FundersPennsylvania

Robert H Spitz Foundation

Scranton, PA · EIN 47-2589350. Reported 253 grants totalling $3,583,754 to 140 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$10,000median grant
$3,583,754granted, 2021-2024
140organizations funded
56%of grantees funded again the next year
$17.8Massets, latest filing

Does this foundation accept applications?

Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Robert H Spitz Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $10,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $15,000; the smallest was $1,000 and the largest $187,500. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

$1,000 - $5,000
41 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
74 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
101 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
23 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
12 grants
$100,000 and Up
2 grants

Every organization it funded

This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which the organization received money -- more than one means a real relationship rather than a one-off.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Jewish Community CenterScranton, PA$337,500332023
Indraloka Animal SanctuaryDalton, PA$140,000332024
Scranton Area FoundationScranton, PA$125,000222022
Treatment Court Advocacy Center of Lackawanna CountyClarks Summit, PA$120,000442024
New HytesBranford, CT$100,000222024
Temple Israel of ScrantonScranton, PA$96,057222024
Valhalla Veterans ServicesScranton, PA$90,000332023
Temple IsraelScranton, PA$82,110222022
Outreach Center for Community ResourcesScranton, PA$80,000442024
Scranton Primary Care CenterScranton, PA$75,000222022
The Borough of Dickson CityDickson City, PA$75,000222024
Chabad of the AbingtonsScranton, PA$70,000222022
Jewish Resource Center of the Poconos IncStroudsburg, PA$70,000332024
Jewish Federation of NepaScranton, PA$67,500442024
Jewish Community Center of ScrantonScranton, PA$62,500112024
Discovery Mi PreschoolScranton, PA$50,000222024
Scranton Lackawanna Human Development AgencyScranton, PA$50,000112021
Nepa Pet Fund and RescueScranton, PA$49,000442024
Pawsitively for the AnimalsScranton, PA$47,000442024
Lacawac Sanctuary Environmental Education CenterLake Ariel, PA$46,000442024
North Shore Animal LeaguePort Washington, NY$45,000442024
Adopt a Boxer RescueOlyphant, PA$43,000332024
Scranton Area Community FoundationScranton, PA$41,536222024
Boys & Girls Club of Northeastern PaScranton, PA$41,000442024
Greater Scranton YMCADunmore, PA$40,000332024
United Neighborhood CentersScranton, PA$40,000222022
Valley Youth HouseBethlehem, PA$40,000442024
Women's Resource CenterScranton, PA$39,000442024
St Cats and Dogs of ScrantonScranton, PA$38,000442024
Neighborworks Northeastern PennsylvaniaScranton, PA$37,000222024
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northeastern PaForty Fort, PA$35,000442024
Telespond Senior Day Services IncScranton, PA$32,500222023
The InstituteWilkesbarre, PA$32,000332024
Agency for Community Empowerment of NepaScranton, PA$30,000112024
Catholic Soical Services of the Dicoese of ScrantonScranton, PA$30,000112022
Elan Gardens IncClarks Summit, PA$30,000112024
Fraternite Notre DameScranton, PA$29,000332024
Marywood UniversityScranton, PA$28,000332023
Catherine Mcauley CenterScranton, PA$27,500332023
Lackawanna River Conservation Association IncScranton, PA$27,000222023
Johnson CollegeScranton, PA$25,801442024
Allied Services FoundationClarks Summit, PA$25,000222024
Jewish Family ServicesScranton, PA$25,000222022
JobsfirstnycNew York, NY$25,000112024
Saint Josephs CenterScranton, PA$25,000332024
United Neighborhood Centers of NepaScranton, PA$25,000222024
Jewish Fellowship of Hemlock Farms IncLords Valley, PA$24,000222024
Meals on Wheels of NepaScranton, PA$24,000332024
Dress for SuccessScranton, PA$22,000222022
Trust for Public LandPhiladelphia, PA$22,000222023
Equines for FreedomClarks Summit, PA$20,500332024
Ace of NepaScranton, PA$20,000112023
Commission on Economic OpportunityWilkes Barre, PA$20,000112022
Dress for Success LackawannaScranton, PA$20,000222024
Jewish Family Service of Northeastern PaScranton, PA$20,000222024
Northeast Pa Area Health Education CenterArchbald, PA$20,000112024
Saint Joseph's CenterScranton, PA$20,000112021
Bread Basket of Northeast PennsylvaniaScranton, PA$18,500442024
Griffin Pond Animal ShelterSouth Abington, PA$18,000222023
Nepa InclusivePittston, PA$18,000332024
Patient Engagement Council Dba the Wright Center for Patient and CommunityScranton, PA$18,000222024
Warrior Strong IncScranton, PA$18,000222024
Child Hunger Outreach PartnersTowanda, PA$15,000112023
Junior Achievement of NepaWilkesbarre, PA$15,000112024
Pocono Environmental Education CenterDingmans Ferry, PA$15,000112021
Scranton Animal Shelter Association IncorporationScranton, PA$15,000112021
Skills in Scranton Business Education PartnershipScranton, PA$15,000112023
The Greater Scranton Chamber of CommerceScranton, PA$15,000112024
The Humane Society of Lackawanna Dba Griffin Pond Animal ShelterSouth Abington, PA$15,000112024
The Salvation ArmyPhiladelphia, PA$15,000332024
Wilkes UniversityWilkes Barre, PA$15,000112021
SPCA of Luzerne CountyWilkes Barre, PA$13,000222022
Electric City Steel Drum ProjectScranton, PA$12,000332024
Nativitymiguel School of ScrantonDunmore, PA$12,000222024
Gait TrcMilford, PA$11,000332023
Northeastern Pennsylvania Educational Television AssociationPittston, PA$11,000222024
The Arc of Northeastern PaScranton, PA$11,000332024
Adopt a Single Mother ProjectClarks Summit, PA$10,000112022
