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Hassenfeld Family Foundation

Annual Giving
$10.1M
Grant Range
$1K - $1.3M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $10,052,341 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $60.9 million (2023)
  • Grant Range: $1,190 - $1,309,100
  • Median Grant: $105,000
  • Number of Grants: 41 (2023)
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Rhode Island, with secondary focus on Massachusetts, New York, Illinois, and Israel

Contact Details

Hassenfeld Family Foundation 101 Dyer Street, Suite 401 Providence, RI 02903-3908 Phone: (401) 757-5000

Note: The foundation does not maintain a public website.

Key Leadership:

  • Alan G. Hassenfeld (President, deceased 2024)
  • Ellen Block (Vice President/Treasurer)
  • Susan Block Casdin (Director)
  • Lori Holland (Secretary)

Overview

The Hassenfeld Family Foundation was established in July 1947 by the family behind Hasbro, Inc. With total assets of approximately $61 million and annual giving exceeding $10 million, the foundation focuses on children's health and safety, higher education, global development, and Jewish causes. The foundation prioritizes initiatives related to children and maintains a strong commitment to Rhode Island, with approximately half of its giving staying within the state. Major philanthropic achievements include founding support for Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence, establishment of the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute at Brown University with a $12.5 million gift, and the creation of the Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone. The foundation takes a proactive, relationship-driven approach to grantmaking, relying on personal connections and direct engagement with organizations rather than formal proposal processes.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates through trustee discretion rather than structured grant programs. Recent grants demonstrate the following patterns:

  • Major Institutional Grants: $100,000 - $1,309,100 for multi-year initiatives at universities and hospitals
  • Mid-Range Grants: $25,000 - $100,000 for established programs at educational institutions and health organizations
  • Small Grants: $1,190 - $25,000 for community organizations and Jewish institutions

Grants are awarded on a rolling basis through trustee meetings held periodically throughout the year. Many grantees receive ongoing, multi-year support.

Priority Areas

Children's Health and Welfare:

  • Child health innovation and research
  • Pediatric hospital services
  • Mental health programs for children and families
  • Trauma-informed care for youth affected by violence
  • Addressing health inequities in pregnancy and childhood

Higher Education:

  • Rhode Island universities (Brown University, Bryant University, Salve Regina University, Roger Williams University)
  • Northeastern institutions (Brandeis University, Harvard Kennedy School, University of Pennsylvania)
  • Programs focused on public leadership, child health research, and social impact

Global Development:

  • Youth development programs internationally
  • Children's safety and rights initiatives
  • Educational opportunities in underserved communities

Jewish Causes:

  • Jewish federated giving programs
  • Temples and Jewish community organizations
  • Jewish educational institutions
  • Programs in Israel

What They Don't Fund

While not explicitly documented, the foundation's giving patterns suggest they do not fund:

  • Organizations outside their established focus areas
  • General operating support for organizations without a children or education focus
  • Arts and culture (not evident in recent grants)
  • Environmental causes
  • Animal welfare

Governance and Leadership

Alan G. Hassenfeld (1948-2024) served as President until his passing in 2024. The retired Hasbro Chairman and CEO was a third-generation family member who led the foundation with a distinctive personal philosophy. He stated: "I am doing philanthropy because it is the right thing to do if you are fortunate enough to be able to help other people in need. It is simple – for me, when my heart smiles, that is success."

Hassenfeld's approach prioritized gut feeling over metrics: "I rely on my gut feeling which comes from meeting with people and listening to them" rather than formal grant proposals. He believed that "while money is clearly important, being a catalyst for trying to vision the future and making a difference is what is most important." He emphasized the importance of firsthand experience, stating that his parents "instilled in us the notion that you need to go out and see how other people live to understand their needs as you try to be helpful."

Ellen Hassenfeld Block now serves as Vice President and Treasurer. She continues the family's commitment to holistic, partnership-based philanthropy. Regarding the foundation's approach to the Block Hassenfeld Casdin Collaborative for Family Resilience, she stated: "The genius of this program is that the community and medical center are true partners, each bringing their expertise, from working together on the initial design to making improvements along the way. This kind of real change takes the efforts of so many people—respecting, trusting and supporting each other—and a commitment to the long term."

Susan Block Casdin (Director) represents the third generation of family leadership, serving alongside her mother Ellen Block.

