The Staten Island Foundation
The Staten Island Foundation is a private foundation based in Staten Island, New York. Its grantmaking is directed toward improving quality of life for Staten Island residents, particularly those who are least advantaged.
The Staten Island Foundation at a glance
In short: The Staten Island Foundation gave $3.5M across 91 grants in 2025 (avg $39K), mostly in New York. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $3,534,876
- +15.1% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 91
- -9.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $38,845
- +26.5% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $25,000
- Total assets
- $95,385,930
- +8.3% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (27 of 91, 2025)
- Primary geography
- New York (100% 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 Staten Island Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Contact Foundation staff with a few paragraphs describing the proposal and its alignment with a Foundation target. If invited to apply, complete the appropriate electronic application; prior grantees should submit any required reports.
- Review Cycle
- For the September 2026 Board meeting, proposals must be submitted by July 10, 2026; for January 2027, by November 2, 2026; for March 2027, by January 19, 2027; and for June 2027, by April 5, 2027. The Foundation asks applicants to discuss requests with staff and substantially complete them two months before the relevant Board meeting.
- Deadline
- For the September 2026 Board meeting, proposals must be submitted by July 10, 2026; for January 2027, by November 2,…
- Contact
Application contact: Laura Jean Watters Executive Direct
Mailing address: 260 Christopher Lane Suite 3B, Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: (718) 697-2831
Email: watters@thestatenislandfoundation.org
Website: https://thestatenislandfoundation.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 Staten Island Foundation
Who The Staten Island Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Richmond University Medical Center Foundation ($400K). Together the top 10 received $1.6M.
Grant Size Distribution
466 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 301 grants of 466 (65%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation directs its grantmaking toward efforts that improve quality of life for Staten Island residents. All grant dollars in filing year 2025 went to recipients in New York State.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.
Cities
Is The Staten Island Foundation open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 27 of 91 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $28K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+6%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 92% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $3.0M (2023) to $3.5M (2025). In 2025 it made 91 grants totaling $3.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Richmond University Medical Center Foundation Staten Island, NY | Equipment for biplane imaging and to expand, improve biplane cardiac cath lab | $400,000 |
| Meals on Wheels of Staten Island Inc Staten Island, NY | Closing costs and interest on loan to purchase and renovate the site | $200,000 |
| New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute New York, NY | Si Alliance for North Shore Children and Families | $175,000 |
| Research Foundationcity University of New York New York, NY | Si Alliance for North Shore Children and Families | $175,000 |
| St George Theatre Restoration Inc Staten Island, NY | Employee matching gift by alfredo cerullo; " sidewalk to stage " - re-design front steps, installing carpeting, 250 ada-complaint seats | $152,500 |
| Crimsonrise Inc Staten Island, NY | Acquisition of building & renovation for use by 'spelling to communicate' participants and training programs | $110,000 |
| Pal New York, NY | Youth Development Professional Career Exploration Programs, | $100,000 |
| The Arc New York Latham, NY | Purchase of Shelfing and Archival Supplies | $100,000 |
| Staten Island Institute of Arts and Sciences Staten Island, NY | To pay external consultants for wealth screening software, marketing materials and staff time; employee matching gift by dolores morris | $83,210 |
| Staten Island Historical Society Staten Island, NY | To Support the Restored Museum Curator Position | $80,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $95,385,930 | $4,850,739 | $4,576,724 | $3,534,876 | 91 | $4,133,426 | $4,421,359 | $4,485,799 |
| 2024 | $88,084,763 | $4,066,025 | $4,052,325 | $3,071,933 | 100 | $3,661,928 | $3,718,628 | $4,057,551 |
| 2023 | $81,513,795 | $2,395,643 | $3,823,984 | $2,958,695 | 93 | $3,487,015 | $2,082,677 | $3,822,826 |
| 2022 | $77,170,111 | $3,401,911 | $4,191,544 | $3,349,719 | 83 | $3,782,040 | $3,041,964 | $4,376,149 |
| 2021 | $92,074,763 | $12,173,288 | $4,316,162 | $3,260,956 | 99 | — | $11,778,864 | $3,989,640 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Staten Island Foundation reported a distributable amount of $4.5M 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 improve quality of life on Staten Island, particularly for the least advantaged. Its four focus areas are health, education, arts and culture, and community services. Its grantmaking emphasizes measurable outcomes, diversity, equity and inclusion, and projects that can be continued without Foundation funding.
