Sons of Italy Foundation
The Sons of Italy Foundation (SIF) is a Washington, DC-based public charity and the philanthropic arm of the Order Sons and Daughters of Italy in America. Founded in 1959, it supports scholarships, charitable and educational programs, medical research, and cultural initiatives.
Sons of Italy Foundation at a glance
In short: Sons of Italy Foundation gave $396K across 16 grants in 2025 (avg $25K), top state New York. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $396,442
- +620.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 16
- +700.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $24,778
- -9.9% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $5,398,252
- +12.8% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New York (41% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Sons of Italy Foundation
- How to Apply
-
For grants, the filing says donations or grants are paid based on a submitted grant request. Trustees verify the information, determine the grant amount, and place restrictions on the use of funds. The website describes a separate scholarship application process; the 2026 scholarship cycle is closed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 219 E Street Ne, Washington, DC 20002
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Sons of Italy Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cooley's Anemia Foundation ($113K). Together the top 10 received $338K.
Grant Size Distribution
30 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 27 grants of 30 (90%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation is based in Washington, DC. Its 2025 grants went to recipients in multiple states. New York accounted for 41% of grant dollars, Illinois 17%, Massachusetts 13%, California 9%, and Delaware 3%.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 16 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Sons of Italy Foundation gives
- Giving grew 407% from 2022 to 2025. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990 filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $52K (2021) to $396K (2025). In 2025 it made 16 grants totaling $396K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Cooley's Anemia Foundation Flushing, NY | — | $113,361 |
| Alzheimer's Association Chicago, IL | — | $67,917 |
| Doug Flutie Jr Found for Autism Framingham, MA | — | $52,343 |
| Garibaldi Meucci Museum New York, NY | Education, Museum | $29,821 |
| Cornell University Ithaca, NY | — | $20,000 |
| Stanford University Stanford, CA | — | $15,000 |
| University of Delaware Newark, DE | — | $10,000 |
| University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI | — | $10,000 |
| University of Miami Coral Gables, FL | — | $10,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | — | $10,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $5,398,252 | $1,047,072 | $1,148,660 | $396,442 | 16 | $173,635 |
| 2024 | $4,783,957 | $1,720,976 | $1,071,965 | $55,000 | 2 | $71,279 |
| 2023 | $3,112,652 | $994,333 | $830,525 | $65,000 | 3 | $18,061 |
| 2022 | $3,548,321 | $1,116,896 | $778,599 | $78,168 | 5 | $14,853 |
| 2021 | $3,002,403 | $903,118 | $659,841 | $51,984 | 4 | $42 |
| 2020 | $2,717,963 | $1,763,005 | $783,417 | $85,250 | 5 | $23,559 |
| 2019 | $1,666,225 | $1,409,489 | $1,193,989 | $221,511 | 8 | $46,825 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
SIF states that its purpose is to preserve Italian American culture, encourage educational excellence, support medical research, prevent discrimination, and improve quality of life. Its programs include scholarships, educational initiatives and publications, charitable giving, and community and cultural programs. The foundation says endowment investment income is used for scholarships and donations.
Its website describes National Leadership Grants as merit-based scholarships for students of Italian descent who demonstrate academic excellence and leadership potential. For the 2026 cycle, awards were listed as $5,000 to $20,000, with the number and amounts varying according to funding. The 2026 application cycle is closed; the website says to check back later in the year for updates on the 2027 cycle.
Among 2025 grantees, Cooley’s Anemia Foundation describes its mission as improving patients’ quality of life while pursuing a cure for a fatal blood disease. The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum says its grant supports museum staff and guides, building and collections maintenance, and public education. Rebuilding Together describes its work as repairing homes and strengthening communities through programs that include disaster recovery and veterans’ home support. These are descriptions of the grantees’ missions and activities.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, SIF reported 16 grants totaling $396,442. Grant amounts ranged from $8,000 to $113,361, with a median of $10,000. The largest grants included $113,361 to Cooley’s Anemia Foundation, $67,917 to the Alzheimer’s Association, $52,343 to the Doug Flutie Jr. Foundation for Autism, and $29,821 to the Garibaldi-Meucci Museum. Other reported grants included $20,000 to Cornell University and $15,000 to Stanford University. The filing also lists grants of $10,000 each to the universities of Delaware, Michigan, Miami, Hartford, and Notre Dame, and to Brown University.
