Community foundations are a vehicle that anyone can use to turn their generosity into a powerful force for good. Community foundations, like ours here in Rhode Island, serve a unifying purpose. We possess the unique ability to mobilize generosity and financial resources, build and activate networks of people, provide an enduring safe harbor during times of uncertainty, and celebrate and embrace differing experiences – all with the aim of solving critical community challenges. 

As a nonpartisan public charity, the Rhode Island Foundation, like all community foundations, accepts charitable gifts of all shapes and sizes, pools and invests those gifts in financial markets so that they grow over time, and uses a responsible portion of the proceeds from those invested charitable dollars to make grants, provide scholarships, and support organizations and efforts focused on strengthening our communities and enhancing the quality of life in our state. The design is intended to provide a permanent source of funding to help improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders – now, and for generations to come. 

We’re always evolving in step with our state to address the issues that matter most to Rhode Islanders. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we have the financial strength and reach to provide much more than funding. We foster collaboration among partners and decision-makers to develop innovative solutions to community needs, and we strengthen the capabilities of individual organizations and sectors to build their own resilient foundations. With a clear point of view on the challenges we face, we’re driving progress and making a real difference for our neighbors state-wide.