In 1983, a group of dedicated individuals with a shared vision created the Catholic Foundation of Rhode Island (CFRI). Their goal was to establish a non-profit foundation that would serve to ensure long-term financial stability for charitable, religious, and educational institutions within the Catholic community of Rhode Island.

From its inception, CFRI has demonstrated its commitment to the values and principles of the Catholic faith. Recognizing the importance of responsible stewardship, CFRI has made significant decisions to invest its assets solely in socially and morally responsible funds, ensuring donors’ contributions are channeled into institutions that align with the teachings of the Catholic Church; this has enabled the foundation to grow steadily in size and scope.

Through disbursements from its endowed funds, some of the most notable first funds including the Anna B. Jalbert Memorial Endowment Fund, the Father Anthony I. Robinson Memorial Scholarship Fund, and the Frances Ward Endowment Fund, the foundation actively supports non-profit organizations that have made a lasting difference in local communities. These initiatives not only address immediate needs but also contribute to the corporal and spiritual work of the Catholic Church, ensuring that its mission continues to flourish throughout Rhode Island.

While CFRI has gained recognition for its commitment to Catholic philanthropy and ethical investment practices, it aspires to become a nationally recognized steward of Catholic giving. By maintaining strong business relationships and making investment decisions rooted in the principles of the faith, CFRI continues to serve as a model for responsible and impactful philanthropy.

Throughout its history, the Catholic Foundation of Rhode Island has remained faithful to its founding principles while adapting to the changing needs of the community it serves. As it looks towards the future, CFRI has committed to maintaining its legacy as a driving force behind positive change in Rhode Island, fostering growth and making a lasting impact on the lives of countless individuals through its charitable endeavors

Greetings, welcome to the Catholic Foundation of Rhode Island’s website!

As Catholics, our faith compels us to be both charitable and hopeful for the future.  Because the Catholic Foundation perpetually funds the charities supported by Rhode Island’s Catholics, it is an enduring testament to our donors’ faith, hope and charity in action.

And while it is true that we are one of the largest Catholic Foundations in the country and that our funds are invested in a faith-consistent manner, the Foundation is far more than simply a funding vehicle.

For Rhode Island Catholics, the Foundation is a repository of our collective desire to build the Kingdom of God by feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, educating young people in the Catholic faith, ensuring the vibrancy of our parishes, and encouraging vocations to the priesthood – not merely today, but for generations to come.

Established in a state whose motto is “Hope,” we call ourselves a Foundation of Hope. We witness our donors’ hope to better their community through philanthropy. And we witness grateful beneficiaries who are given hope through the Diocese of Providence’s ministries. We applaud the generosity of Rhode Island Catholics and are committed to helping fulfill their hopes and prayers for a better tomorrow.

May God bless you and your family!

Michael M. Woody
Chair, Board of Advisors
Catholic Foundation of Rhode Island

Born into one of America’s wealthiest families, Katharine Drexel was called by her faith to act on behalf of the marginalized, particularly Black and indigenous people. During an era of entrenched segregation, she gave much of her inheritance to found schools serving these communities, including an academy in New Orleans that soon became Xavier University of Louisiana, the only historically Black Catholic university in the United States.

Canonized in 2000, Saint Katharine Drexel also founded a religious order that continues her ministries, the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament.

Michael F. Sabatino

Chief Financial Officer
Diocese of Providence

Michael J. Speidel, CFA
Board Vice Chair

Managing Director-Retired
Brown University Investment Office

Joanne Speroni-Woody, CTF
Board Chair

Vice President and
Principal Trust Officer – Retired
Washington Trust Company

Katherine S. Sullivan

Senior Paraplanner-Retired
SK Wealth Management

Michael M. Woody

Chief Executive Officer
Trans-Tex LLC

Natalie Mack

Information Specialist
401-278-4583