Rhode Island Arts Grants

This program provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island for arts and culture projects that engage and benefit local communities.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Providence, Rhode Island, that provide essential services to low-income individuals, with a focus on food security, housing, and healthcare, while being managed by a majority Protestant board.

This grant provides financial support to individual artists in Rhode Island for organizing and promoting open studio tours that showcase their work and foster community engagement in the arts.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Newport, Rhode Island, that provide impactful services to low- and moderate-income residents, focusing on community well-being, economic development, and cultural enrichment.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island that support programs and initiatives benefiting children and families in the community.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in New England to support public performances and community engagement activities featuring regional artists.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based non-profit organizations to support projects that promote Japanese arts and culture, particularly in areas with limited access to such events.

The Consolidated Homeless Fund (CHFP), managed by the Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD) in Rhode Island, is dedicated to preventing and responding to homelessness across the state. This grant program is deeply aligned with the OHCD's mission to establish a homeless crisis response system that prioritizes prevention and, when homelessness occurs, rapidly transitions individuals to permanent housing solutions. The initiative emphasizes a person-centered approach, rooted in evidence-based best practices, and incorporates a Housing First philosophy that is trauma-informed and low-barrier, reflecting a strategic commitment to holistic and effective interventions. The target beneficiaries for this program are individuals and households experiencing or at risk of homelessness in Rhode Island. The impact goals are to prevent homelessness whenever possible and, failing that, to rapidly exit those affected into stable, permanent housing. The CHFP explicitly calls for proposals that integrate the voices of individuals with lived expertise in homelessness, alongside strategies for harm reduction, trauma-informed care, elimination of barriers, and a strong housing-focused approach. This underscores the program's commitment to creating a system that is responsive to the real-world needs and experiences of those it serves. Priorities and focuses for this RFP include a range of project types such as Emergency Shelters, Street Outreach (including CES Navigation), Rapid Re-Housing, Supportive Services Only, System-wide and systems projects (including Housing Problem Solving), Warming Centers, Temporary Seasonal Shelters, and New Permanent Emergency Shelters. The program strongly encourages agencies to leverage mainstream resources, particularly Medicaid funding, to expand services and reach more households, even while acknowledging that Medicaid cannot cover all aspects of services. This highlights a strategic priority to maximize resource utilization and create a more integrated support system. The expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around a more effective and humane homeless crisis response system. This includes an increase in successful preventions of homelessness, a reduction in the duration of homelessness, and a higher rate of successful transitions to permanent housing. The emphasis on evidence-based practices and a Housing First philosophy suggests a desire for data-driven results that demonstrate a tangible impact on the lives of those experiencing homelessness. The grant also seeks innovative projects, indicating a desire to explore new approaches that can further enhance the system's effectiveness. The OHCD's strategic priorities are clearly articulated through its investment in a homeless crisis response system that is person-centered, trauma-informed, and low-barrier. Their theory of change appears to be that by funding a diverse array of projects, emphasizing collaboration, and requiring the incorporation of lived expertise and mainstream resources, they can build a more robust, equitable, and ultimately successful system for preventing and ending homelessness in Rhode Island. The allocation of approximately $4.5 million in funds, with $2.5 million earmarked for new projects, further demonstrates a commitment to both sustaining existing effective programs and fostering innovation within the homeless response sector.

