The Act Foundation
The ACT Foundation is a private foundation based in Warwick, Rhode Island. Its website describes support for youth sports organizations serving children, but its most recent filing on record is for 2022, with no filings since; the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
The Act Foundation at a glance
In short: The Act Foundation gave $515K across 42 grants in 2022 (avg $12K), mostly in Rhode Island. Source: 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2022)
- $515,020
- Grants made (2022)
- 42
- Average grant
- $12,262
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $32,881,925
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (98% of itemized 2022 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2022 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated October 2026.
How to apply to The Act Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Although its website describes an application process, the foundation appears to have wound down or stopped grantmaking.
- Contact
Mailing address: 469 Centerville Road Unit 206, Warwick, RI 02886
Phone: (401) 384-7177
Website: https://theactfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Act Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2022
The largest 2022 recipient was Providence Public School District ($181K). Together the top 10 received $356K.
Grant Size Distribution
42 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 40 grants of 42 (95%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2022, 98% of grant dollars went to recipients in Rhode Island, 1% to Indiana, and 1% to Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2022 grant dollars across all 42 itemized grants.
Cities
How The Act Foundation gives
- In 2022 it paid out 30% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
In 2022 it made 42 grants totaling $515K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Public School District Providence, RI | Charitable | $180,911 |
| Warwick Public Schools Warwick, RI | Charitable | $113,537 |
| South County Youth Lacrosse Wakefield, RI | Charitable | $12,500 |
| The Prout School Wakefield, RI | Charitable | $12,200 |
| Elmwood Little League Providence, RI | Charitable | $9,608 |
| Cranston Little League Cranston, RI | Charitable | $7,448 |
| American Legion Baseball Indianapolis, IN | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Atlantic Youth Association Providence, RI | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Burrilville Girls Softball Associat Burrillville, RI | Charitable | $5,000 |
| Button Hole Kids Cup Providence, RI | Charitable | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Act Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $32,881,925 | $34,036,713 | $1,327,913 | $515,020 | 42 | $515,020 | $1,721,385 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Act Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M for 2022 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated mission is “Sports should be for everybody.” It says its grants are intended to help youth sports organizations thrive and make sports accessible to children.
The foundation’s website describes eligible organizations as 501(c)(3) nonprofits serving youth in sports such as baseball, softball, basketball, soccer, football, hockey, lacrosse, swimming, gymnastics, and tennis. It lists potential uses including facilities, equipment and uniforms, coaches, training, travel, events, and tournaments. Among 2022 grantees, Stages of Freedom described its mission as providing free swim lessons to more than 400 low-income youth and cultural programs for 3,330 people. Sail Newport described its mission as promoting affordable public sailing instruction and rental programs and attracting new sailors to the sport.
Grantmaking
In 2022, the foundation reported 42 grants totaling $515,020. Grants ranged from $4,025 to $180,911, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants were $180,911 to Providence Public School District and $113,537 to Warwick Public Schools. Other grants included $12,500 to South County Youth Lacrosse and $12,200 to The Prout School.
The foundation’s 2022 filing states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Its website describes an online or mailed application, says applications may be submitted at any time and are reviewed first come, first served, and advises applicants to check for sport-specific deadlines. These website instructions are not presented here as current, given the absence of filings since 2022.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Steven B. Merolla was listed as trustee on the 2022 filing.
The Act Foundation is led by Steven B. Merolla, Trustee on the 2022 filing — the only officer listed, and compensated.
Officers on the 2022 filing
Steven B. Merolla
Trustee
New on the 2022 filing
20 hrs/week
$324K (2022)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2022. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2022 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2022 filing was $324K, to Steven B Merolla (Trustee).
Frequently asked questions about The Act Foundation
How much does The Act Foundation give each year?
The Act Foundation gave $515K across 42 grants in 2022, according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
What is The Act Foundation's typical grant size?
The Act Foundation's median grant in 2022 was $5,000, and its average grant was $12,262, across 42 grants on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Act Foundation give grants?
The Act Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 98% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (6 grants), Warwick, RI (4 grants), Coventry, RI (3 grants) and Tiverton, RI (3 grants).
Does The Act Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2022: none of the 42 grants with a stated purpose on The Act Foundation's 2022 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (42 grants).
Who are The Act Foundation's largest grantees?
The Act Foundation's largest 2022 grantees include Providence Public School District ($180,911), Warwick Public Schools ($113,537) and South County Youth Lacrosse ($12,500), according to its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 60% of its itemized 2022 grant dollars.
How large is The Act Foundation?
The Act Foundation reported $32.9M in total assets on its 2022 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $515K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.7M (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 The Act Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is “Sports should be for everybody.” It says its grants are intended to help youth sports organizations thrive and make sports accessible to children. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Act Foundation?
The foundation’s filing states that it does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Act Foundation's EIN?
The Act Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 88-6178059. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2022.
Does The Act 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2022
Live grants for the work The Act Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Browse active grant opportunities in The Act Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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The Act Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?