Gruben Charitable Foundation
The Gruben Charitable Foundation is a private independent foundation established in 2008 and based in Newport, Rhode Island. The foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to supporting inner transformation and consciousness development on Aquidneck Island. With total assets of approximately $17 million, the foundation has disbursed $10 million in grants since its inception.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$17.0M
-5.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$815K
+9.4% YoY
Grant Count
32
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$25K
+9.4% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Gruben Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $827K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on nurturing the evolution of consciousness as a pathway to community healing. Rather than addressing external problems alone, the foundation focuses on internal sources of change, operating from the belief that inner growth radiates outward—as individuals develop self-awareness and purpose, compassion and empowerment ripple into families, organizations, and communities.
The foundation's work is guided by four core principles:
- Trust the Body: Funding evidence-based lifestyle medicine including whole-food nutrition, movement, deep sleep, stress relief, and human connection
- Empower, Don't Enable: Supporting programs that build inner strength and resilience rather than creating dependency
- Awaken the Whole Person: Funding initiatives where mind, body, spirit, and community move together
- Give First: Partnering with programs that turn personal growth outward through service
The foundation focuses on four interconnected funding areas:
- Environment
- Wellness
- Arts & Culture
- Community Service
Grantmaking
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $815,001 in 2024, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $175,000. Recent notable grants include:
Review Cycle
is May 1, 2026, with applications accepted starting January 2, 2026.
How to Apply
**: The next grant application deadline is May 1, 2026, with applications accepted starting January 2, 2026.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations serving Aquidneck Island and the surrounding Newport County area in Rhode Island, though grants have also been made to organizations in New York and Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of Fiscal Year Ending December 2024:
- Total Assets: $16,965,030
- Total Revenue: $129,647
- Total Expenses: $1,024,440
- Investment Income and Dividends: $506,806
- Total Liabilities: $0
The foundation was established with an $11 million endowment from Diana Oehrli's great-great-grandparents.
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $16,965,030 | $17,859,823 | $18,078,606 |
| Revenue | $129,647 | $655,332 | $346,761 |
| Expenses | $1,024,440 | $874,115 | $972,839 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $892,332 | $795,319 | $699,000 |
| Net Investment Income | $379,141 | $573,759 | $262,314 |
| Distributable Amount | $826,871 | $780,377 | $820,526 |
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 2024
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rhode Island Hospital ($175,000), Newport Festivals Foundation ($70,000), BrainGate ($50,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aquidneck Community Table Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Aquidneck Land Trust Middletown, RI | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Bike Newport Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| BrainGate Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $16,667 |
| Child & Family Services of Newport Middletown, RI | Unrestricted | $15,000 |
| Day One Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| Eastern RI Conservation Tiverton, RI | Unrestricted | $20,000 |
| FabNewport Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $10,000 |
| Family Service of Rhode Island Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Diana Oehrli, Trustee and Director—Editor, author, publisher, and certified life coach who established the foundation
- Lynne Harlow, Grants Manager
- Advisory Board: Bill Burnett, Howard Kaplan, Yanti Amos, David Hatch, David Shiang, Michael Semenza
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diana Oehrli | Trustee | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
The foundation has recently spotlighted grantees including Newport Sings, a community music program offering singing opportunities for children and adults of all ages, and the Women's Resource Center. The foundation has also supported No Wrong Door RI, a behavioral health initiative connecting Newport County residents with mental health and substance use services across a network of organizations.
Newport Classical Announces 2025-2026 Chamber SeriesSubject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Gruben Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on nurturing the evolution of consciousness as a pathway to community healing. Rather than addressing external problems alone, the foundation focuses on internal sources of change, operating from the belief that inner growth radiates outward—as individuals develop self-awareness and purpose, compassion and empowerment ripple into families, organizations, and communities. The foundation's work is guided by four core principles: • **Trust the Body**: Funding evide…
How do I apply for a grant from Gruben Charitable Foundation?
The foundation made grants totaling approximately $815,001 in 2024, with individual grants ranging from $5,000 to $175,000. Recent notable grants include: • Rhode Island Hospital: $175,000 (unrestricted) • Newport Hospital: $30,000 (unrestricted) • The Norman Bird Sanctuary Trust: $30,000 (unrestricted) Sample grant categories reflect the foundation's principles and include community gardens, fitness classes, mindfulness workshops, transformational coaching, recovery groups, mentorship programs…
Where does Gruben Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations serving Aquidneck Island and the surrounding Newport County area in Rhode Island, though grants have also been made to organizations in New York and Massachusetts.
What size grants does Gruben Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Gruben Charitable Foundation awarded 32 grants totaling $815K — an average of about $25K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Gruben Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Gruben Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $827K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Gruben Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Gruben Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 26-1944179. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Gruben Charitable Foundation'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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