The Lawson Charitable Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- New England is the foundation's stated priority, and its giving areas are caregiver respite, children's mental health, materials and equipment for families of children with diverse abilities, veteran transition services, and health and financial stability; organisations outside the region should make a clear case for their work.
- Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with the IRS for at least three consecutive years.
- Individuals, religious organisations, government agencies, and applicants seeking endowments, scholarships, general capital campaigns, multi-year pledges, or political or lobbying work should not apply.
- Most of its grants to organisations fall between $5,000 and $50,000, half were $20,000 or less, and its Amplify Grants run from $1,000 to $2,000, though its largest grant was about $90,000, so the band is typical rather than a ceiling.
- The filing shows that 63% of grant dollars in its most recent year went to organisations it had also funded in earlier filings, so new applicants should expect repeat relationships to matter, and should confirm fit first, then supply their legal name, EIN, address, phone number and current fiscal-year budget, with a long-term sustainability plan and a commitment to submit a grant report.
Overview
The Lawson Charitable Foundation is a US private foundation based in East Providence, RI.
What they fund
Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The Lawson Charitable Foundation supports nonprofit organisations whose work aligns with its mission of helping people who are working hard to help themselves and others. Its giving areas include respite care for adult and child caregivers; mental health services for children; materials and equipment for families of children with diverse abilities; services and guidance helping veterans transition to civilian life; and programmes assisting individuals and families facing unexpected health or financial challenges. Its primary geographic focus is New England, though it welcomes extraordinary work beyond the region. Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits in good standing with the IRS for at least three consecutive years. Projects should have a long-term sustainability plan, and grantees must submit a report. It offers Impact and Amplify Grants to nonprofits.
Themes
- Caregiver respite
- Children’s mental health
- Children with diverse abilities
- Veteran transition services
- Health and financial stability
Geographic Focus
Priority: New England.
What They Don't Fund
- Individuals
- General Capital/Capacity Campaigns
- Endowments
- Scholarships
- Multi-year pledges
- Religious organizations
- Political campaigns or lobbying
- Government agencies
How to apply
Before initiating a grant request, organisations should confirm mission and core-geography fit, then provide organisational details including legal name, EIN, address, phone number and current fiscal-year budget.
Deadlines: Impact Grant applications are evaluated annually.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 63% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
- Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 20 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- Applicants should review the giving areas and guidelines and ensure their organisation and programme align with funding priorities.
- The foundation gives geographic priority to New England, while considering exceptional work beyond the region.
- Projects should have a plan for long-term sustainability beyond the grant period.
- Grantees must agree to submit a grant report.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 37% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 63% of grant dollars went to organisations The Lawson Charitable Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $25,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Andruzzi Foundation · General support$50,0002024 tax year
- Hope For Warriors · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Cabin in the Woods · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Meeting Street · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Childrens Friend · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Homes for Our Troops · General support$25,0002024 tax year
- Operation Stand Down · General support$20,0002024 tax year
- Izzy Foundation · General support$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Cathy M Lawson — Trustee
- Thomas A Lawson — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $156,302 | $104,900 | $4,937,751 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $260,317 | $198,100 | $8,520,690 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $309,733 | $215,000 | $12,300,247 | 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
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At a glance
Applying to The Lawson Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (401) 369-1509
- FOUNDATION75093@GMAIL.COM
- East Providence, RI
- lawsoncharitablefoundation.org
Applying to The Lawson Charitable Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (401) 369-1509
- FOUNDATION75093@GMAIL.COM
- East Providence, RI
- lawsoncharitablefoundation.org