Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $17,161,518 (2023)
• Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
• Decision Time: Not publicly disclosed
• Grant Range: $5,330 - $10,902,344
• Geographic Focus: New England (RI, MA, CT, ME, NH, VT), Mid-Atlantic (NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD)

Contact Details

Website: https://about.oceanstatejoblot.com/osjl-charitable-foundation/

Application Portal: https://about.oceanstatejoblot.com/osjl-charitable-foundation/application-for-assistance/

Location: 375 Commerce Park Road, North Kingstown, RI 02852

Overview

Founded in 2004, the Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that collaborates with local partners to support charitable causes in communities where Ocean State Job Lot stores are located. With assets of approximately $5.2 million and annual giving of over $17 million (2023), the foundation focuses on food insecurity, homelessness, veterans and military families, child welfare, animal rescue, and healthcare services. A distinguishing feature of the foundation is that 100% of every dollar raised goes directly to helping those in need, as all operational, administrative, and overhead expenses are covered by Ocean State Job Lot. Since 2013, the foundation has provided the equivalent of over 100 million meals through its Three Square Meals program. In 2024, the foundation earned a Three-Star rating (86%) from Charity Navigator with a remarkable program expense ratio of 99.73%.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates multiple grant streams and programs:

Direct Charitable Grants: $5,330 - $10,902,344 per grant

• Rolling application process through online portal
• Both cash/gift card and in-kind product donations available
• 53 awards made in 2023

Three Square Meals: Food insecurity program

• Supports local food pantries, churches, and regional food banks
• Over 100 million meals provided since 2013

Buy-Give-Get: Customer partnership programs

• Coats for veterans and military families (63,000 coats donated in 2023/2024)
• Backpacks for children (200,000+ donated since inception)
• Bikes for children (nearly 3,000 donated across region)
• Toys (275,000 donated in 2024)

Building Brighter Futures: Children's support program

• Raised over $1 million since 2022
• Supports underserved children facing hardship

To The Rescue: Animal welfare program

• Over 350 animal welfare organizations supported
• In-kind donations and grants

Additional Programs:

• Feed for Free: Food insecurity relief
• Crisis and Natural Disaster Relief: Emergency response
• Helping Hands for Seniors: Senior center support
• Sow and Grow: Garden product donations for schools, libraries, community gardens
• Close To Our Heart: Local community support driven by store associates

Priority Areas

Primary Focus:

• Food insecurity and hunger relief
• Veterans and military family support
• Healthcare services for underserved populations
• Community support initiatives

Additional Areas:

• Child welfare
• Animal rescue and welfare
• Disaster relief (local and international)
• Senior support services
• Educational support

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly stated, the foundation's eligibility requirements indicate they:

• Only support organizations in their 11-state geographic area
• Require alignment with one of their four core focus areas (food insecurity, veterans/military, healthcare, community support)
• Require 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Alan Pearlman, President
• Marc Pearlman, Vice President/Director
• Steven Aronow, Secretary/Director
• John Conforti, Treasurer/Director
• Richard Portno, Director

Executive Leadership:

• David Sarlitto, Executive Director and Vice President of Corporate Giving

All board members and key personnel serve with $0 compensation according to 990 filings.

Quote from Leadership:

David Sarlitto on the foundation's mission: "Children in our country shouldn't be facing food insecurity, inaccessibility to healthcare, and other basic necessities, but that is the reality today."

On the spirit of giving: "Our charitable efforts highlight the incredible spirit of generosity within our community."

On educational equity: "A big factor in how successful kids are in school is whether they have access to the right tools."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The foundation accepts applications through an online portal with a two-stage screening process:

Stage 1: Eligibility Survey (3 questions)

• Confirms geographic location within service area
• Verifies alignment with foundation priorities
• Determines basic organizational eligibility

Stage 2: Detailed Application Form If eligible after initial screening, applicants complete:

• Organization name and address
• Contact information
• Tax-exempt status verification
• 501(c)(3) documentation
• Requested donation type (cash/gift card or in-kind product)
• Brief project description

Important Notes:

• Not all organizations that meet basic requirements will receive assistance
• Responses are sent via email
• The foundation prioritizes programs that align with their focus areas and offer opportunities for meaningful impact

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly disclosed. The foundation appears to operate on a rolling basis for evaluating applications.

Success Rates

Grant activity varies by year:

• 2023: 53 awards
• 2022: 42 awards
• 2021: 133 awards

Specific application-to-award ratios are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

Organizations whose initial answers don't align with foundation requirements can return and reapply if circumstances change, suggesting unsuccessful applicants can reapply when their situation or programs evolve.

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's documented priorities and patterns:

Strong Alignment with Core Mission: The foundation emphasizes partnership with local organizations in store communities. Applications that demonstrate clear alignment with food insecurity, veterans/military support, healthcare services, or community support are prioritized.

Geographic Connection: Organizations must be located in one of the 11 eligible states (CT, DE, ME, MD, MA, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT) and ideally in communities where Ocean State Job Lot stores operate.

Demonstrated Community Impact: The foundation assesses community needs in carrying out its efforts. David Sarlitto notes, "It's an honor and a privilege to be part of what they're doing," suggesting they value organizations doing meaningful on-the-ground work.

Flexibility on Donation Type: The foundation offers both cash/gift cards and in-kind product donations. Organizations should consider which type of support would most benefit their programs.

Partnership Approach: The foundation views grant recipients as partners rather than simply recipients. Their language consistently emphasizes "collaboration" and "partnering with customers" to support causes.

Proven Track Record: Organizations like Community Renewal Team (CRT) in Hartford, CT, which received the foundation's Partnership Award in 2022, are described as "long-standing community partners," suggesting multi-year relationships are valued.

Focus on Basic Needs: The foundation's statement that "children in our country shouldn't be facing food insecurity, inaccessibility to healthcare, and other basic necessities" indicates they prioritize fundamental human needs over supplementary programs.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• 100% of donations go to programs: The corporate parent covers all overhead, making this an efficient funding source and a compelling story for applications
• Consider in-kind donations: The foundation provides both monetary grants and product donations; evaluate which would benefit your organization more
• Geographic eligibility is strict: Confirm your organization is in one of the 11 eligible states before applying
• Align with one of four core areas: Food insecurity, veterans/military families, healthcare services, or community support are the key priorities
• Partnership potential: Long-standing relationships are valued; successful grants may lead to multi-year support
• Wide grant range: Awards from $5,330 to over $10 million show flexibility in supporting organizations of various sizes
• Customer engagement programs: Organizations that can participate in Buy-Give-Get style programs may have additional opportunities beyond direct grants

References

• Ocean State Job Lot Charitable Foundation official website: https://about.oceanstatejoblot.com/osjl-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Application for Assistance page: https://about.oceanstatejoblot.com/osjl-charitable-foundation/application-for-assistance/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Form 990 filings: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/200959438 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Charity Navigator Rating: https://www.charitynavigator.org/ein/200959438 (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Instrumentl 990 Report: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/ocean-state-job-lot-charitable-foundation (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Cause IQ profile: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/ocean-state-job-lot-charitable-foundation,200959438/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• Providence Business News coverage: https://pbn.com/tag/ocean-state-job-lot-charitable-foundation/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)
• OSJL News Charitable Archives: https://news.oceanstatejoblot.com/category/press-releases/charitable/ (Accessed January 16, 2026)