The Provident Bank Foundation
The Provident Bank Foundation is a private foundation based in Iselin, New Jersey. It invests in marginalized communities within Provident Bank’s branch network, supporting nonprofit organizations whose work helps people move toward economic self-sufficiency.
The Provident Bank Foundation at a glance
In short: The Provident Bank Foundation gave $617K across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $12K), mostly in New Jersey. 49% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $616,500
- -30.3% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- -47.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $12,088
- +32.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $17,422,520
- +4.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 49% first-time grantees (25 of 51, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New Jersey (83% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Provident Bank Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Applicants should review the grant guidelines and submit a complete application through the Foundation’s Salesforce portal. Eligible applicants must be tax-exempt public charities under Section 501(c)(3) and classified under Section 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2), must serve or demonstrate impact in a community with a Provident Bank branch or a community contiguous to a branch, and must meet the program’s operating-budget requirements. The guidelines list a Form 990 or 990-EZ and a board-of-directors list with affiliations among application materials; 990-N e-postcards are not accepted. Organizations with an active Foundation grant may not apply, and progress reports for previous grants must be received.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 application window is April 1–30, 2026. Applications are accepted from 9:00 a.m. EST on April 1 until 5:00 p.m. EST on April 30. Review and assessment are scheduled for May 1–July 15, with notifications expected around July 31. The grant term is August 1, 2026–July 31, 2028.
- Deadline
- The 2026 application window is April 1–30, 2026.
- Contact
Application contact: Samantha Plotino Executive Director
Mailing address: The Provident Bank Foundation Po, Box 1001, Iselin, NJ 08830
Phone: (862) 260-3990
Email: samantha.plotino@provident.bank
Website: https://theprovidentbankfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from The Provident Bank Foundation
Who The Provident Bank Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was America's Grow-a-Row Inc ($20K). Together the top 10 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
594 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 589 grants of 594 (99%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation’s stated geographic scope is its footprint: communities within Provident Bank’s branch network. Applicants must serve or demonstrate impact in at least one community where the Bank has a branch or in a community contiguous to a branch. In 2025, 83% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Jersey, 11% to Pennsylvania, 4% to an individual recipient, and 2% to Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 51 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Provident Bank Foundation open to new grantees?
49%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 25 of 51 grantees (49%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $12K; repeat grants $13K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $11K repeat.
- 22% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 67% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 130% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $617K (2025) to $1.9M (2022). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $617K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| America's Grow-a-Row Inc Pittstown, NJ | Fresh Produce Initiative | $20,000 |
| Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative Inc Hackensack, NJ | Expanding Healthcare Access for Bergen County's Working Uninsured | $20,000 |
| New City Kids Jersey City, NJ | Rubingh Center for Youth Development - Building Renovations | $20,000 |
| Parker Family Health Center Red Bank, NJ | Parker's Outreach and Diabetes Management Programs | $20,000 |
| Table to Table Saddle Brook, NJ | Activating community to bridge the gap between food waste and food insecurity | $20,000 |
| Mercy Center Asbury Park, NJ | Community Fresh Food Project | $17,500 |
| Nourishnj Morristown, NJ | Food Security Initiative | $17,500 |
| United Community Corporation Newark, NJ | Food Distribution Program | $17,500 |
| Center for Hope and Safety Inc Rochelle Park, NJ | Safe house emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence | $15,000 |
| Garden State Community Development Corporation Union City, NJ | Forever Home | $15,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The Provident Bank Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The 2025 filing reports 51 grants.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $17,422,520 | $1,331,048 | $1,107,253 | $616,500 | 51 | $1,029,086 | $1,264,939 | $792,321 |
| 2024 | $16,636,606 | $1,401,866 | $1,522,461 | $884,445 | 97 | $1,446,210 | $1,341,960 | $753,993 |
| 2023 | $16,569,534 | $1,108,629 | $1,788,965 | $1,282,533 | 104 | $1,701,749 | $1,044,781 | $815,778 |
| 2022 | $19,570,805 | $1,774,484 | $2,338,232 | $1,868,684 | 194 | $2,238,501 | $1,715,566 | $1,046,300 |
| 2021 | $23,867,307 | $1,156,496 | $1,633,229 | $1,200,000 | 148 | $1,570,099 | $1,097,155 | $1,100,418 |
| 2020 | $19,262,404 | $1,027,204 | $1,381,800 | $949,540 | 109 | — | $969,166 | $851,748 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Provident Bank Foundation reported a distributable amount of $792K 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 mission is to invest in marginalized communities within Provident Bank’s branch network by collaborating with nonprofit organizations that align with its values. It aims to empower individuals on paths to economic self-sufficiency by addressing issues that perpetuate poverty. Its vision is to build strong and healthy communities where everyone can live a fulfilling and prosperous life.