The Foundation supports organizations serving Staten Island residents. Examples of grantees include Meals on Wheels of Staten Island, which says it provides daily meals to homebound older residents unable to shop for or prepare food; St. George Theatre Restoration, whose stated mission is to operate and restore the historic theater as a cultural and performing arts center; and CrimsonRise, which says it serves autistic individuals with sensory, movement, and communication differences.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Foundation made 91 grants totaling $3,534,876. Grants ranged from $200 to $400,000, with a median award of $25,000. Notable awards included $400,000 to Richmond University Medical Center Foundation for biplane imaging equipment and improvements to its cardiac catheterization lab; $200,000 to Meals on Wheels of Staten Island for closing costs and loan interest related to purchasing and renovating a site; and $175,000 each to the New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute and the Research Foundation of the City University of New York for the Staten Island Alliance for North Shore Children and Families.
Other 2025 grants included $152,500 to St. George Theatre Restoration for an employee matching gift and “Sidewalk to Stage” improvements, including redesigned front steps and ADA-compliant seating; $110,000 to CrimsonRise for building acquisition and renovation; and $80,000 to the Staten Island Historical Society to support a restored museum curator position.
The Foundation offers direct service, capacity building, and limited capital improvement grants. Direct service applicants are asked to align proposals with a target outcome and describe concrete, measurable anticipated results. Capacity-building proposals may address organizational systems, staff or board training, strategic planning, fundraising, or evaluation; consultant-supported proposals require a proposed work plan. Prospective capital improvement applicants are asked to discuss requests with Foundation staff. The application process begins with an email to staff describing the proposal and its alignment with a Foundation target; applicants whose proposals align with the guidelines may then be invited to a staff call or given access to an online application.
Eligible applicants are organizations with current 501(c)(3) status that serve Staten Island residents. Prior grantees must have submitted required reports; the Foundation also looks for established track records and demonstrated financial capacity. It does not fund, among other things, scholarships, medical research, political causes or lobbying, fundraising-event sponsorships, renovations or repairs to places of worship, or requests from solicitors acting on behalf of organizations.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Kathryn Krause Rooney as chair, Alfredo C. Cerullo III as vice chair, Lenore F. Puleo as treasurer, and Jill O’Donnell-Tormey, PhD, as secretary. Laura Jean Watters is listed as executive director. The filing also lists Suzanne Stirn Ainslie, Alice B. Diamond, Daniel L. Master Jr., and Dolores N. Morris as directors.
The Staten Island Foundation is led by Laura Jean Watters, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Laura Jean Watters
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$151K (2022) → $178K (2025)
Kathryn Krause Rooney
Chair
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alice B. Diamond
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Daniel L. Master Jr.
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Dolores N. Morris
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Suzanne Stirn Ainslie
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alfred C. Cerullo III
Vice Chair
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill O'Donnell-Tormey PhD
Secretary
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lenore F. Puleo
Treasurer
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Phyllis Cureton (2021–2024) — Director
- Former: Elizabeth A. Dubovsky (2021) — Executive Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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 $178K, to Laura Jean Watters (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The Staten Island Foundation
How much does The Staten Island Foundation give each year?
The Staten Island Foundation gave $3.5M across 91 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $3.1M across 100 grants.
What is The Staten Island Foundation's typical grant size?
The Staten Island Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $25,000, and its average grant was $38,845, across 91 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Staten Island Foundation that year got $41K on average.
Where does The Staten Island Foundation give grants?
The Staten Island Foundation gives mostly in New York: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Staten Island, NY (61 grants), New York, NY (26 grants) and Brooklyn, NY (3 grants).
Does The Staten Island Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 91 grants with a stated purpose on The Staten Island Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Employee Matching Gift by Kathyrn Rooney" (7 grants), "Employee Matching Gift by Daniel Master" (3 grants) and "Elizabeth Dubovsky Fellowship" (3 grants).
Who are The Staten Island Foundation's largest grantees?
The Staten Island Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Richmond University Medical Center Foundation ($400,000), Meals on Wheels of Staten Island Inc ($200,000) and New York Early Childhood Professional Development Institute ($175,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 22% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Staten Island Foundation?
The Staten Island Foundation reported $95.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $4.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $4.5M (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 Staten Island Foundation fund?
The Foundation’s mission is to improve quality of life on Staten Island, particularly for the least advantaged. Its four focus areas are health, education, arts and culture, and community services. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Staten Island Foundation?
Contact Foundation staff with a few paragraphs describing the proposal and its alignment with a Foundation target. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Staten Island Foundation's EIN?
The Staten Island Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-3993115. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Staten Island Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-staten-island-foundation-morg_e3a4db0c84ad4d10a41b181445dc284a
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_133993115_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Staten Island Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-staten-island-foundation-morg_e3a4db0c84ad4d10a41b181445dc284a},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Staten Island 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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