Catalyst Grants

The application for this program is currently closed

Beginning in 2023, the Rhode Island Foundation spent more than a year conducting a careful assessment of our work and engaging deeply with Rhode Islanders from diverse backgrounds and experiences. The outcome is an evolved mission and Five-Year Action Plan that is informed by the people we serve.

Through deep engagement and discussion with the public, collaboration with our partners, research, and data analysis, we identified six community priorities that are essential for a thriving Rhode Island. These priorities were consistently voiced by the community we serve and will guide the Rhode Island Foundation’s efforts in the years ahead.  

The Catalyst Grant program is one of our three core grant programs and primarily provides larger and multi-year grants to support innovative initiatives focused on catalyzing change and creating lasting progress that responds to one or more of the community priorities, and related focus areas, in the Foundation's Five-Year Action Plan.  Applications that demonstrate strong collaboration among organizations and across sectors will be prioritized.  

At the center of each community priority is a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA), ensuring that our efforts address systemic inequities and support thriving communities.  

Wondering if you should apply for a Catalyst Grant? Here are some things to consider.

Application process 

Grants for this program are offered once a year. To ensure greater equity and improve access and the ease of applying for a grant, we will have a two-stage process starting with a simple pre-application followed by completion of a full application if there is a funding opportunity that may be a good match for the applicant’s proposal. Collaborations can apply once a year and are only eligible for one Catalyst Grant award per grant cycle.  

Pre-application  

Interested collaborations must complete a brief pre-application.

  • The pre-application will open on March 10, 2025.
  • After review by the Grants and Community Investments team, you will be notified by email if your collaboration advances to the second stage to complete a full application.  
  • The pre-application may be previewed by clicking here.
  • The deadline for submitting a Catalyst Grant pre-application is April 30, 2025.

The Catalyst Grant pre-application will be available on the Foundation's online grants portal on March 10, 2025.

Full application

If there is a potential funding opportunity that may be a good match for the pre-applicant’s proposal, they will proceed to the full application stage.  

  • If your proposal advances, you will receive an email link inviting you to submit a full application.  
  • The application package consists of a narrative with details about the project and any collaboration, expected outcomes, and a budget.
  • Organizations advancing after the pre-application stage can access, complete, and submit a full application here.
  • Notifications will be made in early October.

Grant awards

Grantees may be asked about the progress of their project and to submit a final report describing the success of the project compared to its original goals. 

From time to time, the Foundation team may organize meetings of grantees to share experiences, lessons learned, and ways we might be able to improve our processes and partnerships with grantees.