The Public Art Learning Fund, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), is designed to fortify the public art landscape across New England by offering professional development opportunities directly to artists. NEFA's overarching mission, as reflected in this grant, is to cultivate more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout the region. This initiative aligns with NEFA's strategic goal of fostering a sustainable and equitable public art ecosystem by investing in the skills, resources, and connections of artists working in the public realm. The primary beneficiaries of this fund are artists residing full-time in one of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) who are actively engaged in public artmaking or are in the process of expanding their practice into this domain. The fund aims to empower these artists, contributing to more just and inclusive public art. Expected outcomes include artists developing enhanced skills and resources, leading to the creation of more vibrant public spaces and a stronger regional community of practice. The Public Art Learning Fund prioritizes opportunities that specifically expand an artist's public art practice and contribute equitably to more just and inclusive public artmaking. NEFA seeks clarity on desired learnings and their application to the artist's practice. The fund welcomes artists at various stages of their public artmaking careers from urban, suburban, and rural communities, recognizing that diverse cultural and artistic expressions are crucial for equitable and vibrant public spaces. A key focus of this grant is equity. NEFA acknowledges that various barriers, including race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, can limit access to professional development. Therefore, the Public Art Learning Fund actively prioritizes equity in its funding decisions. This may include, but is not limited to, prioritizing artists who self-identify as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and/or those who are rooted in rural communities, aligning with NEFA's theory of change that targeted support can address systemic inequities and build a more inclusive artistic landscape. Grants range from $500 to $3,000 and support opportunities taking place between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Eligible applicants must also have a Creative Ground profile, and the proposed professional development must directly relate to strengthening their public art practice and occur within the grant period. These measurable results, such as the number of artists served and the nature of their professional development, contribute to NEFA's broader strategic aim of fostering a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem in New England.

This program provides a no-cost, 20-week development opportunity for small business owners in Massachusetts, Maine, or Rhode Island to receive mentorship and resources to grow their businesses and positively impact their communities.

This program provides funding to Rhode Island schools and affiliated non-profits to facilitate arts and cultural field trips that enhance students' learning experiences outside the classroom.

Grant Opportunity: RISCA Project Grants in Education (PGE) Program Funding Organization: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) Contact Information: For grant support and assistance, reach out to RISCA staff through one-on-one meetings, grant workshops (in person and online), or drop-in hours. Pre-recorded grant workshops and helpful videos are available on RISCA's YouTube Channel. Contact the program director for the specific grant program you are interested in applying to schedule a meeting. Accommodations for disabilities or language barriers can be requested by contacting the program director at least three weeks prior to the application deadline. Award Details: Up to $10,000 for organizations and up to $3,000 for individuals. Eligibility: Pre-K-12 schools (public, public charter, private, alternative, special education schools, career and technical centers) based in Rhode Island; non-profit or fiscally sponsored organizations based in Rhode Island; arts educators and teaching artists in partnership with a school based in Rhode Island. Application Process: The application consists of a written application and an interview. Successful applicants will demonstrate experience in artistic disciplines, knowledge of arts instruction and commitment to professional learning, as well as understanding of their intended audience's learning needs and styles. Artists already listed on the Rhode Island Teaching Artist Roster can renew their listings annually by completing a background check and updating their profile on CreativeGround. Additional Information: Grants are decided through a rigorous panel process involving peers and cultural leaders from across the country. Panelists evaluate applications based on need, relevance to the community, diversity, equity, access, and inclusion. Funding recommendations are made by panelists after reviewing applications. Partial funding is common, so it is recommended to ask for the needed amount along with an accurate budget. Changes or updates to funded projects should be communicated to RISCA staff via email. Grant notifications are sent out via mail. The grant review process takes approximately six to twelve weeks. RISCA staff can provide support beyond grants and offer learning programs, events, and convenings to connect people in the arts and culture ecosystem in Rhode Island.

