Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader
Ann Vinatieri of the Greater Hazleton Historical Society & Museum speaks to members of the Luzerne Foundation and 30 other nonprofits at a forum at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday. Information gained in the forum will assist the Luzerne Foundation in its grant-making endeavors, encourage more collaboration among existing nonprofits and provide current needs-based data to better serve our community. Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader

Ann Vinatieri of the Greater Hazleton Historical Society & Museum speaks to members of the Luzerne Foundation and 30 other nonprofits at a forum at Luzerne County Community College in Nanticoke Thursday. Information gained in the forum will assist the Luzerne Foundation in its grant-making endeavors, encourage more collaboration among existing nonprofits and provide current needs-based data to better serve our community.

NANTICOKE For the second year in a row the Luzerne Foundation held its Nonprofit Forum for a diverse list of organizations throughout the area to tell their stories and find support.

Each of the 32 nonprofits had five minutes to make presentations to board members of the foundation, fund holders, corporate and private foundations and the public who attended the forum Thursday at the Luzerne County Community College Educational Conference Center.

There were no duplicates from the 60 organizations that participated in the first forum last year, said Charles Barber, president and chief executive officer of the Luzerne Foundation.

The presenters had the opportunity to talk about their organizations, their needs and their missions.

“We review the information and may make some grants based on the presentations,” Barber said.

Among them were the NEPA Philharmonic, Geisinger Health System, the Fine Arts Fiesta, Consumer Credit Counseling Services of NEPA and the Medical Oncology Associates Prescription Fund.

The organizations are asked not to request support and instead instructed to use the allotted time to make their cases. “The ask is implied,” Barber said.

The forum is an opportunity for them to make connections with each other and possible benefactors who are learning about an organization for the first time, he said.

“We found from last year’s forum that many of the group got support from areas that they had not enjoyed previously because they had the opportunity to present,” Barber said.

The forum will more than likely become an annual event and limited to once a year, Barber said.

The Luzerne Foundation, whose slogan is, “Here For Good,” assists donors to make strategic investments in the community with their charitable contributions.

Reach Jerry Lynott at 570 991-6120 or on Twitter @TLJerryLynott