The Act Foundation

Foundation · Grantmaker Warwick, RI EIN: 88-6178059

The Act Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Warwick, RI. IRS filing data is available for 2022. As of 2022, the organization holds $32.9M in total assets. In 2022, it awarded 42 grants totaling $515K.

Key facts about The Act Foundation

EIN: 88-6178059
Latest 990 filing: Form 990-PF, 2022
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)

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2022; updated April 2026.

Who The Act Foundation funds

By grant dollars, the top recipient states for The Act Foundation's 42 itemized 2022 grants were Rhode Island (98%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (6 grants), Warwick, RI (4 grants), Coventry, RI (3 grants) and Tiverton, RI (3 grants). None of its 42 grants with a stated purpose were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Charitable" (42 grants).

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.

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Financial Overview

From 2022 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$32.9M

Annual Giving

$515K

Grant Count

Avg Grant Size

$12K

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.

About The Act Foundation

Based on IRS filings

Focus Areas

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

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Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

Grant Distribution by State

Rhode Island $505K (98%)

Indiana $5K (1%)

Connecticut $5K (1%)

Share of all 42 itemized 2022 grant dollars.

States

Connecticut Indiana Rhode Island

Cities

ProvidenceWarwickBristolCoventryTivertonCranstonNewportNorth ProvidencePawtucketWakefieldBurrillvilleClayvilleEast GreenwichEast ProvidenceGreenvilleHope ValleyIndianapolisNew ShorehamNorth KingstownNorth Scituate

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Revenue

Expenses

Qualifying Distributions

Net Investment Income

Metric	2022
Total Assets	$32,881,925
Revenue	$34,036,713
Expenses	$1,327,913
Qualifying Distributions	$515,020
Net Investment Income	—
Distributable Amount	$1,721,385

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

March 3, 2026 IRS filings on file for fiscal year 2022

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 2022

Grant Size Distribution

42 grants across all recorded years

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

Among its reported 2022 grants, the largest recipients include Providence Public School District ($180,911), Warwick Public Schools ($113,537), South County Youth Lacrosse ($12,500).

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

Leadership & Key People

Officers and directors from IRS filings

Compensation Overview

From 2022 IRS filing

Name	Title	Hours	Compensation
Steven B Merolla	Trustee	20	$323,530

Subject Areas

Focus areas based on grantmaking activity

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is The Act Foundation?

The Act Foundation is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in Warwick, RI. It holds $32.9M in total assets as of 2022.

How large is The Act Foundation?

As of 2022, The Act Foundation holds $32.9M in total assets with $34.0M in annual revenue. It awarded 42 grants totaling $515K in 2022.

Where does The Act Foundation operate?

The Act Foundation has awarded grants in Connecticut, Indiana, Rhode Island.

What size grants does The Act Foundation award?

In 2022, The Act Foundation awarded 42 grants totaling $515K — an average of about $12K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.

How much is The Act Foundation required to give away each year?

Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2022, The Act Foundation reported a distributable amount of $1.7M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.