Letter of Inquiry process—inviting organizations to share candidly what they are experiencing. This listening effort will help guide how future grant opportunities are structured, ensuring support is timely and effective.

Over the past year, the Foundation has been evaluating how we use our assets to support community stability and resilience. Through mission-aligned investments—such as short-term bridge loans and other flexible capital for nonprofit organizations in our community —we are helping organizations mitigate essential operational challenges while preserving the Foundation’s long-term strength.

Together, these efforts—combined with the Board’s decision to exceed our typical level of grant funding in 2026—reflect our deep dedication to this community and the organizations that serve it.

The Foundation also continues to play an active convening role across Northeastern Pennsylvania, including launching the NEPA Workforce Funders Collaborative, partnering with the City of Scranton to strengthen food security, staying engaged in ongoing developments affecting Scranton/Wilkes-Barre hospitals, and advancing Anchors for Equity and place-based strategies focused on removing barriers to economic mobility.

None of this work happens in isolation. It is made possible by the generosity of our donors, the commitment of our nonprofit partners, and the dedication of the Foundation leadership and staff, who bring expertise and care to everything they do. On behalf of the Board of Governors, thank you for the trust you place in the Scranton Area Community Foundation.

As we look ahead, we will continue to lead with intention—listening closely, acting responsibly, and staying grounded in our shared commitment to the well-being of this region.

With Gratitude,