Juanita Sánchez Community Fund Grants
This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island that are dedicated to improving the lives of the Latino community in the state.
The Juanita Sánchez Community Fund Grants, administered by the Rhode Island Foundation, were established in 1992 to honor Juanita Sánchez, a passionate advocate for Latino rights and needs in Rhode Island. Funded through contributions from her friends and family, the program is committed to enriching and improving the lives of Latinos across the state through targeted support of nonprofit-led projects. The grant program provides funding to nonprofit organizations undertaking projects that directly benefit the Latino community in Rhode Island. Proposals may involve new or existing initiatives, but funding is generally intended for one-time expenses. The Fund explicitly does not prioritize applications that solely request funding for translation or interpretation services, signage, or language-related costs. Grants typically range from $500 to $1,500. The size of each grant award may vary depending on the volume and caliber of applications received in a given cycle. While organizations headquartered outside of Rhode Island are not automatically excluded, they will be considered on a case-by-case basis and must demonstrate clear benefit to the Latino community within the state. Eligibility for this grant is open to any nonprofit organization that advances the stated purpose of the Fund. Organizations do not need to self-identify as Latino-serving or be led by individuals of Latino heritage. What matters is that the proposed project materially serves the Latino population in Rhode Island. Reapplications for the same project in subsequent years are generally not supported. Applications open approximately six weeks prior to the annual deadline, which falls on December 18. All submissions must be completed through the Rhode Island Foundation’s online portal by 3:00 p.m. EST on the due date. For further inquiries, Carmen Diaz-Jusino, Director of Economic Mobility, serves as the contact point for the program and may be reached by phone or email. Awards follow an annual funding cycle.
Award Range
$500 - $1,500
Total Program Funding
Not specified
Number of Awards
Not specified
Matching Requirement
No
Additional Details
Grants range from $500 to $1,500 depending on volume and quality of applications. Funding supports one-time expenses. Renewed support for the same project is rarely awarded.
Eligible Applicants
Additional Requirements
Eligible applicants must be nonprofit organizations advancing the purpose of the Fund. Organizations do not need to be Latino-led or exclusively serve Latino populations, but projects must demonstrably benefit the Latino community in Rhode Island. Organizations located outside Rhode Island may be considered if their projects directly serve the state’s Latino community. Funding is for one-time project expenses; repeated annual support for the same project is not typical.
Geographic Eligibility
All
Application Opens
November 6, 2025
Application Closes
December 18, 2025
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