Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill is a private foundation based in Newport, Rhode Island. In 2024, it reported 37 grants totaling $84,225 to organizations including community food, health, education, youth, and animal-welfare organizations.
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill at a glance
In short: Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill gave $84K across 37 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Rhode Island. 59% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $84,225
- +20.1% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 37
- +12.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,276
- +7.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $500
- Total assets
- $1,246,257
- -4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 59% first-time grantees (22 of 37, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (63% 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 Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing lists Gail L Alofsin as the contact, states that there is no required application form or materials, and lists no restrictions on awards.
- Contact
Application contact: Gail L Alofsin
Mailing address: 23 Damon Street, Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (401) 640-4418
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Dr Martin Luther King Jr Community Center ($17K). Together the top 10 received $71K.
Grant Size Distribution
92 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 92 grants of 92 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s 2024 grant dollars went primarily to organizations in Rhode Island (63%) and Connecticut (28%). Smaller shares went to Massachusetts (3%), Illinois (2%), and New York (1%).
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 37 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill open to new grantees?
59%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 22 of 37 grantees (59%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $891; repeat grants $4K. How we count
Medians: $500 first-time, $1K repeat.
- 35% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 123% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2022–2024). 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 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $43K (2022) to $84K (2024). In 2024 it made 37 grants totaling $84K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dr Martin Luther King Jr Community Center Newport, RI | Support for community food program which provides food assistance and nutritional education. | $16,500 |
| Haitian Health Foundation Norwich, CT | Support for the wellbeing of children, women, and families to promote good health | $12,500 |
| WCSU Career Success Center Danbury, CT | Support for Education and Post-Education Preparation. | $10,000 |
| Newport Hospital Foundation Newport, RI | Support for the development of the hospital and patient care. | $8,500 |
| St Augustin's Church Newport, RI | Support for the Church. | $7,175 |
| Boys Clubs & Girls Clubs of Newport County Newport, RI | Support for Various Programs for Youth in Need. | $5,100 |
| Butler Hospital Foundation Providence, RI | Support for People with Behavioral Health Issues. | $5,000 |
| Trustees of Tuft College Boston, MA | Support for Education. | $2,750 |
| Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England Warwick, RI | Support for Programs to Benefit Girls. | $2,000 |
| Potter League for Animals Middletown, RI | Support for the promotion of the humane treatment of animals. | $1,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill?
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 | $1,246,257 | $45,938 | $99,931 | $84,225 | 37 | $84,225 | $33,177 | $68,590 |
| 2023 | $1,300,402 | $153,270 | $78,412 | $70,120 | 33 | $70,120 | $44,498 | $65,466 |
| 2022 | $1,225,544 | $1,266,828 | $43,374 | $43,100 | 22 | $43,100 | $12,624 | $29,729 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill reported a distributable amount of $69K 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
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported a range of organizations and purposes. For example, the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Community Center received support for a community food program, while the WCSU Career Success Center received support for education and post-education preparation.
Grantees’ own descriptions offer further context: Haitian Health Foundation says its mission is to improve the health and well-being of women, children, families, and communities in Haiti through healthcare, education, and community development. Newport Hospital Foundation says it coordinates fundraising for integrated health care services benefiting southern Rhode Island. Hope & Main describes its work as helping local entrepreneurs start food and food-related businesses through access to shared-use commercial kitchens and technical resources.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 37 grants totaling $84,225. Grants ranged from $50 to $16,500, with a median grant of $500. Among the largest were $16,500 to the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Community Center for its community food program; $12,500 to Haitian Health Foundation; $10,000 to WCSU Career Success Center; and $8,500 to Newport Hospital Foundation. Other grants included $5,100 to Boys Clubs & Girls Clubs of Newport County, $5,000 to Butler Hospital Foundation, $2,000 to Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, and $1,500 to Potter League for Animals. Hope & Main received $500.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Gail L Alofsin is listed as trustee on the 2024 filing.
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill is led by Gail L. Alofsin, Trustee on every filing since 2022 — the only officer listed, and uncompensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Gail L. Alofsin
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022–2024. "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 Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill
How much does Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill give each year?
