Sorlien Charitable Tr For Needy Children
The Sorlien Charitable Trust for Needy Children is a private foundation dedicated to supporting various charitable causes, with a particular emphasis on aiding disadvantaged children. Its mission reflects a commitment to general human services, education, and food security, as evidenced by its funding of organizations such as CARE USA, Save the Bay, and the Maui Food Bank. The foundation actively supports educational programs and initiatives aimed at providing food and housing for those in need, including refugees. While it primarily operates in Rhode Island, its funding also extends to organizations in other states, demonstrating a broader commitment to humanitarian efforts.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
Ideal Applicant
Small or local nonprofits (or national relief organizations handling discrete projects) whose work benefits disadvantaged children or fits the foundation’s prior grants in education, food/human services, or community programs.
Good Fit
- • Asks for a modest grant (typically in the low‑thousands).
- • Project directly benefits disadvantaged children or matches prior education/food/human services grants.
- • Local presence or demonstrated tie to Rhode Island is clear, or the project is a time‑bound relief effort for which small unrestricted support is useful.
- • Can make a concise, phone/email request and document use of funds quickly.
Geography
Recent grants span a small set of states (two states in 2024 and three states across prior years), with half of 2024 dollars directed to the foundation’s home state and the other half to an out‑of‑state recipient.
Recipient Variety
The latest year shows four distinct independent recipients and the three‑year history includes multiple different charities rather than a single beneficiary, indicating a moderate spread of grantees for a micro private foundation.
New Applicants
New recipients appear in the observed years (new grantees were funded in 2023 and 2024), but the foundation also declares that it only funds preselected organizations, so unsolicited entry is plausible but not clearly supported by a public competitive process.
Source: Zeffy Agent · Mar 2026