The Foundation’s priorities are education, human services, and workforce development. Areas of interest include community-college access and special education services; housing assistance, food security, healthcare access for uninsured or underinsured people, and youth mental health services; and vocational programs, employment supports, and reentry programs.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work represented among its grantees. Parker Family Health Center describes its work as operating a free clinic for Monmouth County residents who lack health insurance or the means to pay for medical care. Table to Table says it rescues fresh, perishable food and delivers it to partner nonprofits serving food-insecure and other at-risk people in northeastern New Jersey. New City Kids describes after-school and summer programs for students, alongside paid internships for high school students.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the Foundation awarded 51 grants totaling $616,500. Awards ranged from $1,500 to $20,000, with a median grant of $10,000. Among the largest awards were $20,000 each to America’s Grow-A-Row for its fresh produce initiative, Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative for healthcare access for working uninsured people, New City Kids for building renovations, Parker Family Health Center for outreach and diabetes management, and Table to Table for work addressing food waste and food insecurity. Mercy Center, Nourish.NJ, and United Community Corporation each received $17,500 for food-related initiatives.
For 2026, the Foundation’s Empowerment Grant program provides two years of flexible funding. Organizations with annual operating budgets of $50,000–$1 million may request $5,000–$10,000 per year; those with budgets of $1 million–$15 million may request $10,000–$25,000 per year. The Foundation committed $500,000 to 2026 grants and is pausing its Signature Grant Program that year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Christopher Martin as chairman, president, and director; Samantha Plotino as vice president and executive director; Carmine Torrecuso as treasurer; and Mary Louise Festa as secretary. Directors listed were Karen McMullen, Thomas Shara, Jeffries Shein (through April 24, 2025), and Deforest Soaries.
The Provident Bank Foundation is led by Samantha Plotino See Stmt, Vice President & Executive Director since 2025 (on filings since 2020); 5 of 8 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Samantha Plotino See Stmt
Vice President & Executive Director
Executive Director → V.p. & Executive Director, 2024
V.p. & Executive Director → Vice President & Executive Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
37.5 hrs/week
$88K (2020) → $146K (2025)
Christopher Martin
Chairman, President & Director
President & Director → Chairman, President & Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffries Shein
Director to
Director → Director to, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $2K (2025)
Karen McMullen
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
$4K (2020) → $4K (2025)
Deforest Soaries
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
$1K (2024) → $3K (2025)
Thomas Shara
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carmine Torrecuso See Stmt
Treasurer
On filings since 2023
5 hrs/week
$18K (2023) → $19K (2025)
Mary Louise Festa
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (7)
- Former: John Kuntz (2020–2024) — Former Secretary
- Former: Carlos Hernandez PhD (2023–2024) — Former Chairman
- Former: Carlos Hernandez Ph D. (2020–2022) — Chairman
- Former: Carmine Torrecuso See (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: George Dailey Jr See Stmt (2020–2021) — Former Treasurer
- Former: Carmine Torrecuso (2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Jane Kurek See Stmt (2020) — Former Executive Director
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 $146K, to Samantha Plotino See STMT 9 (Vice President and Executive Director). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about The Provident Bank Foundation
How much does The Provident Bank Foundation give each year?