Other 2025 recipients included the University of San Diego, Pepperdine University, and Rebuilding Together, each of which received $10,000, $10,000, and $8,000, respectively. SIF’s website says 85% of donations designated for its national charities go directly to the charity.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph Sciame as president; Thomas Lupo as chairman; Michael Polo as vice chair; and Louis Santoro as treasurer. It also lists Tony Naccarato, Marianne Principe O’Neil, Maria Fassio-Pignati, Anne Evans, Philip Privitera, and Eldora Perfilio as trustees.
Sons of Italy Foundation is led by Joseph Sciame, Sif President since 2023 (on filings since 2019); none of the 21 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Joseph Sciame
Sif President
President → Sif President, 2023
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Thomas Lupo
Chairman
Vice President → Chairman, 2025
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Joseph A. Russo
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maria Fassio - Pignati
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marianne Principe O'Neil
Trustee
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip J. Privitera Esq.
Trustee
Recording Secretary → Recording Se, 2021
Recording Se → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Philip R. Boncore Esq.
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Carol Ditrapani
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Eldora Perfilio
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Kovach
Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Tony Naccarato
Sif Trustee
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Evans
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Giancarlo Arra
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mike D'amore
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Pierpaolo Sileri
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Vera Giorlami
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Louis R. Santoro
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Polo
Vice Chair
Chairman → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Biagio Isgro
Financial Se
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Caira
Vice President
New on the 2025 filing
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lynn Lawrence-Murphy
Recording Se
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (21)
- Former: Carlo Matteucci (2019–2024) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Frank J. Panessa (2019–2024) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Joanne L. Strollo (2019–2024) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Joseph Cicippio (2019–2024) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Joseph Rondinelli (2019–2024) — Recording Se
- Former: Paul S. Polo (2019–2024) — President Em
- Former: Robert Bianchi Esq. (2019–2024) — Vice Chair
- Former: Salvatore Lanzilotta (2019–2024) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: Vincent Sarno (2019–2024) — President Em
- Former: Anne Anne (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Joseph Ditrapani (2023–2024) — President Em
- Former: Lou Santoro (2023–2024) — Financial Se
- Former: Phil Privitera (2023–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Robert Ferrito (2023–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Angelo R. Bianchi Esq. (2019–2022) — Trustee Emeritus
- Former: James Distefano (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Mark S. Denunzio (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Nancy Di Fiore Quinn (2019–2022) — Chairperson
- Former: Nicholas M. Mauro (2019–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Tony Bisceglia Anderson (2019–2022) — Financial Se
- Former: Vera Girolami (2019–2022) — Past Chairperson
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 Sons of Italy Foundation
How much does Sons of Italy Foundation give each year?
Sons of Italy Foundation gave $396K across 16 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $55K across 2 grants.
What is Sons of Italy Foundation's typical grant size?
Sons of Italy Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $24,778, across 16 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Sons of Italy Foundation give grants?
Sons of Italy Foundation's top state is New York, with 41% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990. The next largest states were Illinois (17%) and Massachusetts (13%).
Who are Sons of Italy Foundation's largest grantees?
Sons of Italy Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cooley's Anemia Foundation ($113,361), Alzheimer's Association ($67,917) and Doug Flutie Jr Found for Autism ($52,343), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 59% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Sons of Italy Foundation?
Sons of Italy Foundation reported $5.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $1.0M.
What does Sons of Italy Foundation fund?
SIF states that its purpose is to preserve Italian American culture, encourage educational excellence, support medical research, prevent discrimination, and improve quality of life. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Sons of Italy Foundation?
For grants, the filing says donations or grants are paid based on a submitted grant request. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Sons of Italy Foundation's EIN?
Sons of Italy Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-6276526. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 4, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 7, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Sons of Italy Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 19, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/sons-of-italy-foundation-morg_de7d0fc6fb2340f2be9532e636a09c01
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_236276526_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Sons of Italy Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/sons-of-italy-foundation-morg_de7d0fc6fb2340f2be9532e636a09c01},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-19. 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 Sons of Italy 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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