The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your organisation is a 501(c)(3) public charity working in Southeastern Massachusetts or parts of Rhode Island, and your work fits its priorities of education (especially early childhood), basic needs, food security, mental health, job development and internships, arts programmes or home ownership, it is worth approaching, particularly if you serve low-income, immigrant or student communities.
- Political and fraternal organisations, individuals, groups without 501(c)(3) status, and organisations located outside its geographic priority area are excluded, so they should not apply.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 fall between $500 and $30,000, and half of its 142 grants to organisations were $2,500 or less, so a request of that order fits; its largest grant was $400,000, so that band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- Apply through the online application with the supporting documents listed in the form instructions; the filing gives no deadlines, so timing is open.
- Repeat recipients received 67% of its grant dollars to organisations, so an existing relationship may help, but the filing does not say how applications are judged, so keep the request modest and tied to its stated priorities.
Overview
The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in Swansea, MA.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Foundation supports local communities in Southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island through financial support to non-profit organisations. Its stated mission is to provide grants in support of expanding home ownership and contributing to quality of life in the communities it serves. Its funding priorities are education, with a focus on early childhood education; basic needs; food security; mental health; job development and internships; and arts programmes focused on education and public access. It gives particular emphasis to low-income, immigrant and student communities. Applicants are qualified 501(c)(3) public charities whose work supports this mission, and its geographic guidelines identify communities where FIRSTFED America Bancorp had business involvement.
Themes
- Home ownership
- Education
- Basic needs
- Food security
- Mental health
- Job development and internships
- Arts programmes
Geographic Focus
Local communities of Southeastern Massachusetts and parts of Rhode Island: Brockton, Fall River, Somerset and 17 more cities.
What They Don't Fund
- Political organizations
- Fraternal organizations
- Individuals
- Organizations that are not classified as a 501 (c) (3) by the IRS
- Organizations located outside of our geographic priority area
- Any programs, organizations or institutions which in policy discriminates or whose interests are not in the best interest of the Foundation, its affiliates, employees or communities served
How to apply
Applicants complete the online application and upload the required supporting documentation indicated in the form instructions.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 67% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 142 grants to organisations were $2,500 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation particularly prioritises low-income, immigrant and student communities.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 33% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 67% of grant dollars went to organisations The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 59 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $3,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Signature Healthcare · Exempt purpose$200,0002024 tax year
- YMCA of Southeastern Massachusetts · Exempt purpose$105,0002024 tax year
- Providence Performing Arts Center · Exempt purpose$75,0002024 tax year
- Sojourner House · Exempt purpose$50,0002024 tax year
- Dominican Sisters of the Presentation · Exempt purpose$50,0002024 tax year
- People Incorporated · Exempt purpose$50,0002024 tax year
- Boys and Girls Club of Fall River · Exempt purpose$50,0002024 tax year
- Bristol County Chamber · Exempt purpose$50,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Stacie C Hess — Corporate Secretary / Executive Director (Started 02/2025)
- Richard W Cederberg — Director
- Katherine Lacoste Surprenant — Director (Started 03/2025)
- John Varao — Director
- Gilbert Oliveira — Director (Started 03/2025)
- Dr Paul Raymond — President / Treasurer / Chairman / Director (Started 01/2025)
- Cecilia R Viveiros — Corporate Secretary / Executive Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $1,040,398 | $686,000 | $23,218,568 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $1,332,921 | $910,762 | $26,899,154 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,235,566 | $852,700 | $32,408,974 | Filing for 2024 tax year |
Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.
Sources
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (508) 235-1368
- stacie@stoicofirstfed.org
- Swansea, MA
- stoicofirstfed.org
Applying to The Robert F. Stoico / FIRSTFED Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (508) 235-1368
- stacie@stoicofirstfed.org
- Swansea, MA
- stoicofirstfed.org