The White Family Foundation
The White Family Foundation is a private foundation based in Cranston, Rhode Island. It supports nonprofit arts and education programs, with an emphasis on using the arts to expand opportunity, encourage creative expression, and strengthen communities.
The White Family Foundation at a glance
In short: The White Family Foundation gave $996K across 44 grants in 2025 (avg $23K), mostly in Rhode Island. 48% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $995,500
- +7.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 44
- +63.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $22,625
- -34.0% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $7,194,564
- +267.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 48% first-time grantees (21 of 44, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (95% 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 White Family Foundation
- How to Apply
-
Begin with a succinct LOI describing the need or identified problem, the proposed solution, and the applicant’s qualifications. Consult the foundation’s website guidelines for required forms and materials and any restrictions.
- Review Cycle
- The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website guidelines; no specific date is stated in the available information.
- Deadline
- The filing directs applicants to the foundation’s website guidelines; no specific date is stated in the available…
- Contact
Application contact: Marjorie Houston
Mailing address: Taco Inc 1160 Cranston Street, Cranston, RI 02920
Phone: (401) 942-8000
Website: https://thewhitefamilyfoundationri.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 White Family Foundation
Who The White Family Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Providence Performing Arts Center ($275K). Together the top 10 received $771K.
Grant Size Distribution
113 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 93 grants of 113 (82%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it prioritizes organizations serving Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts. In 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Rhode Island and 5% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 44 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The White Family Foundation open to new grantees?
48%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 21 of 44 grantees (48%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 45% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 23% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 488% 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 $313K (2020) to $1.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 44 grants totaling $996K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Providence Performing Arts Center Providence, RI | Theatre | $275,000 |
| St Andrews School Barrington, RI | Education | $275,000 |
| RI Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School East Providence, RI | ARTS | $100,000 |
| Community Prep School Providence, RI | Education | $24,300 |
| Community Music Works Providence, RI | MUSIC | $20,000 |
| Firstworks Providence, RI | Arts & Education | $20,000 |
| The Little Theatre of Fall River Inc Fall River, MA | Education | $18,000 |
| East End Theatre E Providence, RI | Theatre | $15,000 |
| New Urban Arts Providence, RI | YOUTH | $12,000 |
| Newport Contemporary Ballet Newport, RI | Education | $12,000 |
Ready to take the next step with The White Family Foundation?
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 | $7,194,564 | $6,400,178 | $1,155,211 | $995,500 | 44 | $1,077,100 | $3,525,350 | $220,631 |
| 2024 | $1,957,523 | $1,301,041 | $1,044,790 | $925,800 | 27 | $1,007,400 | $308,893 | $96,669 |
| 2023 | $1,836,230 | $1,065,287 | $1,181,291 | $1,064,000 | 18 | $1,153,570 | $311,966 | $99,089 |
| 2022 | $1,818,868 | $969,828 | $925,354 | $810,185 | 12 | $897,455 | $256,332 | $88,584 |
| 2021 | $1,780,543 | $2,013,117 | $639,543 | $534,500 | 12 | $614,262 | $530,738 | $99,742 |
| 2020 | $954,061 | $231,846 | $385,663 | $313,162 | 12 | — | $24,840 | $73,530 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The White Family Foundation reported a distributable amount of $221K 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 describes its mission as fostering opportunity, cultural awareness, and creative expression through community-driven philanthropy. Its website says it supports nonprofit programs that expand access to the arts, including youth arts education, public art, leadership development through creativity, and projects promoting cultural awareness or educational and economic benefits.
Applicants must be registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits with programs focused on the arts or arts education and should demonstrate community impact. The foundation says it does not fund individuals, for-profit businesses, or organizations without 501(c)(3) status.
