Simon W. Wardwell Foundation
At a glance
This funder does not accept unsolicited applications. The foundation chooses the organisations it funds itself.
Key takeaways
- The foundation funds hospitals and healthcare, education (particularly early childhood and kindergarten), senior residences and services for seniors, and public services, within Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln and Cumberland.
- Grants are by invitation only, so rather than sending an unsolicited request, a non-profit located in one of those communities and providing services in one of the four focus areas should contact the foundation for more information first.
- About 8 in 10 of its 41 grants to organisations across its two most recent filings fall between $40,000 and $100,000, with a median of $50,000, so a request in that region is typical, although the largest grant was $150,000.
- In its latest filing, 54% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in the filing before, so the foundation leans towards existing relationships and a first approach is best treated as an introduction.
- Organisations outside those four communities, or working outside its four focus areas, should not expect to be invited.
Overview
Simon W. Wardwell Foundation is a US private foundation based in Cranston, RI.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation supports hospitals and healthcare, education—particularly early childhood / kindergarten—senior residences and services for seniors, and public services. Its geographic focus is the community where the founder’s employees lived: Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln and Cumberland. It welcomes non-profit organisations in that area that provide services in one of its four focus areas to contact it for more information, while grants are by invitation only. The foundation says it honours Mr. Wardwell’s intentions as to how the funds are distributed.
Themes
- Hospitals & healthcare
- Education
- Senior services
- Public services
Geographic Focus
Pawtucket; Central Falls; Lincoln; Cumberland.
How to apply
Grants are by invitation only. Non-profit organisations located in the geographic area and providing services in one of the four focus areas may contact the foundation for more information.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 54% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 41 grants to organisations were $50,000 or less.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2023–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 9% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 54% of grant dollars went to organisations Simon W. Wardwell Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- 6% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 21 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,058 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Boys and Girls Club of Pawtucket · General support$117,0002024 tax year
- YMCA of Pawtucket · General support$106,2332024 tax year
- Nowell Academy · General support$100,0002024 tax year
- Little Sisters of the Poor · General support$87,0002024 tax year
- Learning Community Charter School · General support$70,0002024 tax year
- San Miguel School of Providence · General support$70,0002024 tax year
- Winners Circle XR Academy · General support$64,4162024 tax year
- Progresso Latino · General support$60,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Kathleen Orovitz — Director
- Jessica Waters — Director
- Maureen Sheridan — Executive Director
- David E Farnum — Secretary
- John J Partridge — Vice President
- Alfred P Degen — President & Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
2 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 tax year | $1,581,547 | $1,237,644 | $27,443,711 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $1,686,387 | $1,310,682 | $29,257,189 | 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 Simon W. Wardwell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cranston, RI
- wardwellfoundation.com
Applying to Simon W. Wardwell Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- Cranston, RI
- wardwellfoundation.com