The Norman And Rosalie Fain Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,528,667
• Success Rate: Not publicly available
• Decision Time: Not publicly available
• Grant Range: $1,500 - $250,000
• Geographic Focus: Rhode Island (primary), Georgia and Massachusetts (secondary)

Contact Details

Address: 505 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861 Phone: Not publicly available Email: Not publicly available Website: No public website

Overview

The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1967 with current assets of $26.7 million. The foundation annually distributes approximately $1.5 million through 38-40 grants per year to nonprofit organizations, primarily in Rhode Island, Georgia, and Massachusetts. Founded by Rhode Island business leader Norman M. Fain and his wife Rosalie, the foundation continues their philanthropic legacy with a focus on education, human services, and philanthropic initiatives. The foundation has made notable contributions including a $1 million gift to establish the Norman M. Fain Hillel Center at the University of Rhode Island in 2008.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation provides general operating and program support grants ranging from $1,500 to $250,000, with occasional major gifts up to $1 million for significant capital projects.

Priority Areas

• Education (including tuition assistance for music school students, scholarship funds, university support)
• Human Services (social service organizations)
• Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking
• Overall mission support for aligned organizations
• Link Up Victoria's Dream Project

What They Don't Fund

No explicit exclusions are publicly documented, though giving history suggests focus on established 501(c)(3) organizations in their geographic regions.

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is managed by a board of trustees. Norman M. Fain, the co-founder, was a University of Rhode Island alumnus (1936) who received an Honorary Doctor of Business degree from URI in 1967. He served on the Rhode Island Foundation board from 1972-1987 and was a prominent Rhode Island business leader and philanthropist. Specific current trustee names are not publicly available but are documented in the foundation's Form 990-PF filings.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process. As a private family foundation, grants are typically made at trustee discretion to organizations with which the foundation has established relationships. Organizations interested in funding should contact the foundation directly at their Pawtucket, Rhode Island address to inquire about potential funding opportunities.

Getting on Their Radar

Based on their giving history, the foundation appears to identify beneficiaries through existing relationships and trustee networks within the Rhode Island philanthropic community. Organizations can review the foundation's Form 990-PF filings (filed most recently on November 4, 2025) to identify patterns in their grantmaking and determine alignment with current funding priorities.

Decision Timeline

No specific timeline information is publicly available. The foundation files its Form 990-PF annually, typically in October or November.

Success Rates

Not publicly available

Reapplication Policy

No public information available regarding reapplication policies

Application Success Factors

Based on the foundation's giving history from Form 990-PF filings, successful grant recipients typically demonstrate:

• Strong alignment with education or human services missions
• Presence in Rhode Island, Georgia, or Massachusetts
• Established track record as recognized 501(c)(3) organizations
• Projects that create lasting community impact, as evidenced by their major gift for the URI Hillel Center
• Focus on direct service delivery rather than advocacy or research

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The foundation makes consistent annual grants (38-40 per year) with reliable funding levels around $1.5 million annually
• Geographic location in Rhode Island provides the strongest alignment for potential funding
• Education-focused organizations, particularly those supporting student access and success, align well with foundation priorities
• As a private family foundation without public guidelines, relationship building and direct contact are essential for funding consideration
• Review Form 990-PF filings to understand recent grant recipients and identify patterns in their giving
• The foundation has capacity for both small operational grants ($1,500+) and major capital gifts (up to $1 million)
• Consider reaching out directly to the foundation office in Pawtucket to inquire about funding opportunities

References

• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation (EIN: 05-6022655). Accessed February 26, 2026. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/56022655
• Cause IQ - The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation Profile. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/the-norman-and-rosalie-fain-family-foundation,056022655/
• GuideStar Profile - The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation (EIN: 05-6022655). Accessed February 26, 2026. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/05-6022655
• Candid Foundation Directory - Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://fconline.foundationcenter.org/fdo-grantmaker-profile?key=FAIN003
• Instrumentl 990 Report - The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/the-norman-and-rosalie-fain-family-foundation
• University of Rhode Island News - "Family of Leading Alumnus Donates $1 Million to the URI Hillel Foundation" (April 2008). Accessed February 26, 2026. https://www.uri.edu/news/2008/04/family-of-leading-alumnus-donates-1-million-to-the-uri-hillel-foundation/
• Foundation Search - The Norman and Rosalie Fain Family Foundation 2019 Form 990-PF. Accessed February 26, 2026. https://www.foundationsearch.com/990/ARCHIVE/0/THE%20NORMAN%20AND%20ROSALIE%20FAIN%20FAMILY%20FOUNDATION%202019%20056022655.PDF