Simon W Wardwell Foundation
The Simon W. Wardwell Foundation is a private foundation based in Cranston, Rhode Island. It supports charitable organizations in areas including education, healthcare, senior services, and public services, with a stated geographic focus on Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland.
Simon W Wardwell Foundation at a glance
In short: Simon W Wardwell Foundation gave $1.1M across 21 grants in 2025 (avg $54K), mostly in Rhode Island. 62% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,143,005
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 21
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $54,429
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $50,000
- Total assets
- $20,321,314
- +13.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 62% first-time grantees (13 of 21, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Simon W Wardwell Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- Invitation Only
-
The foundation does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Its website says grants are by invitation only; nonprofits in the stated geographic area and focus areas may contact the foundation for more information.
- Contact
Mailing address: 2000 Chapel View Blvd 350, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 443-9975
Website: https://wardwellfoundation.com
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Simon W Wardwell Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket ($110K). Together the top 10 received $639K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($160,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
82 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 44 grants of 82 (54%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website identifies Pawtucket, Central Falls, Lincoln, and Cumberland as the communities where Wardwell’s employees lived and as its geographic focus. The filing reports that 100% of 2025 grant dollars went to recipients in Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 21 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Simon W Wardwell Foundation open to new grantees?
62%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 13 of 21 grantees (62%) were first-time recipients. With only 21 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $55K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $54K repeat.
- 29% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 70% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $480K (2021) to $1.3M (2024). In 2025 it made 21 grants totaling $1.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $160,000 |
| Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket Pawtucket, RI | General Support | $110,000 |
| Sheila C Skip Nowell Leadership Academy Providence, RI | General Support | $75,000 |
| San Miguel Education Center - San Miguel School of Providence Providence, RI | General Support | $70,000 |
| Central Falls Childrens Foundation Central Falls, RI | General Support | $60,000 |
| Saint Antoine Residence North Smithfield, RI | General Support | $60,000 |
| Shri Service Corp Pawtucket, RI | General Support | $58,076 |
| University of Rhode Island Foundation &Alumni Engagement Kingston, RI | General Support | $55,660 |
| Connecting for Children & Families Inc Woonsocket, RI | General Support | $50,000 |
| Cowden Street Collaborative Inc (DBA - Segue Institute for Learning) Central Falls, RI | General Support | $50,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $20,321,314 | $3,964,285 | $1,548,615 | $1,143,005 | 21 | $1,277,737 | $3,536,815 | $1,389,574 |
| 2024 | $17,905,644 | $1,889,709 | $1,686,387 | $1,310,682 | 21 | $1,461,590 | $1,637,747 | $1,387,467 |
| 2023 | $17,702,322 | $19,297,721 | $1,581,547 | $1,237,644 | 20 | $1,354,974 | $606,730 | $1,301,091 |
| 2022 | $18,503,416 | $810,631 | $1,033,928 | $673,162 | 12 | — | $829,831 | — |
| 2021 | $18,723,224 | $1,973,818 | $815,896 | $479,840 | 8 | — | $1,968,134 | — |
| 2020 | $18,145,393 | $18,139,474 | $15,661 | — | — | — | $115,307 | — |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Simon W Wardwell Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.4M for 2025 — 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’s website says it honors Wardwell’s intentions for distributing funds and identifies four focus areas: hospitals and healthcare; education, particularly early childhood and kindergarten; senior residences and services for seniors; and public services.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate a range of supported work. For example, the Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket describes its mission as acquiring, financing, and developing property to support the club. Saint Antoine Residence says it cares for the sick and elderly. Meals on Wheels of RI says it provides nutrition and other support to help older adults and other eligible people maintain independent lifestyles. The Sheila C. “Skip” Nowell Leadership Academy describes its work as helping pregnant, parenting, and underserved youth graduate from high school prepared for college, careers, and family life.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 21 grants totaling $1,143,005. Grant amounts ranged from $100 to $160,000, with a median of $50,000. The largest listed awards included $160,000 to Rhode Island Mayoral Academy (an individual recipient Prep), $110,000 to Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket, $75,000 to Sheila C. “Skip” Nowell Leadership Academy, $70,000 to San Miguel Education Center–San Miguel School of Providence, and $60,000 each to Central Falls Children’s Foundation and Saint Antoine Residence. The filing lists the purposes of these grants as general support.
The foundation’s website says grants are by invitation only and that nonprofit organizations in its stated geographic area and focus areas may contact it for more information.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Maureen Sheridan as executive director; David E. Farnum as president; John J. Partridge as vice president; Alfred P. Degen as treasurer; Jessica Waters as secretary; and Kathleen Orovitz as director.
Simon W Wardwell Foundation is led by David E. Farnum, President since 2025 (on filings since 2020); all 6 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
David E. Farnum
President
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $14K (2025)
Maureen Sheridan
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
20 hrs/week
$46K (2022) → $56K (2025)
Kathleen Orovitz
Director
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$14K (2022) → $14K (2025)
Alfred P. Degen
Treasurer
Treasurer → President & Treasurer, 2022
President & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $14K (2025)
John J. Partridge
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2022
On filings since 2020
10 hrs/week
$1K (2020) → $12K (2025)
Jessica Waters
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2022
5 hrs/week
$14K (2022) → $14K (2025)
Former officers (2)
- Former: Johnathan K. Farnum (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Kenneth W. Washburn (2020–2021) — Vice President
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $56K, to Maureen Sheridan (Executive Director). 6 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Simon W Wardwell Foundation
How much does Simon W Wardwell Foundation give each year?
Simon W Wardwell Foundation gave $1.1M across 21 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.3M across 21 grants.
What is Simon W Wardwell Foundation's typical grant size?
Simon W Wardwell Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $50,000, and its average grant was $54,429, across 21 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Simon W Wardwell Foundation that year got $54K on average.
Where does Simon W Wardwell Foundation give grants?
Simon W Wardwell Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (5 grants), Pawtucket, RI (4 grants), Central Falls, RI (4 grants) and Woonsocket, RI (2 grants).
Does Simon W Wardwell Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Simon W Wardwell Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (21 of 21) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Simon W Wardwell Foundation's largest grantees?
Simon W Wardwell Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Boys & Girls Club of Pawtucket ($110,000), Sheila C Skip Nowell Leadership Academy ($75,000) and San Miguel Education Center - San Miguel School of Providence ($70,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($160,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Simon W Wardwell Foundation?
Simon W Wardwell Foundation reported $20.3M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.4M (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Simon W Wardwell Foundation fund?
The foundation’s website says it honors Wardwell’s intentions for distributing funds and identifies four focus areas: hospitals and healthcare; education, particularly early childhood and kindergarten; senior residences and services for seniors; and public services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Simon W Wardwell Foundation?
The foundation 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 Simon W Wardwell Foundation's EIN?
Simon W Wardwell Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-3697597. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Simon W Wardwell Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 4, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 24, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 14, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Simon W Wardwell Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Simon W Wardwell Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/simon-w-wardwell-foundation-morg_4b38f509cea842bba0e3f6420d336578
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_453697597_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Simon W Wardwell Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/simon-w-wardwell-foundation-morg_4b38f509cea842bba0e3f6420d336578},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Simon W Wardwell 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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