The Rhode Island Supreme Court Historical Society Fund, managed by the Rhode Island Foundation, is dedicated to preserving and perpetuating the history of the Supreme Court and the broader judicial system within Rhode Island. This initiative aligns directly with the foundation's mission to support programs that enhance public understanding of the state's legal heritage. The fund serves as a direct continuation of the work previously undertaken by the Rhode Island Supreme Court Historical Society, utilizing its remaining assets to ensure the ongoing documentation and appreciation of judicial history. The primary beneficiaries of this grant program are nonprofit organizations operating within Rhode Island. The fund aims to support these organizations in providing programs that achieve several impact goals: preserving the history of the Rhode Island Supreme Court and the Rhode Island judicial system, maintaining artifacts and records related to the courts, publishing works focused on Rhode Island legal history, and organizing public forums to discuss the state's legal and constitutional history. The fund prioritizes projects that actively contribute to the preservation and dissemination of Rhode Island's legal past. Expected outcomes include a more robust collection of historical records and artifacts, increased scholarly and public engagement with legal history, and a greater understanding among the public of the state's judicial evolution. Measurable results could include the number of historical items preserved, publications produced, and attendees at public forums, all contributing to the overarching goal of safeguarding judicial heritage. Organizations applying for grants are expected to demonstrate matching resources, either through additional funding or in-kind services, highlighting a collaborative approach to historical preservation. It is important to note that funds cannot be used for the purchase of equipment, focusing resources directly on program delivery and historical initiatives. This strategic approach ensures that the grants directly support the core objectives of historical preservation and public education, reflecting a theory of change that sees direct program funding and collaborative efforts as key drivers for achieving its preservation goals.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in specific eastern U.S. states for projects that focus on human needs, environmental stewardship, education, and community vitality.

The June Rockwell Levy Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations serving Providence County, with a preference for northern Rhode Island. The foundation does not typically fund public schools or charter schools. The grants are divided into different sectors, with different application deadlines. The sectors and their respective deadlines are as follows: Arts & Culture or Environment (application deadline: January 22, 2024), Education or Economic Security (application deadline: March 18, 2024), Health or Housing (application deadline: May 20, 2024), and Human Services, Basic Human Needs, or Other (application deadline: August 19, 2024). Organizations can only apply for funding once per calendar year. The application requires various attachments, including the JRL Application, JRL Financial Summary, current organizational budget, most recent balance sheet, and current board of directors. If awarded a grant, reporting requirements and deadlines will be described in the award letter. The foundation's board of trustees can be found on their website. The legacy of June Rockwell Levy and Austin T. Levy is highlighted, and their contributions to the community are described. The application link is provided as well.

The Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant program aims to advance sustainable agriculture practices by enhancing the knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes of agricultural and other service providers. This directly aligns with the foundation's mission to support sustainable agriculture through education and professional development. The grant focuses on empowering professionals who work with farmers, enabling them to teach, advise, or assist in the adoption of sustainable methods. The program seeks to create a ripple effect, where trained service providers then apply their learned expertise to help farmers improve their agricultural practices, fostering a more sustainable food system within the Northeast region. The primary beneficiaries of this program are agricultural service providers, including those in non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, Cooperative Extension, and other entities that serve the farming community. Additionally, the program extends its reach to other service providers such as real estate agents, bankers, and attorneys, who can indirectly influence farmers. The overarching impact goal is to cultivate a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape in the Northeast by equipping these professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge. Expected outcomes include increased adoption of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices by farmers, improved ecological and economic resilience to climate change, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The program prioritizes a wide array of topics, encompassing marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture, and traditional ecological knowledge. A significant focus is placed on climate-smart agriculture practices, which are intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change. This includes practices such as reduced and no-till farming, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. The program's strategic priorities are clearly aligned with addressing contemporary agricultural challenges through education and practical application. Northeast SARE actively encourages projects from, or in collaboration with, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Furthermore, it encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusivity in agricultural development. The theory of change behind these priorities is that by supporting a diverse range of voices and institutions, the program can foster more innovative and equitable solutions for sustainable agriculture, leading to broader and more effective adoption of sustainable practices across the region. The expected measurable results include an increase in the number of service providers trained in sustainable agriculture, a documented increase in farmers adopting climate-smart practices, and the successful implementation of projects that demonstrate improved ecological, social, and economic resilience. Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000, with project lengths usually spanning 2 to 3 years, and a maximum allowed duration of 3.5 years. The program's geographical focus is exclusively on the Northeast region, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., ensuring targeted and localized impact within this specific area.

