Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable is a private foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island. It supports charitable organizations and efforts, with 2024 grants going mostly to Rhode Island recipients and one Massachusetts recipient.
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation at a glance
In short: Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation gave $18K across 10 grants in 2024 (avg $2K), mostly in Rhode Island. 40% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $18,100
- -7.7% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 10
- -23.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $1,810
- +20.1% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $1,925
- Total assets
- $41,297
- +10.4% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 40% first-time grantees (4 of 10, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (92% 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 Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes nominations by clients and Facebook friends, followed by voting by the firm’s attorneys and staff.
- Contact
Mailing address: 685 Westminster Street, Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 274-7400
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island ($3K). Together the top 10 received $18K.
Grant Size Distribution
51 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 51 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The 2024 filing shows that 92% of grant dollars went to Rhode Island recipients and 8% to Massachusetts recipients. The firm says its charitable efforts support communities in Rhode Island, New England, and elsewhere.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 10 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation open to new grantees?
40%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 4 of 10 grantees (40%) were first-time recipients. With only 10 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 10 points. First grants averaged $2K; repeat grants $2K. How we count
Medians: $2K first-time, $2K repeat.
- 50% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 96% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out well above 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 $9K (2021) to $20K (2022). In 2024 it made 10 grants totaling $18K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island Providence, RI | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Narragansett Lions Club Narragansett, RI | Charitable | $2,500 |
| The Autism Project Johnston, RI | Charitable | $2,500 |
| Clothes to Kids RI Providence, RI | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Project Hand up West Warwick, RI | Charitable | $2,000 |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern RI Cumberland, RI | Charitable | $1,850 |
| Pan-Mass Challenge Needham, MA | Charitable | $1,500 |
| Sojourner House Inc Providence, RI | Charitable | $1,250 |
| Tomaquag Museum Exeter, RI | Charitable | $1,000 |
| Jonnycake Center for Hope Peace Dale, RI | Charitable | $1,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $41,297 | $23,425 | $20,612 | $18,100 | 10 | $20,612 | $1,730 |
| 2023 | $37,391 | $21,001 | $19,623 | $19,600 | 13 | $19,623 | $1,602 |
| 2022 | $36,013 | $22,889 | $20,543 | $19,896 | 14 | $20,543 | $1,665 |
| 2021 | $33,667 | $19,085 | $10,220 | $9,220 | 7 | $10,220 | $1,165 |
| 2020 | $24,802 | $21,289 | $13,205 | $12,355 | 7 | — | $855 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $2K 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 firm describes serving the community as part of its mission. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations addressing a range of charitable needs. For example, The Autism Project describes its work as providing services and resources for children with autism spectrum disorder and support for their families and others who work with them. Clothes to Kids RI says it provides clothing free of charge to low-income or in-crisis school-age children in Providence County. Project Hand Up says it helps homeless and impoverished individuals and families by providing groceries at reduced cost. Sojourner House describes providing support, advocacy, education, and housing for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 10 grants totaling $18,100. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $2,500, with a median grant of $1,925. Its largest grants were $2,500 each to Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, Narragansett Lions Club, and The Autism Project. Other grants included $2,000 to Clothes to Kids RI and $2,000 to Project Hand Up; $1,850 to Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern RI; $1,500 to Pan-Mass Challenge; $1,250 to Sojourner House; and $1,000 each to Tomaquag Museum and Jonnycake Center for Hope. Each grant was listed for a charitable purpose.
The foundation’s website describes a process in which clients and Facebook friends nominate organizations, and attorneys and staff vote on nominees. Its 2024 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Joseph Marasco as president, Donna Nesselbush as vice president, and Stephanie Galligan as director.
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation is led by Joseph Marasco, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Joseph Marasco
President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Galligan
Director
On filings since 2023
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Donna Nesselbush
Vice President
On filings since 2020
0.3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Scott Lafferty (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Dennis Cesana (2020) — Director
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 Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation
How much does Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation give each year?
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation gave $18K across 10 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $20K across 13 grants.
What is Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's typical grant size?
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $1,925, and its average grant was $1,810, across 10 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation that year got $2K on average.
Where does Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation give grants?
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (3 grants).
Does Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 10 grants with a stated purpose on Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (10 grants).
Who are Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's largest grantees?
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island ($2,500), Narragansett Lions Club ($2,500) and The Autism Project ($2,500), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 41% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation?
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation reported $41K in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $21K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $2K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation fund?
The firm describes serving the community as part of its mission. Its 2024 grants show support for organizations addressing a range of charitable needs. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation?
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Marasco & Nesselbush Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3173782. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Marasco & Nesselbush 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
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS July 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 17, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 7, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 30, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
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