Its 2025 grants included arts, education, music, theatre, youth, and health purposes. Among the supported organizations, Providence Performing Arts Center says it connects the community with performances and educational opportunities; FirstWorks says it engages diverse audiences with performing arts and education; and New Urban Arts describes itself as a community of high school students and adult mentors sharing resources to inspire creative expression. These are the grantees’ descriptions of their own work.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 44 grants totaling $995,500. Grant amounts ranged from $1,200 to $275,000, with a median of $7,500.
The largest reported grants were $275,000 each to Providence Performing Arts Center and St. Andrew’s School, followed by $100,000 to the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School. Other grants included $24,300 to Community Prep School; $20,000 each to Community Music Works and FirstWorks; and $18,000 to The Little Theatre of Fall River.
The foundation’s grants page describes a preliminary Letter of Inquiry (LOI) process. It asks applicants to briefly present the need or problem, proposed solution, and qualifications to carry out that solution. The foundation’s 2025 filing directs applicants to its website guidelines for forms and materials, deadlines, and award restrictions.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Marjorie Houston as executive director; John Hazen White Jr. as president and executive chair; Benjamin White as vice-chair; Kenneth Dumas as treasurer; and Latdavorn Bonilla as secretary. It also lists Elizabeth White, Dr. Irving Schneider, Elizabeth Manchester, Kirsten White, and Katelyn White as board members.
The White Family Foundation is led by Marjorie Houston, Executive Director since 2023 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 10 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Marjorie Houston
Executive Director
President → Executive Director, 2023
On filings since 2020
20 hrs/week
$60K (2020) → $96K (2025)
John Hazen White Jr.
President & Executive Chair
Founder → President & Executive Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin White
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth White
Board Member
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Latdavorn Bonilla
Secretary
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elizabeth Manchester
Board Member
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kenneth Dumas
Treasurer
Board Member → Treasurer, 2023
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katelyn White
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kirsten White
Board Member
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Irving Schneider
Board Member
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Irv Schneider (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: John White III (2020–2022) — Treasurer
- Former: David Gilden (2020) — Board Member
- Former: Nelson Rego (2020) — Board Member
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 $96K, to Marjorie Houston (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about The White Family Foundation
How much does The White Family Foundation give each year?
The White Family Foundation gave $996K across 44 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $926K across 27 grants.
What is The White Family Foundation's typical grant size?
The White Family Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $7,500, and its average grant was $22,625, across 44 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The White Family Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does The White Family Foundation give grants?
The White Family Foundation gives mostly in Rhode Island: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (5%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (23 grants), Fall River, MA (3 grants), Newport, RI (3 grants) and East Providence, RI (2 grants).
Does The White Family Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 44 grants with a stated purpose on The White Family Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education" (18 grants), "Arts" (9 grants) and "Theatre" (4 grants).
Who are The White Family Foundation's largest grantees?
The White Family Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Providence Performing Arts Center ($275,000), St Andrews School ($275,000) and RI Philharmonic Orchestra and Music School ($100,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 65% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The White Family Foundation?
The White Family Foundation reported $7.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.1M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $221K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does The White Family Foundation fund?
The foundation describes its mission as fostering opportunity, cultural awareness, and creative expression through community-driven philanthropy. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The White Family Foundation?
Begin with a succinct LOI describing the need or identified problem, the proposed solution, and the applicant’s qualifications. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The White Family Foundation's EIN?
The White Family Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0509502. 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
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 19, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work The White Family Foundation funds
Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Nixa Affiliate Grantmaking Program Up to US $10,000 · Due October 19, 2026
- Community and School Grants $28,000 total pool; 10-15 grants expected · Due October 19, 2026
- Mary Pinola/Crescenta Valley Chamber Education Fund $500 - $5,000 for ongoing programs; up to $15,000 for Strategic Initiative Grants · Due October 19, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The White Family Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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More similar funders
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The White Family Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-white-family-foundation-morg_222d4bf98fac4220ba04942d54868ca9
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_050509502_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The White Family Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-white-family-foundation-morg_222d4bf98fac4220ba04942d54868ca9},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-18. 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 White Family 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 White Family Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?