Project Grants in Education provide targeted financial support for arts education initiatives in Rhode Island, encouraging immersive and experiential learning in the arts. These grants support a range of educational activities, including artist residencies, arts integration projects, and community engagement initiatives, with funding up to $10,000 for organizations and $3,000 for individuals. The program is open to schools, nonprofit organizations, arts educators, and teaching artists committed to enriching educational experiences through the arts. The goal is to foster artistic exploration, enhance the skills of local teaching artists, and provide high-quality arts education to students across various educational settings. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual Spring opening/closing deadlines: February 1st to April 1st

The Grow grant program, offered by the Grassroots Fund, is designed to support groups with existing project implementation experience in their communities. The program aligns with the Grassroots Fund's broad interpretation of "environment," funding a wide range of activities focused on local, grassroots work. The mission is to deepen community work by fostering vision development, increasing participation, identifying new stakeholders, and incorporating diverse voices and lived experiences into decision-making processes. Target beneficiaries for the Grow grant program are community-based, local initiatives, specifically those operating in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Vermont. The program emphasizes supporting groups that represent a broad range of community voices and are not currently being reached by other funders. The overarching impact goal is to strengthen community-led efforts and ensure that decision-making processes are inclusive and reflective of various perspectives. The program prioritizes volunteer-driven groups or those with no more than two full-time paid staff (80 hours/week combined) and an approximate annual operating budget under $100,000. These priorities underscore the fund's strategic focus on supporting smaller, community-rooted organizations that may have limited access to other funding sources. The Grassroots Fund's theory of change appears to be centered on empowering local groups to drive community development and foster more equitable and participatory processes. Expected outcomes include communities with further developed visions, reduced barriers to participation, engagement of new stakeholders, and increased integration of diverse voices and lived experiences in core decision-making. While specific measurable results are not explicitly detailed beyond these outcomes, the emphasis on "deepening their work" and "bringing more voices" suggests qualitative and potentially quantitative shifts in community engagement and project effectiveness. The grant size ranges from $1,000 to $4,000, providing crucial financial support to these initiatives. It's important to note that the fund does not support individuals, national or international work, lobbying, partisan political activity, land/building acquisition, studies without follow-up, publication of books/reports, micro/re-granting programs, or retroactive expenses. This clear outline of what is not supported further defines the strategic priorities of the Grassroots Fund, ensuring that grants are directed towards community-level, action-oriented initiatives that align with their mission of fostering grassroots environmental and social change.

The Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) offers the Project Grant for Organizations (PGO), a grant ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 for less than a year, to support arts and culture projects relevant to Rhode Island communities, with eligibility for nonprofit organizations incorporated in Rhode Island with a community-involved board of directors.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) is offering the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects across the Northeast. The core mission of this program is to foster competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability. This aligns with a broader strategic objective of strengthening the regional dairy industry by enabling operations of all sizes to successfully launch and sustain their products in the marketplace. By focusing on start-up operations and tangible implementation, the NE-DBIC aims to facilitate direct economic impact and product innovation within the dairy sector. The program targets several key beneficiaries, including dairy farmers ready to begin processing, value-added entrepreneurs with proven experience in dairy processing or business startups, and dairy processors established after January 1, 2023, who are in their start-up phase. The impact goals are centered on developing these businesses, supporting their entry into the market, and ultimately contributing to the economic vitality of the Northeast dairy industry. By providing financial assistance for start-up operations, the program seeks to create new opportunities for dairy-related businesses and products. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly on tangible implementation rather than earlier stages like research and development, concept development, or initial planning. This indicates a strategic emphasis on getting products to market and establishing sustainable business models. Eligibility criteria further refine this focus, requiring applicants to be headquartered or based in the Northeast, demonstrate proof of concept, have a robust business plan, obtain necessary licenses, and show commitment from buyers or distributors by the end of the grant period. Expected outcomes include the successful launch of new value-added dairy products, the establishment of competitive and viable dairy processing businesses, and increased market access for Northeast dairy products. Measurable results would likely include the number of new businesses launched, the volume of new products brought to market, and the economic growth generated within the participating dairy sectors. The NE-DBIC's strategic priorities, as evidenced by this grant, involve direct investment in the operational start-up phase, aiming for a theory of change where targeted financial support leads to the successful commercialization and long-term sustainability of dairy processing ventures in the region.