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At the Rhode Island Foundation, grantmaking is about more than funding. It's about relationships, expertise, and commitment to the communities we serve.

Through deep engagement and collaboration with the public and our partners, the Foundation has collectively identified a set of community priorities essential for a thriving Rhode Island. The grants team works across all of them — from education, housing, and economic mobility, to the arts, civic life, and the health of our communities and our climate — united by the belief that strategic investment, directed with care and intention, can create opportunities for people and communities that have too often been overlooked.

We asked team members to share what drives their work, what shaped their careers, and what they love about Rhode Island.

What we do and why it matters

Whether managing grantmaking portfolios, building nonprofit capacity, or coordinating the systems that keep it all moving, grants team members are united by a commitment to making sure the Foundation's resources reach the people and places that need them most.

Carmen Diaz-Jusino Director, Economic Mobility " As Director of Economic Mobility, I lead workforce development initiatives designed to create pathways for individuals to access quality employment and advance in their careers — partnering with employers and training providers to co-create solutions. What brings me the most joy is witnessing the transformation that occurs when someone gains not just a job, but a career pathway that shifts their family's economic trajectory."

Ricky Bogert Director, Impact Investing & Housing " I have the privilege of managing and growing our impact investing program, which provides catalytic capital to impactful organizations and initiatives. I also guide the grantmaking that supports the production and preservation of affordable housing across the state. Being a part of the Foundation's 100-plus year legacy of strengthening communities across Rhode Island gives my work a strong sense of purpose."

Keith Tavares Director, Capacity Building "The work I enjoy most is helping to strengthen the infrastructure and internal needs of nonprofits throughout Rhode Island through planned instructional workshops, technical assistance support for boards, and cohort and peer learning. Knowing that my support and guidance help strengthen the work of nonprofits in Rhode Island is very rewarding."

Donna Sowden Grants & Community Investments Program Officer "After several years focused on raising funds for a single organization, I became increasingly interested in the many nonprofits operating across Rhode Island and the diverse ways they support residents statewide. Today, I oversee the Basic Human Needs portfolio and manage and co-manage topic- and geography-specific grant programs. While grantmaking is challenging, the opportunity to work alongside deeply passionate individuals who care profoundly about the people of Rhode Island is why I have remained in the grants department for 11 years."

The paths that led here

No two members of the team followed the same route to their roles. Their backgrounds span public health and urban planning, classroom teaching and entrepreneurship, environmental advocacy, and community development. What they share is a set of experiences that gave them firsthand insight into how communities work and where thoughtful investment can make a real difference.

Zachary Nieder Assistant Vice President of Grants & Community Investments and Director, Healthy Communities "I have a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health policy and administration, balanced by years working in urban planning, economic development, and community development. That combination has served me well at the Foundation, where so much of our health-related work sits at the intersection of the health care system and community-directed investment."

Helen Morales Grants & Community Investments Senior Associate "My path to this role has been shaped by work rooted in community, from supporting immigrant communities and small businesses at the Guatemalan Consulate and Urban Ventures, to gaining a philanthropic perspective at the CCRI Foundation, to earning a master's degree in public administration from URI. I am also a direct example of the Rhode Island Foundation's investment in community, having benefited from programs supported through its funding. That firsthand experience has given me a deep understanding of how strategic philanthropy can build capacity and create long-term opportunity, and it informs how I approach my work with care, responsibility, and intention."

Micah Salkind Director of Civic and Cultural Life "My work in nonprofits as well as in municipal government prepared me for my role as a grant-maker by giving me a 360 perspective on organizations and their needs. Working as a grant-seeker as well as a grant-maker, I came to understand my role as a supporter of the amazing institutions that deliver services and support our communities. It is a true pleasure to act as their advocate and champion."

Jennifer Pereira Vice President of Grants & Community Investments, and Director, Climate Action & Sustainability "I'm originally from Providence, where as a child I lived in the then-Cape Verdean community of Fox Point. I attended American University in Washington DC, then returned to Rhode Island for graduate school at URI, where I earned a master’s degree in marine affairs, conducting my research in Ecuador. Serving as the first Executive Director of the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is an experience I bring to bear regularly in my current role. Working on a project focused on restoring natural resources, as well as rebuilding parks and access to green space in Olneyville, was a privilege and some of the greatest learning experiences of my life."

A love for Rhode Island

The best grantmaking is grounded in place — in knowing a community not just professionally, but personally. Some on the team were born and raised in Rhode Island; others have spent much of their lives here. What they share is a deep sense of connection to the state and the people who call it home.

Inés Merchán Director, Strong Communities and Donor-Aligned Funding “I love our small size and how much access we have to the water. I also deeply love our cuisine and fully support our restaurants. As a Rhode Island resident for almost fifty years, I love meeting with and working with Rhode Islanders who devote their lives to improving the lives of all Rhode Islanders and our amazing state.”

Ian Ross Grants Operations Manager "As a compulsive walker and hiker, I love that I can get from the city to secluded wilderness in a half hour or less. Rhode Island has a wonderful diversity of landscape for such a small state. After moving here from Massachusetts, I worked for small, local businesses run by generous entrepreneurs and, along with my wife's involvement with several area nonprofits, it was a great introduction to the state and its community."

Rachel Folan Director, Education and Student Success "I love starting my day with the serenity of a sunrise run along the water, one of Rhode Island's many simple but beautiful gifts. I'm drawn to the state's quirky, interconnected personality and the authenticity that comes from living in a tight-knit community. That sense of connection resonates with me both personally and professionally.”

Silvia Melgar Coordinator and Assistant to the Vice President of Grants & Community Investments "One of the things I love most about Rhode Island is the strong sense of community. Being born and raised here, it has always felt like home in the truest sense — a place where people genuinely support one another and where relationships and connections matter. And of course, I can't talk about Rhode Island without mentioning Del's Lemonade. It's such a simple tradition, but for me it represents summer, nostalgia, and the unique charm of our state."

The Rhode Island Foundation's Grants & Community Investments team works alongside nonprofits, community leaders, and partner organizations across the state to strengthen communities and expand opportunity for all Rhode Islanders.