FUNDING ALERT: Rhode Island Foundation accepting proposals for community-making initiatives

February 21, 2020

Community is created at the intersection of people and places. It’s the most tangible place where relationships are formed, challenges are felt, problems are solved. That’s why community-making is important. The Foundation’s Community Grants program provides grants up to $10,000 for community-making efforts that make unique and important things happen at this intersection.

Previous Community Grants have supported community gardens, walking tours, artistic performances, public art, and little free libraries. For 2020, they are looking for projects that:

  • Build social networks and connection among neighbors
  • Develop and sustain strong relationships that persist over time and experience
  • Enhance the role of shared public spaces as community anchors
  • Help people collaborate in order to identify goals, solve problems, or make group decisions
  • Share traditions with community members

Whether the project will serve marginalized communities, provide geographic spread across Rhode Island, and align with available funds are also of consideration.

Eligibility

Nonprofit organizations, municipal governments, public agencies like libraries or schools, and volunteer-led groups such as neighborhood and resident associations are eligible to apply. Organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) IRS designation will require a fiscal sponsor.

To be eligible, proposals must:

  • Be doable – i.e. they will generate visible results within the next 12 – 18 months
  • Have staying power — i.e. create a lasting impact
  • Be openly accessible to the community
  • Be relevant and meaningful to the specific community
  • Leverage capital (financial, human, and social) from the community – as indicated by a cash match, committed volunteer time, donated space, or other in-kind contributions

Community Grants are intended to support one-time costs and expenses, and are not meant to sustain ongoing programming. Applicants will not be eligible for renewed support for the same project in future years. The program does not support:

  • Capital campaigns
  • Endowment funds
  • For-profit entities
  • Fundraising events
  • Individuals
  • Lobbying efforts
  • Political groups
  • Religious organizations for religious purposes

Application deadline

Applications must be submitted by midnight (EST) on March 13, 2020. Please note that no assistance will be available after 5 p.m. (EST).

To apply

Complete this online application. RI Foundation logo