The foundation trustees meet periodically to review funding opportunities and make grant decisions based on relationships, site visits, and personal knowledge of organizations' work.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Hassenfeld Foundation does not have a public application process. According to the foundation's official statements, they "only make contributions to preselected charitable organizations" and do not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

The foundation takes a proactive approach to identifying and supporting organizations, relying on:

  • Trustee knowledge and personal relationships
  • Site visits and direct engagement with organizations
  • Ongoing relationships with established grantees
  • Recommendations from trusted advisors and community leaders

Getting on Their Radar

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited proposals, organizations seeking support may consider:

Institutional Connections: The foundation has strong ties to Brown University, Bryant University, and other Rhode Island educational institutions. Organizations partnering with these institutions or serving on their advisory councils may increase visibility.

Trustee Networks: Ellen Block and Susan Casdin serve on advisory councils at Brown University's Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute. Organizations working in children's health in Rhode Island may encounter trustees through sector events and collaborative initiatives.

Rhode Island Community Presence: Organizations with established track records serving children in Rhode Island have received foundation support. The foundation values seeing organizations' work firsthand and understanding community impact through direct engagement.

University of Chicago Medicine Partnership: The foundation's recent $9.1 million gift to the Block Hassenfeld Casdin Collaborative for Family Resilience demonstrates interest in trauma-informed care models. Organizations with similar community-medical center partnership approaches addressing childhood trauma may align with foundation priorities.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not published. The foundation appears to make grants throughout the year based on trustee meeting schedules rather than fixed deadlines. Many grantees receive multi-year commitments, suggesting that initial funding decisions may lead to ongoing support relationships spanning several years.

Success Rates

Not publicly available. Given that the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, traditional success rate metrics do not apply.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable, as the foundation does not accept formal applications. Organizations that have received support in the past often receive continued funding based on ongoing relationships with trustees.

Application Success Factors

Since the foundation operates through preselected giving rather than competitive applications, alignment and relationship factors are critical:

Children-Focused Mission: All funded organizations demonstrate clear impact on children's health, education, safety, or welfare. The foundation's stated goal is to support "our greatest natural resource—our children."

Rhode Island Connection: Organizations based in or serving Rhode Island communities receive priority. The foundation maintains a strong commitment to its home state, with approximately 50% of giving remaining local.

Partnership and Collaboration Models: The foundation values programs where "the community and medical center are true partners, each bringing their expertise" (Ellen Block). Collaborative, multidisciplinary approaches addressing complex child welfare issues align with foundation values.

Holistic, Long-Term Approaches: The foundation supports initiatives with sustained commitment to systemic change, such as Brown University's Vision 2032 goal to "eliminate health inequities in pregnancy and childhood for Rhode Island families by 2032."

Trauma-Informed Care: Recent major grants support programs addressing childhood trauma from violence, abuse, and adverse community conditions. The Block Hassenfeld Casdin Collaborative exemplifies this priority.

Direct Engagement and Personal Relationships: Alan Hassenfeld's philosophy emphasized meeting people, listening, and experiencing programs firsthand rather than reviewing written proposals. Organizations that facilitate trustee engagement and demonstrate impact through direct experience have stronger alignment.

Jewish Community Connection: The foundation maintains commitment to Jewish causes, federated giving programs, and institutions in Israel, reflecting family heritage and values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • No Public Application Process: Do not submit unsolicited proposals. The foundation preselects all grantees through trustee initiative and existing relationships.

  • Rhode Island Organizations Have Advantage: Geographic proximity and commitment to Rhode Island communities significantly increase alignment with foundation priorities.

  • Children's Health is Core Focus: Programs addressing child health innovation, mental health, trauma care, or health equity align most strongly with current foundation priorities.

  • Multi-Year Relationships Are Common: The foundation provides ongoing support to established grantees. Initial funding often leads to sustained, multi-year partnerships.

  • Relationship-Driven Approach: Personal connections, trustee engagement, and direct program experience matter more than formal proposals. Building authentic relationships within Rhode Island's philanthropic and children's health communities may increase visibility.

  • Partnership Models Appeal: Collaborative initiatives bringing together academic institutions, medical centers, and community organizations align with foundation values and recent major grants.

  • Jewish Organizations Receive Consistent Support: Organizations serving Jewish communities or Israel maintain ongoing relationships with the foundation.

References

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