Simon W Wardwell Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Cranston, RI EIN: 45-3697597 Website

Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief

The Simon W. Wardwell Foundation is a private foundation based in Cranston, Rhode Island, established as a charitable instrument directed in the will of Simon Wardwell in 1920. The foundation became fully funded in November 2020 following the passing of the final family beneficiary, receiving approximately $25 million from Wardwell's estate. The foundation was officially tax-exempt as of April 2013.

Key facts about Simon W Wardwell Foundation

EIN: 45-3697597
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024): $1,310,682
Grants made (2024): 21
Average grant: $62,413
Median grant: $50,058
New grantees (estimate): 57% first-time grantees (12 of 21, 2024)
Primary geography: Rhode Island (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

Who Simon W Wardwell Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for Simon W Wardwell Foundation's 21 itemized 2024 grants were Rhode Island (100%). The most frequent recipient cities were Pawtucket, RI (7 grants), Providence, RI (6 grants), Central Falls, RI (4 grants) and Woonsocket, RI (2 grants). 100% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.

Is Simon W Wardwell Foundation open to new grantees?

57%

first-time grantees, 2024

In 2024, 12 of 21 grantees (57%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $74K. How we count

Medians: $50K first-time, $70K repeat.

43% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
Giving grew 173% from 2021 to 2024. Method

Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990-PF grant lists (2021–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.

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Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

—

Annual Giving

$1.3M

+5.9% YoY

Grant Count

+5.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$62K

+0.9% YoY

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated April 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Simon W. Wardwell Foundation supports and assists programs in four primary focus areas:

Public Services
Senior Residences & Services for Seniors
Education (with particular emphasis on early childhood and kindergarten)
Hospitals & Healthcare

The foundation's funding distribution reflects these priorities, with Education receiving 45% of grants, Tots to Teen Programs at 22%, Senior Citizens at 16%, Healthcare at 13%, and Public Services at 11%.

Grantmaking

Central Falls Children's Foundation, University of Rhode Island, Boys & Girls Club NRI, YMCA of Pawtucket Inc., Saint Antoine, Segue Institute for Learning, Blackstone Valley Prep, San Miguel School of Providence, Sophia Academy, RISE Prep, St. Raphael Academy, Boys & Girls Club Pawtucket Inc., PACE-RI, Progreso Latino, Nowell Academy, Shri Service Corp, Connecting for Children & Families (Woonsocket), Meals on Wheels RI, and The Learning Community Charter School.

Invitation Only

Grants are by invitation only

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

The foundation's grantmaking is geographically limited to four Rhode Island communities:

Pawtucket
Central Falls
Lincoln
Cumberland

This geographic focus reflects the communities where Simon Wardwell's employees historically lived and worked.

Grant Distribution by State

Rhode Island $1.3M (100%)

Share of all 21 itemized 2024 grant dollars.

States

Rhode Island

Cities

PawtucketCentral FallsProvidenceCumberlandKingstonWarwickWoonsocketNorth SmithfieldRiverside

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

As of 2024:

Total Assets: $17,905,644
Total Revenues: $1,889,709
Total Expenses: $1,686,387
Total Giving: $1,310,682
Number of Employees: 1

Organization Type: 501(c)(3) private foundation EIN: 45-3697597 Address: 2000 Chapel View Blvd Suite 350, Cranston, RI 02920-3040 Phone: 401-443-9975

Charity Rating: The foundation holds a Three-Star rating with an 86% score based on Accountability & Finance metrics.

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2024	2023	2022
Total Assets	—	—	$18,503,416
Revenue	—	—	$810,631
Expenses	—	—	$1,033,928
Qualifying Distributions	—	—	—
Net Investment Income	—	—	$829,831
Distributable Amount	—	—	—

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 1, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

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

61 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest recipients include Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket ($117,000), YMCA of Pawtucket ($106,233), Nowell Academy ($100,000).

Recipient	Purpose	Amount
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET Pawtucket, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$117,000
YMCA OF PAWTUCKET Pawtucket, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$106,233
NOWELL ACADEMY Providence, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$100,000
LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR Pawtucket, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$87,000
SAN MIGUEL SCHOOL OF PROVIDENCE Providence, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$70,000
THE LEARNING COMMUNITY CHARTER SCHOOL Central Falls, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$70,000
WINNERS CIRCLE XR ACADEMY INC Providence, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$64,416
CENTRAL FALLS CHILDRENS FOUNDATION Central Falls, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$60,000
FAMILY SERVICES OF RI Providence, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$60,000
PROGRESSO LATINO Central Falls, RI	GENERAL SUPPORT	$60,000

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

Trustees:

Alfred P. Degen (Principal Officer)
John J. Partridge, Esq.
David E. Farnum
Kathleen C. Orovitz
Jessica Waters

Compensation Overview

From 2024 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Alfred P Degen	President & Treasurer	10	$14,000
John J Partridge	Vice President	10	$13,000
David E Farnum	Secretary	5	$14,000
Maureen Sheridan	Executive Director	20	$52,667
Jessica Waters	Director	5	$14,000
Kathleen Orovitz	Director	5	$14,000

Recent News & Activity

Recent developments and announcements

The foundation has demonstrated consistent grantmaking activity across multiple years. Notable recent grants include support to The Learning Community Charter School for an accelerated learning lab and support to the University of Rhode Island for engineering student career development initiatives. The foundation has also provided ongoing support to organizations serving vulnerable populations, including Shri Service Corp, which uses foundation grants to expand yoga and wellness programs for at-risk youth and seniors in Pawtucket and Central Falls.

Simon W Wardwell Foundation - Full Filing - Nonprofit Explorer

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Simon W Wardwell Foundation fund?

The Simon W. Wardwell Foundation supports and assists programs in four primary focus areas: 1. **Public Services** 2. **Senior Residences & Services for Seniors** 3. **Education** (with particular emphasis on early childhood and kindergarten) 4. **Hospitals & Healthcare** The foundation's funding distribution reflects these priorities, with Education receiving 45% of grants, Tots to Teen Programs at 22%, Senior Citizens at 16%, Healthcare at 13%, and Public Services at 11%.

How do I apply for a grant from Simon W Wardwell Foundation?

**Grant Characteristics:** • Typical award range: $10,000–$150,000 • Application process: Grants are by invitation only • Non-profit organizations located in the geographic service area and providing services in one of the four focus areas are welcome to contact the foundation for more information **Recent Grant Recipients (2025):** Central Falls Children's Foundation, University of Rhode Island, Boys & Girls Club NRI, YMCA of Pawtucket Inc., Saint Antoine, Segue Institute for Learning, Blackst…

Where does Simon W Wardwell Foundation make grants?

The foundation's grantmaking is geographically limited to four Rhode Island communities: • Pawtucket • Central Falls • Lincoln • Cumberland This geographic focus reflects the communities where Simon Wardwell's employees historically lived and worked.