Rhode Island Private Grants

Farm Credit East recognizes the significance of farmers’ markets for both producers and consumers. In support of this vital marketing channel, we are offering Farmers' Market Grants of up to $500 to eligible applicants. These grants can be utilized to support participating farmers, enhance markets, improve marketing efforts, and implement programs aimed at aiding disadvantaged communities or enhancing access to fresh, local food. Please note that these grants are intended for public markets where multiple farms sell products, not for individual farm markets. Eligibility: Farmers' markets must be located within Farm Credit East’s eight-state territory: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Preference will be given to first-time applicants and markets serving underserved communities with limited access to fresh, local food. Awards will be granted at the sole discretion of Farm Credit East. How to Apply/Application Requirements: The 2024 application cycle is currently open. Please submit the Farmers' Market Grant Application by 4:00 PM on May 31. Recipients will be notified by late June.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations addressing urgent community needs or innovative projects, with awards starting at $10,000 for initiatives that demonstrate strong potential for positive impact.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations that provide stable housing and empower low- and moderate-income communities, focusing on vulnerable populations such as working families, youth, seniors, and veterans.

Ocean State Charities Trust awards grants to various agencies yearly, representing the philosophies of past trustees. These awards are aimed at enhancing the quality of life of Rhode Islanders in areas such as health care, education, social services, and safety and well-being. Grants are designed to support charitable organizations within Rhode Island actively engaged in charitable endeavors and activities. The Trust emphasizes programs that enhance Rhode Islanders' quality of life, promote social welfare, or assist in areas like housing, health, and education. Grant renewed every year. Annual Spring deadline: February 1st

This grant provides $10 million to nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island to improve oral health care access for children and young adults in underserved neighborhoods of Providence.

This program provides funding to organizations in New England for projects that preserve and share the diverse histories of their communities through the conservation of buildings, landscapes, and collections.

This funding opportunity supports Rhode Island nonprofit organizations focused on education, outreach, and research to combat doping in sports and detect performance-enhancing substances.

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 Program for Animal Welfare, administered by the Foundation, supports organizations in Rhode Island that promote or provide the humane treatment of animals. This program is integral to the Foundation's leadership on animal welfare issues, having funded statewide humane education and low-cost spay and neuter initiatives. Eligible organizations must work on projects or programs that significantly impact animal care, shelter, maintenance, humane education, or general welfare, either statewide or in specific communities. The Foundation also considers capital projects. Funding is intended for activities beginning in late September 2024, with applicant notifications expected by mid-September. Grant renewed every year.

The Foundation offers grants to 501(c)(3) organizations operating in Providence County, favoring those in the northern region, with projects related to Health or Housing. Grants to public and charter schools are not provided. Applications are evaluated in June 2024, with a deadline for submission set on May 20, 2024. Organizations can apply once annually and must submit a complete application, including a financial summary and organizational budget. Award letters will detail necessary reporting requirements for successful applicants.

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.

The Grants for the Arts program, offered by the City and County of San Francisco, specifically targets Parades and Festivals as art and cultural experiences. These events must take place in San Francisco public spaces, offer free admission, and be open to the public, aligning with the foundation's mission to support accessible cultural experiences within the city. This program serves as a critical mechanism to foster community engagement and celebrate diverse cultural expressions, directly contributing to San Francisco's vibrant arts landscape. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are nonprofit 501(c)(3), 501(c)(4), or 501(c)(6) organizations based in San Francisco, or those using a San Francisco-based fiscal sponsor. The impact goals revolve around supporting cultural heritage, strengthening community bonds, and celebrating shared cultural interests through public events. The program prioritizes both first-time GFTA grantees and previous grantees who may not have received awards in past cycles, indicating a commitment to nurturing emerging organizations and providing ongoing support to the arts sector. Focus areas for the grants include celebrations of cultural heritage, community, neighborhoods, or shared cultural interests. The funding tiers are designed to accommodate a range of organizational sizes and project scopes, from $10,000 for first-time or previously unsuccessful applicants to $300,000 for large-scale projects up to $15 million. This tiered approach demonstrates a strategic priority to support a broad spectrum of arts and cultural organizations, ensuring that financial assistance is appropriately scaled to the needs of the grantees. The expected outcomes include the successful execution of public parades and festivals that enrich San Francisco's cultural offerings and foster community participation. Measurable results could include the number of attendees at these free public events, the diversity of cultural heritage celebrated, and the demonstrable engagement of specific communities or neighborhoods. The grant duration of two years, from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2026, allows for sustained planning and execution of these initiatives, reflecting a theory of change that long-term investment in cultural programming leads to more robust and impactful community benefits.

