• Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations located in the state of Rhode Island  
• Basic Human Needs grants do not fund individuals, scholarships, capital or endowment efforts, fundraising events, or campaigns to elect candidates to public office  
• Grants may support faith-based organizations for secular programs or projects. 

Please note that Basic Human Needs grant funding will prioritize volunteer-based organizations that have minimal operational budgets.

Basic Human Needs Grants support the launch of a new program or support of an established program. For established programs, the Basic Human Needs grant funding cannot be the only source of funding.

Grants are awarded to community-based programs that provide direct assistance, such as:

• Food (food pantries, soup kitchens)
• Clothing
• Housing/rental assistance
• Prescription assistance
• Utilities assistance
• Transportation assistance (bus passes, auto repairs)
• Child care assistance for homeless families
• Toiletries

This program does not support the distribution of products or services to other nonprofits.

To discuss use of funds for activities, or for other uses of funds not listed above, please email Donna Sowden, Grants & Community Investments Officer, at dsowden@rifoundation.org. 

Grants are for up to $5,000.

Please submit a completed application, together with the following, via our online grants portal:

• Proposal budget  
• IRS 501(c)(3) Tax Determination Letter (not a tax-exempt certificate)   
  Required only if your organization has never applied to the Rhode Island Foundation for funding. If an organization is serving as the fiscal agent for this project, please submit the IRS 501(c) tax determination letter for the fiscal agent.