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill gave $84K across 37 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $70K across 33 grants.
What is Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's typical grant size?
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's median grant in 2024 was $500, and its average grant was $2,276, across 37 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill that year got $891 on average.
Where does Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill give grants?
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill gives mostly in Rhode Island: 63% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Connecticut (28%). The most frequent recipient cities were Newport, RI (12 grants), Middletown, RI (4 grants), Providence, RI (2 grants) and Portsmouth, RI (2 grants).
Does Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 37 grants with a stated purpose on Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support for the Church" (6 grants) and "Support for Education." (3 grants).
Who are Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's largest grantees?
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's largest 2024 grantees include Dr Martin Luther King Jr Community Center ($16,500), Haitian Health Foundation ($12,500) and WCSU Career Success Center ($10,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 46% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill?
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill reported $1.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $84K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $69K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill fund?
No mission statement for the foundation is provided. Its 2024 grants supported a range of organizations and purposes. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill?
The 2024 filing lists Gail L Alofsin as the contact, states that there is no required application form or materials, and lists no restrictions on awards. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's EIN?
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 87-6657554. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022–2024.
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 2022–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
The Rhode Island Community Foundation
Providence, RI
The Rhode Island Community Foundation funds nonprofits and community efforts in areas including education, arts and culture, housing, health, climate action, and economic mobility. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $23,940, with giving concentrated in Rhode Island; the profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$1.3B
Grants
977
Total Given
$72.0M
United Way of Rhode Island Inc
Providence, RI
United Way of Rhode Island funds Rhode Island nonprofits working on economic security, children’s learning, housing, food access, safety, and related community needs. In 2025, grants ranged from $5,008 to $547,033, with a median of $15,000; its emergency grants offer up to $50,000, with average awards of $25,000–$30,000. It accepts applications for emergency grants on a rolling basis.
Assets
$30.1M
Grants
282
Total Given
$8.0M
Van Beuren Charitable Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The foundation funds education, health, economic development, children and youth, and community infrastructure and public spaces, primarily benefiting Aquidneck Island and Newport County, Rhode Island. In 2024 it made 220 grants, ranging from $1,000 to $2,128,280, with a median grant of $10,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected charitable organizations.
Assets
$378.2M
Grants
220
Total Given
$14.7M
Alletta Morris McBean Charitable Trust
La Quinta, CA
The Trust funds nonprofits serving Newport and Aquidneck Island, Rhode Island, with emphasis on quality of life and local history; recent grants have supported health care, education, youth, preservation, conservation, and maritime activities. Its typical grant was about $50,000 in 2024 (median), with awards ranging from $12,500 to $500,000. It accepts written requests for specific projects.
Assets
$20.5M
Grants
41
Total Given
$4.2M
Frederick Henry Prince Testamentary Trust
Chicago, IL
The trust supports arts and culture, environmental work, youth development, democracy, and human services, with a focus on Chicago, Washington, D.C., and Newport, Rhode Island. Its 2024 grants ranged from $100 to $200,000, with a median of $20,000. It invites organizations to share a brief overview through its Community Inquiry Form, but Washington, D.C. applications require an invitation; Chicago fall arts applications are also by invitation.
Assets
$119.9M
Grants
203
Total Given
$4.2M
Boston Foundation Inc
Boston, MA
The Boston Foundation funds nonprofits and community initiatives focused on equity and opportunity, including child well-being, economic opportunity, community wealth, and community leadership, primarily in Greater Boston. Its 2025 grants had a median of $25,000, while specific programs offer amounts such as $50,000; whether it accepts unsolicited requests is not stated.
Assets
$2.1B
Grants
2,375
Total Given
$228.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Rhode Island
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 5, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/joan-v-winiarski-and-teresa-w-merrill-morg_cd31bf55cff4477f8ca0838104055ede
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_876657554_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Joan V Winiarski \& Teresa W Merrill funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/joan-v-winiarski-and-teresa-w-merrill-morg_cd31bf55cff4477f8ca0838104055ede},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-05. 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 Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill'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.
Joan V Winiarski & Teresa W Merrill down — hundreds of funders to go?