Gruben Charitable Foundation
The Gruben Charitable Foundation is a private foundation based in Newport, Rhode Island. Its website describes its work as supporting inner growth and community well-being on Aquidneck Island, including through programs related to the environment, wellness, arts and culture, and community service.
Gruben Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Gruben Charitable Foundation gave $815K across 32 grants in 2024 (avg $25K), mostly in Rhode Island. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $815,001
- +9.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 32
- +0.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $25,469
- +9.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $16,965,030
- -5.0% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (18 of 32, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (95% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Gruben Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website also describes an application process for eligible Rhode Island-based nonprofits. Applicants were asked to submit a PDF describing the requested amount and purpose, their mission and programs, people served, alignment with the foundation’s interests, grant use, budgets, current funders, populations and areas served, and partner organizations. The guidelines also requested a use-of-funds summary from 2025 grantees. The website says prior support does not guarantee future funding. Its 2026 application cycle is past: applications were accepted starting January 2, with a May 1 deadline, and the foundation said it was no longer accepting applications for that cycle.
- Review Cycle
- May 1, 2026 (past cycle).
- Deadline
- May 1, 2026 (past cycle).
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 239, Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (781) 754-4334
Website: https://grubencharitablefoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Gruben Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Rhode Island Hospital ($175K). Together the top 10 received $485K.
Grant Size Distribution
151 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 135 grants of 151 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines focus on Rhode Island-based organizations serving residents of Aquidneck Island. In 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Rhode Island, 3% to New York, and 2% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 32 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Gruben Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 18 of 32 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $19K; repeat grants $34K. How we count
Medians: $15K first-time, $25K repeat.
- 34% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+12%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 108% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $691K (2022) to $815K (2024). In 2024 it made 32 grants totaling $815K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island Hospital Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $175,000 |
| Newport Festivals Foundation Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $70,000 |
| BrainGate Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $50,000 |
| Newport Classical Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Newport Hospital Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Norman Bird Sanctuary Middletown, RI | Unrestricted | $30,000 |
| Bike Newport Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Family Service of Rhode Island Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Martin Luther King Community Center Newport, RI | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
| Miriam Hospital Providence, RI | Unrestricted | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Gruben Charitable Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $16,965,030 | $129,647 | $1,024,440 | $815,001 | 32 | $892,332 | $379,141 | $826,871 |
| 2023 | $17,859,823 | $655,332 | $874,115 | $745,000 | 32 | $795,319 | $573,759 | $780,377 |
| 2022 | $18,078,606 | $346,761 | $972,839 | $690,500 | 27 | $699,000 | $262,314 | $820,526 |
| 2021 | $18,704,684 | $9,605,790 | $920,958 | $730,895 | 29 | $819,413 | $9,502,687 | $810,497 |
| 2020 | $10,019,852 | $404,248 | $1,001,547 | $811,144 | 31 | — | $218,457 | $810,805 |
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.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation describes inner transformation as a path to community healing. Its four stated funding areas are environment, wellness, arts and culture, and service and education. Examples it gives include conservation and nature programs, lifestyle medicine and addiction recovery, cultural events, mentorship, and community leadership training.
The foundation’s guidelines say it considers applications from Rhode Island-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits seeking support for services and programs that affect Aquidneck Island residents. It emphasizes physical, mental, and social well-being, with particular emphasis on the natural environment and addictive illnesses.
Its 2024 grants included support for organizations with varied missions. Rhode Island Hospital describes its mission as “delivering health with care”; Strategic Prevention Partnerships says it works to reduce substance use and other risk behaviors and promote healthy lifestyles; and Bike Newport says it works to make bicycling a viable, safe, and comfortable choice for transportation and recreation. The Martin Luther King Community Center says it nourishes, educates, and supports Newport County residents to improve their economic and social well-being. These are descriptions of the recipient organizations’ missions.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 32 grants totaling $815,001. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $175,000, with a median of $20,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $175,000 to Rhode Island Hospital, $70,000 to Newport Festivals Foundation, $50,000 to BrainGate, and $30,000 each to Newport Classical, Newport Hospital, and Norman Bird Sanctuary. The filing lists these grants as unrestricted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Diana Oehrli is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing. The foundation’s website identifies her as trustee and director, and lists Lynne Harlow as grants manager. It also names Yanti Amos, David Hatch, David Shiang, and Michael Semenza as advisors.
Gruben Charitable Foundation is led by Diana Oehrli, Trustee on every filing since 2020 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Diana Oehrli
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Gruben Charitable Foundation
How much does Gruben Charitable Foundation give each year?
Gruben Charitable Foundation gave $815K across 32 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $745K across 32 grants.
What is Gruben Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Gruben Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $20,000, and its average grant was $25,469, across 32 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Gruben Charitable Foundation that year got $19K on average.
Where does Gruben Charitable Foundation give grants?
Gruben Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Newport, RI (15 grants), Providence, RI (6 grants) and Middletown, RI (6 grants).
Does Gruben Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Gruben Charitable Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (32 of 32) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Gruben Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Gruben Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Rhode Island Hospital ($175,000), Newport Festivals Foundation ($70,000) and BrainGate ($50,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 36% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Gruben Charitable Foundation?
Gruben Charitable Foundation reported $17.0M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $892K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $827K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Gruben Charitable Foundation fund?
The foundation describes inner transformation as a path to community healing. Its four stated funding areas are environment, wellness, arts and culture, and service and education. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Gruben Charitable Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
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.
Does Gruben Charitable Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Gruben Charitable Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/gruben-charitable-foundation-morg_cb19eecb947c40978bda4ab0dd4f796e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_261944179_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Gruben Charitable Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/gruben-charitable-foundation-morg_cb19eecb947c40978bda4ab0dd4f796e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Gruben Charitable Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
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