The Hassenfeld Family Foundation
The Hassenfeld Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Providence, Rhode Island, established in 1944. It is the philanthropic vehicle of the family behind Hasbro Inc., the toy and entertainment company. The foundation operates as a proactive grantmaker, with trustees personally identifying and selecting charitable organizations to support rather than accepting unsolicited proposals.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$55.2M
-9.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$8.4M
-16.8% YoY
Grant Count
44
+2.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$190K
-18.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hassenfeld Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation supports health, higher education, global development, and Jewish causes, with particular emphasis on:
- Children's Health: The foundation's flagship focus area, including transformational investments in children's hospitals and health initiatives
- Higher Education: Support for colleges and universities
- Global Development: International charitable work
- Jewish Causes: Support for Jewish federated giving programs
- Human Services: Including homeless services and housing initiatives
- Education: Including youth education and STEM-related programs
- Arts & Culture: Including performing arts initiatives
The family's philanthropic priorities are deeply influenced by their success at Hasbro, which came from children and their families.
Grantmaking
The foundation does not maintain a website and does not accept unsolicited proposals for funding. It takes a proactive, relationship-based approach to grantmaking. Rhode Island organizations may reach the foundation through networking.
Grant Range
$1,800 to $1,309,100
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Approximately 50% of giving remains within Rhode Island, with additional national and international grants. The foundation has a strong emphasis on initiatives benefiting the state of Rhode Island.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of 2023:
- Total Assets: $60,948,225
- Total Revenue: $10,417,507
- Total Expenses: $10,673,725
- Total Giving: $10,246,856
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $55,204,700 | $60,948,225 | $62,085,494 |
| Revenue | $2,457,232 | $10,417,507 | $2,020,012 |
| Expenses | $8,939,929 | $10,673,725 | $10,246,715 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $8,535,855 | $10,246,856 | $9,107,997 |
| Net Investment Income | $2,100,246 | $5,336,105 | $888,763 |
| Distributable Amount | $3,528,567 | $3,400,974 | $4,114,242 |
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
229 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Brown University ($977,550), University Of Chicago Medicine ($964,174), Brown University ($698,700).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| American Friends Of The Israel Museum New York, NY | AFIM Board Of Director Annual Fund | $25,000 |
| American Friends Of The Israel Museum New York, NY | Iron Tree Acquisition | $130,000 |
| American Friends Of The Israel Museum New York, NY | Iron Tree Acquisition | $130,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | Hassenfeld Fellows Overseas Immersion Program | $175,000 |
| Brandeis University Waltham, MA | International Business School Peace Scholarship | $175,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Development Events | $5,989 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Public Health Annual Fund | $10,000 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Alan G. Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute - Public Health | $37,032 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Alan G. Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute - Public Health | $9,371 |
| Brown University Providence, RI | Hassenfeld Fund for the Study of Social Media and Childrens Mental Health | $221,904 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Alan G. Hassenfeld - President (deceased July 2025)
- Ellen Block - Vice President/Treasurer
- Susan Block Casdin - Director
- Lori Holland - Secretary
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alan G Hassenfeld Deceased | President | 35 | — |
| Ellen Block | VP/Treasurer | 10 | — |
| Susan Block Casdin | Director | 5 | — |
| Lori Holland | Secretary | 35 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In November 2024, Roger Williams University School of Law received a $750,000 gift from the foundation to fund a comprehensive three-year marketing and communications plan. The initiative aims to expand awareness of the law school's mission and public service work in Rhode Island and the greater Northeast region, positioning the school as a recognized leader in legal education and pro bono services for underserved communities.
RWU Receives $750,000 Gift From Hassenfeld Family Foundation to StrengthenThe foundation continues to support major initiatives bearing the Hassenfeld name, including the Hasbro Children's Hospital in Providence and the Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Initiative at Brown University, which receive ongoing support in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
RWU Receives $750,000 Gift From Hassenfeld Family Foundation to StrengthenFrequently Asked Questions
What does The Hassenfeld Family Foundation fund?
The foundation supports health, higher education, global development, and Jewish causes, with particular emphasis on: • **Children's Health**: The foundation's flagship focus area, including transformational investments in children's hospitals and health initiatives • **Higher Education**: Support for colleges and universities • **Global Development**: International charitable work • **Jewish Causes**: Support for Jewish federated giving programs • **Human Services**: Including homeless service…
How do I apply for a grant from The Hassenfeld Family Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 41-56 grants annually (2023 data shows variation across sources) • Total annual giving: approximately $10 million • Grant range: $1,800 to $1,309,100 • Median grant amount: $137,500 • Giving rate: 16.7% of assets **Recent Notable Grants (2023-2024):** • Brown University: $1,152,113 for Alan G. Hassenfeld Child Health Innovation Institute - Public Health • The Cats2 Foundation: $1,000,000 for Owl Eco for Schools Program • University of Chicago: $592,515 (unrestricted) …
Where does The Hassenfeld Family Foundation make grants?
Approximately 50% of giving remains within Rhode Island, with additional national and international grants. The foundation has a strong emphasis on initiatives benefiting the state of Rhode Island.
What size grants does The Hassenfeld Family Foundation award?
In 2024, The Hassenfeld Family Foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $8.4M — an average of about $190K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is The Hassenfeld Family Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, The Hassenfeld Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.5M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is The Hassenfeld Family Foundation's EIN?
The Hassenfeld Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-6015373. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hassenfeld Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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