Murray Family Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $2.45M (2023)
Success Rate: Not publicly available
Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
Grant Range: Varies (known grants from $50,000 to $500,000+)
Geographic Focus: Southern New England, particularly Rhode Island
Total Assets: $34.3M (2023)

Contact Details

Address: 10 Weybosset St Ste 302b, Providence, RI 02903-2831

Phone: 401-444-0818

President & Treasurer: Paula McNamara

Note: This is a private family foundation that does not have a public website or published application guidelines.

Overview

The Murray Family Charitable Foundation was established in 1997 by Terrence and Suzanne Murray to honor Rhode Island people and institutions. Terrence Murray served as longtime chairman and CEO of Fleet Financial Group (later FleetBoston Financial), one of New England's largest banking institutions. For over 25 years, the foundation has supported education, healthcare, and the arts in Southern New England. With assets of $34.3 million and annual charitable disbursements of $2.45 million (2023), the foundation operates as a private family foundation with family members serving as directors. Suzanne Murray passed away in November 2024 after decades of philanthropic leadership in Rhode Island. The foundation is now led by Paula McNamara (daughter of the founders), who serves as President alongside fellow directors including Terrence Murray, Colleen M. Coggins, Megan Craigan, and Christopher D. Murray.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with published guidelines. Grant-making appears to be directed by the family's board and focuses on organizations with which the family has established relationships. Known grants include:

$500,000 matching grant to Narragansett's Maury Loontjens Memorial Library (2019) for relocation to the Belmont building
Major grant to Bradley Hospital for the Murray Family Foundation Splash Park (2022)
$50,000 annual prize through the Murray Family Prize for Community Enrichment (established 2017 at Rhode Island Foundation)

Priority Areas

Based on the founders' stated focus and documented grants, the foundation prioritizes:

Education:

Girls' education and empowerment (founding support for Sophia Academy, a middle school for girls from low-income families)
Community-based educational initiatives
Youth development programs

Healthcare:

Pediatric healthcare (Bradley Hospital)
Eye and ear health (Massachusetts Eye & Ear Hospital - Suzanne Murray served as trustee)
Healthcare access for underserved populations

Arts & Culture:

Libraries and community cultural institutions
Arts programs serving Rhode Island communities

Human Services:

Organizations supporting Rhode Island residents in need
Community enrichment initiatives
Programs serving vulnerable populations, particularly children and families

What They Don't Fund

As a private family foundation without public guidelines, specific exclusions are not documented. However, the foundation's giving pattern suggests a focus on established Rhode Island institutions rather than:

Organizations outside Southern New England
National organizations without strong Rhode Island connections
First-time grant seekers without existing relationships

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors (2023)

All directors receive compensation of $22,500 annually:

Paula McNamara - President & Treasurer (daughter of founders)
Terrence Murray - Director (co-founder)
Colleen M. Coggins - Director (family member)
Megan Craigan - Director (family member)
Christopher D. Murray - Director (family member)

Founder Legacy

Terrence Murray joined Industrial National Bank in 1962 and became CEO in 1982. He transformed the institution into Fleet Financial Group through strategic acquisitions across New England, growing market capitalization from $250 million to $48 billion by his 2003 retirement. He has been deeply committed to Rhode Island's economic and community development.

Suzanne Y. Murray (1940-2024) was especially focused on young women's education and assisted in founding Sophia Academy. She served on Sophia's board for 14 years and was named to their Athena Society. She also served on the boards of United Way of Rhode Island, Dorcas Place, and as a Trustee of Massachusetts Eye & Ear Hospital.

Foundation Philosophy

Paula McNamara articulated the family's philanthropic values: "Lisa's tireless focus on ensuring young people in crisis have the supports to lead fulfilling lives makes her a remarkable example for others to emulate." This reflects the foundation's commitment to supporting individuals facing hardship and enabling them to achieve fulfilling futures.

Regarding the Bradley Hospital splash park, Paula McNamara stated: "If there's anything kids need at this point in our healthcare history, it's some stress release and a chance to just be kids."

Terrence Murray, regarding the Narragansett library grant: "Narragansett is our home and we are committed to supporting our community by investing in a modern new location for the wonderful Maury Loontjens Memorial Library."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Murray Family Charitable Foundation does not have a public application process. This is a private family foundation that makes grants through trustee discretion and pre-existing relationships with Rhode Island institutions. Based on their Form 990 filing, the foundation made grants to a limited number of organizations in 2023, suggesting a highly selective, invitation-based approach.

The foundation's charitable disbursements represent 86.5% of annual expenses, indicating active grant-making, but these grants appear to be initiated by the board rather than through unsolicited proposals.

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations can position themselves strategically:

Through the Murray Family Prize: The foundation established the Murray Family Prize for Community Enrichment at the Rhode Island Foundation in 2017. This $50,000 unrestricted prize recognizes exceptional community leadership. Past recipients have included leaders from education, housing, healthcare, and social services sectors. Recognition through this prize may indicate alignment with the foundation's values.

Board Connections: Suzanne Murray served on multiple Rhode Island nonprofit boards including Sophia Academy (14 years), United Way of Rhode Island, Dorcas Place, and Massachusetts Eye & Ear Hospital. These board connections historically led to foundation support. Current board members may have similar relationships with Rhode Island organizations.

Narragansett Community: The Murray family considers Narragansett their home. Organizations serving this community or demonstrating strong local roots may have natural alignment with the foundation's mission.

Decision Timeline

Not publicly disclosed. As a private family foundation with board meetings at the discretion of family members, there is no published grant cycle or decision timeline.

Success Rates

Not applicable - the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - the foundation does not have a formal application process.

Application Success Factors

Since this foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than open applications, success factors differ from traditional grant-making:

Relationship-Based Giving: The foundation's documented grants suggest long-term relationships precede funding. Suzanne Murray's 14-year board service at Sophia Academy exemplifies this approach - the foundation supported an organization where the founder was deeply personally involved.

Community Impact in Rhode Island: The foundation's mission explicitly honors "Rhode Island people and institutions." Terrence Murray emphasized "Narragansett is our home" when announcing the library grant. Organizations demonstrating deep Rhode Island roots and community impact align with this mission.

Focus on Children and Youth: Multiple grants (Sophia Academy, Bradley Hospital splash park, library matching grant) benefit young people. Paula McNamara's statements emphasize helping "young people in crisis have the supports to lead fulfilling lives" and ensuring "kids... get some stress release and a chance to just be kids."

Capital and Capacity-Building Support: The foundation has made substantial grants for capital projects (library relocation, hospital splash park) rather than only operating support. They appear willing to make transformational investments in established institutions.

Matching Grant Structure: The $500,000 Narragansett library grant was structured as a 1:1 match, suggesting the foundation values community buy-in and leveraging their investment to generate additional support.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

This foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals - building a relationship through board connections or community engagement is essential before any funding consideration
Rhode Island roots matter deeply - the foundation explicitly honors Rhode Island institutions and emphasizes local community commitment
Multi-year board service often precedes funding - Suzanne Murray served 14 years on Sophia Academy's board; cultivating these relationships takes significant time
Children and youth are a priority - particularly programs addressing education, healthcare, and opportunities for young people facing challenges
The foundation makes substantial gifts - documented grants range from $50,000 to $500,000, suggesting they prefer fewer, larger investments over numerous small grants
Capital projects receive support - the foundation has funded transformational infrastructure improvements for established institutions
Family leadership continues - Paula McNamara leads the foundation following her mother's 2024 passing, ensuring continuity of the family's philanthropic vision

References

Information accessed December 2025