1829 Legacy Fund Grants

The 1829 Legacy Fund, formerly known as the Providence Journal Charitable Legacy Fund, is a donor advised fund administered by the Rhode Island Foundation. The fund was established in 2012 after assets were transferred from the Providence Journal Charitable Foundation, which had been providing grants since 1956. The current structure allows donor advisors to make grant recommendations to the Foundation, continuing a long tradition of philanthropic support in Rhode Island. The fund provides financial support to nonprofit organizations offering impactful programs and services in the state of Rhode Island. Funding is directed toward several key priority areas, including human services and healthcare with a particular emphasis on services for the homeless, educational and youth programs, arts and culture initiatives, and efforts that support responsible and ethical journalism. These thematic areas reflect the Fund’s broad commitment to supporting vulnerable populations, fostering youth development, enriching cultural life, and strengthening the integrity of public information. Eligible applicants include qualified nonprofit organizations that operate within Rhode Island. While the geographic scope is limited to the state, the fund's thematic flexibility allows organizations across different sectors to apply, provided their work aligns with the specified focus areas. Each organization may submit only one application per calendar year, underscoring the importance of a well-prepared and strategically timed submission. The grant application process is conducted through the Rhode Island Foundation’s online portal. A complete application consists of a fully filled online form submitted via the foundation's system. Applicants who have already started an application are encouraged to log into their account page to resume or update their submission. There are no pre-application steps such as letters of intent or concept papers mentioned, and all applications are evaluated based on the donor advisors’ recommendations. For 2025, four application deadlines were set: April 8, July 8, September 9, and December 2. Since the December 2 deadline has passed relative to the current reference date, the next funding cycle is anticipated in the coming year. Organizations are typically notified of the grant decision within approximately three months after submission. Interested applicants can reach out to Bruce Keeler, Senior Philanthropic Advisor at the Rhode Island Foundation, for additional information or clarification. He can be contacted via phone at (401) 427-4035 or by email at [email protected].