Association for the Relief of Aged Women
The Association for the Relief of Aged Women of New Bedford (ARAW) is a private 501(c)(3) foundation established in 1866 and headquartered in New Bedford, Massachusetts. The organization operates as a small, volunteer-led foundation with a staff of two dedicated employees. ARAW provides direct financial assistance and friendship-based support to low-income elderly women across the Greater New Bedford region.
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$21.4M
-0.2% YoY
Annual Giving
$715K
+13.1% YoY
Grant Count
20
+100.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$36K
-43.4% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
ARAW's mission is to furnish financial assistance, provide friendship, and promote the welfare and relief of elderly women. The organization is guided by its founding principles of "women helping women" and "not alms alone, but a friend"—principles established by founding leader Rachel Howland that continue to shape the organization's work today.
The organization supports over 275 women through:
- Direct financial assistance provided on a one-time, intermittent, or ongoing basis
- Social engagement programs and friendly visits from board members and staff
- Collaboration with and grants to community partners addressing unmet needs of elderly, low-income women
- Services promoting the independence of specific population groups (NTEE code P80)
Grantmaking
ARAW made 14 grants in the most recent reporting period. Recent grantees include:
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
ARAW serves elderly women in the communities of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2025:
- Total assets: $21,387,163
- Total revenues: $1,446,918
- Total expenses: $1,303,495
- Total giving: $715,368
- Number of employees: 2
As of 2024:
- Total assets: $21,431,989
- Total revenues: $1,027,198
- Total expenses: $1,181,174
The organization's financial support derives from proceeds of property sales, dividends, and interest from securities held by the foundation.
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $21,387,163 | $21,431,989 | $19,351,380 |
| Revenue | $1,446,918 | $1,027,198 | $2,974,429 |
| Expenses | $1,303,495 | $1,181,174 | $1,186,227 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $1,275,176 | $1,153,340 | $1,153,750 |
| Net Investment Income | $1,241,511 | $990,520 | $2,911,318 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
Grant Size Distribution
64 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2025 grants, the largest include Private Assistance - Available Upon Request ($463,368), Town of Westport ($30,000), South Coastal Counties Legal Services ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| CAPE VERDEAN ASSOCIATION NEW BEDFORD, MA | ELDER SERVICESELDER SERVICES | $10,000 |
| COASTAL NEIGHBORS NETWORK SOUTH DARTMOUTH, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $10,000 |
| DEAF INC ALLSTON, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $5,000 |
| NEW BEDFORD ART MUSEUM NEW BEDFORD, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $15,000 |
| NEW BEDFORD FISHING HERITAGE NEW BEDFORD, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $15,000 |
| PRIVATE ASSISTANCE - AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST NEW BEDFORD, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $463,368 |
| SOUTH COAST LGBTQ NETWORK NEW BEDFORD, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $15,000 |
| SOUTH COASTAL COUNTIES LEGAL SERVICES FALL RIVER, MA | EDLER SERVICESELDER SERVICES | $25,000 |
| TOWN OF WESTPORT WESTPORT, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $30,000 |
| ZEITERION NEW BEDFORD, MA | ELDER SERVICES | $15,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Clare Healy Foley serves as Executive Director of the organization.
The organization is led by volunteer board members who prioritize friendship as a key component of support, including personal visits to beneficiaries.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
From 2025 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| CLARE HEALY FOLEY | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR | 40 | $148,370 |
| GAIL BEATON | VICE PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| JANE STANKIEWICZ | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| DIANE LAFLAMME | PRESIDENT | 4 | — |
| DEBORAH BROOKE | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| ANGELA NATHO | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| CATHERINE MAYALL | TREASURER | 4 | — |
| PAULINE FUENZALIDA | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| GLORIA DESA | CLERK | 4 | — |
| LEAH MACOMBER | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| ROSEMARY SABER | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| LINDA GARIBALDI | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
| JENESSA GERARD | DIRECTOR | 4 | — |
Contact Information
Address: 174 Union Street, Unit 4W, New Bedford, MA 02740-6385
Phone: 508-717-0400
EIN: 04-6056367
Website: arawofnb.org
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Association for the Relief of Aged Women fund?
ARAW's mission is to furnish financial assistance, provide friendship, and promote the welfare and relief of elderly women. The organization is guided by its founding principles of "women helping women" and "not alms alone, but a friend"—principles established by founding leader Rachel Howland that continue to shape the organization's work today. The organization supports over 275 women through: • Direct financial assistance provided on a one-time, intermittent, or ongoing basis • Social engage…
How do I apply for a grant from Association for the Relief of Aged Women?
ARAW made 14 grants in the most recent reporting period. Recent grantees include: • South Coastal Counties Legal Services ($45,000 for elder services) • Coastal Neighbors Network (elder services) • Pace Community Housing Corporation ($25,000 for elder services) Grant amounts typically range from $5,000 to $463,368. The organization's grantmaking focuses on elder services and community organizations that align with its mission of assisting elderly, low-income women.
Where does Association for the Relief of Aged Women make grants?
ARAW serves elderly women in the communities of Acushnet, Dartmouth, Fairhaven, New Bedford, and Westport in Massachusetts.
What size grants does Association for the Relief of Aged Women award?
In 2025, Association for the Relief of Aged Women awarded 20 grants totaling $715K — an average of about $36K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
What is Association for the Relief of Aged Women's EIN?
Association for the Relief of Aged Women's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-6056367. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Association for the Relief of Aged Women's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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