The Provident Bank Foundation gave $617K across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $884K across 97 grants.
What is The Provident Bank Foundation's typical grant size?
The Provident Bank Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $12,088, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Provident Bank Foundation that year got $12K on average.
Where does The Provident Bank Foundation give grants?
The Provident Bank Foundation gives mostly in New Jersey: 83% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Pennsylvania (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Allentown, PA (3 grants), New York, NY (3 grants), Red Bank, NJ (2 grants) and Jersey City, NJ (2 grants).
Does The Provident Bank Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 51 grants with a stated purpose on The Provident Bank Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are The Provident Bank Foundation's largest grantees?
The Provident Bank Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include America's Grow-a-Row Inc ($20,000), Bergen Volunteer Medical Initiative Inc ($20,000) and New City Kids ($20,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 10% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Provident Bank Foundation?
The Provident Bank Foundation reported $17.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $792K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The Provident Bank Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to invest in marginalized communities within Provident Bank’s branch network by collaborating with nonprofit organizations that align with its values. It aims to empower individuals on paths to economic self-sufficiency by addressing issues that perpetuate poverty. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Provident Bank Foundation?
Applicants should review the grant guidelines and submit a complete application through the Foundation’s Salesforce portal. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Provident Bank Foundation's EIN?
The Provident Bank Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3739441. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS May 13, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 30, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 25, 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 8, 2026)
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Provident Bank Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Investors Foundation Inc
Summit, NJ
Investors Foundation Inc funds community organizations working in arts, education, health and human services, youth, and affordable housing, primarily in New Jersey, New York City’s five boroughs, and Long Island. Its 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $60,000, with a median of $2,500. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online application, with deadlines of February 1, May 1, August 1, and November 1.
Assets
$13.4M
Grants
135
Total Given
$986K
Community Foundation of New Jersey
Morristown, NJ
The Community Foundation of New Jersey supports a broad range of causes, including arts, education, health, human services, and the environment, through donor-directed and other charitable funds. Its 2024 itemized grants had a median of $19,759, with awards ranging widely; its current health grant opportunity serves Morris and Somerset counties. Eligible New Jersey nonprofits may apply to specific grant opportunities, subject to each opportunity’s guidelines.
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
1,321
Total Given
$93.8M
Columbia Bank Foundation
Fair Lawn, NJ
Columbia Bank Foundation funds affordable housing, community and economic development, financial literacy, health and human services, food security, environmental sustainability, and the arts, prioritizing communities in Columbia Bank’s footprint, especially in New Jersey. Its grants vary widely; the 2025 median was $2,500, while listed programs generally offer $1,000–$25,000. It accepts requests through its grant programs, with application schedules varying by program.
Assets
$42.6M
Grants
319
Total Given
$1.7M
The Hyde and Watson Foundation
Warren Township, NJ
The Hyde and Watson Foundation funds capital projects in human services, education, health, arts and culture, and the environment. Most awards are $5,000–$20,000, with a 2024 median of $10,000, for eligible nonprofits in New York City and Essex, Morris, and Union counties in New Jersey. It accepts applications through an online portal during its stated application periods; the profile does not say whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$88.2M
Grants
611
Total Given
$6.1M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Pseg Foundation Inc
Newark, NJ
PSEG Foundation supports environmental sustainability, education and STEM, community well-being, disaster recovery, equity, and economic mobility, primarily through program grants to nonprofits. Its 2024 grants ranged from $80,000 to $1 million, with a median of $250,000; funding is concentrated in New Jersey, and Neighborhood Partners applicants must operate in PSEG’s service or operating territory. The foundation says it funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$29.6M
Grants
20
Total Given
$6.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in New Jersey
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Provident Bank Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-provident-bank-foundation-morg_c257593d1b6047ff89702cd5a4424bae
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043739441_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Provident Bank Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-provident-bank-foundation-morg_c257593d1b6047ff89702cd5a4424bae},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 The Provident Bank 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.
The Provident Bank Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?