This grant provides financial support to organizations in Rhode Island for activities that enhance their operational effectiveness, including strategic planning and anti-racism training, with a focus on those with smaller budgets or addressing critical needs.

The Island Foundation is accepting applications for a grant program, with a deadline of 10/23/2024, aimed at supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that focus on environmental conservation, social change in New Bedford, alternative education, and addressing inequality for womxn and girls.

This funding opportunity supports grassroots community groups with limited resources to launch new environmental projects or significantly shift existing ones, focusing on those that amplify diverse voices and address environmental justice issues.

The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF) is soliciting proposals for the Northeast Forests and Rivers Fund (NEFRF), a program dedicated to restoring and sustaining healthy rivers, forests, and grasslands to provide habitat for diverse fish and wildlife populations. This initiative aligns with NFWF's broader mission to protect and restore native wildlife species and their habitats, leveraging public and private funding to achieve significant conservation outcomes. The NEFRF, formerly known as the New England Forests and Rivers Fund, represents a strategic investment in the ecological health of the Northeast region, fostering biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. The program's target beneficiaries include various fish and wildlife populations such as river herring, Atlantic salmon, brook trout, wood turtles, golden-winged warblers, New England cottontails, and bobolinks. Beyond wildlife, the program also aims to benefit agricultural producers, particularly those in Historically Underserved and Special Emphasis categories, by helping them design and implement conservation practices. The impact goals are centered on improving habitat quality and connectivity, enhancing forest conditions, and promoting hayfield management conducive to successful grassland bird breeding. NEFRF's priorities and focuses are outlined in NFWF’s Northeast Watersheds Business Plan (March 2023), specifically targeting strategies for Stream and Riparian Habitat, and Upland Forests and Grasslands. Key implementation strategies for 2024 include restoring stream and riparian habitats, improving forest management for age and structural diversity, and promoting hayfield management. A significant portion of funding, approximately $625,000, is set aside for projects that assist agricultural producers in adopting conservation practices beneficial to target species like northeast turtles and golden-winged warblers, while also increasing Farm Bill program participation. Additionally, the program encourages projects that involve community outreach, engagement, collaborative management, and the incorporation of traditional knowledge and community input. Expected outcomes and measurable results include improved habitat for specific fish and wildlife species, enhanced age and structural diversity in forest blocks, successful grassland bird breeding, and increased participation of agricultural producers in conservation programs. Projects are expected to contribute to measurable conservation benefits through community input, co-design processes, and engagement with community-level partners (e.g., municipalities, NGOs, community organizations, community leaders) to ensure project design, implementation, maintenance, and long-term sustainability post-grant award. The grant duration is three years, with projects expected to start no later than six months after the award date. The NFWF's strategic priorities for the NEFRF reflect a theory of change that posits by investing in targeted habitat restoration, improved land management, and community engagement, ecological health will be restored and sustained, benefiting both wildlife and human communities. Funding is provided by a consortium of partners including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service and Natural Resources Conservation Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Zoetis Foundation, and Sylvamo, underscoring a collaborative approach to conservation. The program encourages a holistic view of conservation, integrating scientific best practices with local community needs and traditional knowledge to achieve robust and lasting environmental improvements across Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Vermont, and parts of New York.

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.

This grant program supports 501(c)(3) organizations in Providence County, especially those in the north, focusing on Human Services, Basic Human Needs, or other areas not covered by other sectors. The Foundation excludes grants to public and charter schools. Review for these proposals occurs in September 2024, with the application deadline on August 19, 2024. Eligible organizations must submit a full application, including detailed financial documents. Reporting obligations for grant recipients will be outlined in the award letter.

The Program for the Blind, offered by a foundation, focuses on providing grants to nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island that work in the realm of vision research, specifically targeting macular degeneration, and offering support services for the visually impaired. These services include guide dogs, summer camps for children with low-vision and blindness, among others. The grant prioritizes projects that aim towards the economic self-sufficiency of visually impaired individuals, innovative solutions for blindness or vision loss, and research-based solutions for conditions causing vision loss. Grants range from $10,000 to $75,000 for research and support services