Camp FreedomCarbondale, PA$10,000112022
Countryside ConservancyLa Plume, PA$10,000112022
Earth ConservancyAshley, PA$10,000112022
Here for a ReasonScranton, PA$10,000112022
Nepa Youth CenterScranton, PA$10,000112022
Scranton Public LibraryScranton, PA$10,000112023
Scranton Unico ChapterMoscow, PA$10,000222024
Seeds of Northeastern PennsylvaniaHonesdale, PA$10,000112021
True Friends Animal Welfare CenterMontrose, PA$10,000112023
Volunteers of America of Pennsylvania IncWilkes Barre, PA$10,000112021
Delaware Riverkeeper NetworkBristol, PA$9,000112024
The Humane Society of Wyoming County IncFalls, PA$9,000442024
Goodwill Industries of NepaScranton, PA$8,000222023
Maternal and Family Health ServicessScranton, PA$8,000112022
Operation WarmPhiladelphia, PA$8,000222023
The Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of MaryScranton, PA$8,000112024
The Wright Center for Community HealthScranton, PA$8,000112023
Wayne County Community FoundationHonesdale, PA$8,000112024
Family Promise of Monroe CountyScranton, PA$7,500112022
Junior AchievementWilkes Barre, PA$7,500112021
Pennsylvania Environmental CouncilDallas, PA$7,500112022
Nativity Miguel School of ScrantonScranton, PA$7,000112021
Scranton Animal Shelter Association IncTaylor, PA$6,500222024
Keystone MissionScranton, PA$6,000112023
The Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business & IndustryWilkesbarre, PA$6,000112023
Spring Hill FoundationNorth Abington Townshi, PA$5,500112023
American Red CrossScranton, PA$5,000112022
CASA of Lackawanna CountyScranton, PA$5,000112023
Children's Advocacy Center of NepaScranton, PA$5,000112023
Delaware River NetworkBristol, PA$5,000112022
Family Service Assoication of Northeastern PennsylvaniaWilkes Barre, PA$5,000112022
Keystone CollegeLa Plume, PA$5,000112023
Metamorphosis Women's Empowerment InitiativeEast Stroudsburg, PA$5,000112024
National Religious Partnership for the EnvironmentWashington DC, DC$5,000112021
Pennsylvania Outdoor VeteransLehighton, PA$5,000112023
Providence Pregnancy CenterScranton, PA$5,000112024
Quigley's Shelter Pet's IncDunmore, PA$5,000112024
Quigleys Shelter Pets IncScranton, PA$5,000112021
The Arc of NepaScranton, PA$5,000112021
The Wright Medical Center GroupScranton, PA$5,000112022
Vna Hospice & Home Health of Lackawanna CountyOlyphant, PA$5,000112021
Monroe County Meals on Wheels IncStroudsburg, PA$4,500222024
Dinner for KidsEdwardsville, PA$4,000112023
Dunmore Borough CouncilDunmore, PA$4,000112024
Everhart Museum of Natural History Science & ArtScranton, PA$4,000112023
Northern Tier Industry & Education Consortium (ntiec)Tunkhannock, PA$4,000112023
Serving Seniors IncScranton, PA$4,000112024
The Community Intervention Center of Lackawanna CountyScranton, PA$4,000112022
Futures Community Support Services IncTowanda, PA$3,000112023
Gait Equine Assisted ServicesMilford, PA$3,000112024
Girl Scouts in the Heart of PennsylvaniaCamp Hill, PA$3,000112023
Hospice of the Sacred HeartDunmore, PA$3,000112022
Luzerne County Animal Response TeamKingston, PA$3,000112021
Humane Society of LackawannaSouth Abington, PA$2,500112022
Sos Pet RescueRoseto, PA$2,500112024
Unite the WorldKingston, PA$2,500112022
University of ScrantonScranton, PA$2,500112021
Scranton Counseling CenterScranton, PA$2,250112023
Lackawanna Historical SocietyScranton, PA$2,000112021
The Greenhouse ProjectScranton, PA$2,000112023
Jabbs Memorial CleaningFactoryville, PA$1,500112022
Scranton Fire DepartmentScranton, PA$1,000112024

65 of 140 (46%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.

Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 56%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What the money was for

Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 155 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Human Services
35 grants
Animal Welfare
30 grants
Religion
11 grants
Health Care
11 grants
Environment
11 grants
Education
10 grants
Philanthropy & Grantmaking
9 grants
Arts & Culture
6 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
202153$982,125$12,000
202265$819,985$10,000
202370$890,765$8,000
202465$890,879$10,000

Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 95% of this one's giving went to organizations in Pennsylvania. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Pennsylvania
$3.4M
Connecticut
$100K
New York
$70K
District of Columbia
$5K

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Funders that support the same organizations

These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are the strongest available signal that two funders have overlapping priorities, and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.

Scranton Area Foundation Inc60 shared recipientsMoses Taylor Foundation Inc27 shared recipientsAllone Charities26 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund25 shared recipientsThe Bank of America Charitable Foundation Inc21 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc20 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $10,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Pennsylvania.
  3. Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
  4. Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.

Related guides

Foundations funding human services in PennsylvaniaEvery funder in this group, ranked

Where these numbers come from

Everything above is taken from Robert H Spitz Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 612 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA, 18510. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.

EIN 47-2589350 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.