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 Community Priority Grant program is one of our three core grant programs and primarily provides programmatic and general operating support to organizations and programs that respond to one or more of the community priorities, and related focus areas, in the Foundation's Five-Year Action Plan.
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 Community Priority grant? Here are some things to consider.
There will be two Community Priority grant cycles each calendar year. Organizations are eligible to be awarded one Community Priority grant per year. You can access a timeline of the 2025 grant cycles and important dates here.
Community Priority Grants are awarded for programmatic or general operating support to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Rhode Island.
If your organization is located outside of Rhode Island yet serving Rhode Island in unique ways, we recommend completing the pre-application, and we’ll evaluate if your organization’s work might be a fit.
This program will not fund individuals, for-profit entities, event sponsorships, or capital projects
We recognize there are entities and efforts without a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that align with our funding priorities. In these cases, we may consider grant applications from groups using a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation.
If an organization is serving as a fiscal agent for another entity, they may also be eligible for a separate Community Priority grant to support their own organization.
We anticipate that Community Priority grants may range from $15,000 to $150,000, with an overall average of approximately $65,000.
- Stage of development: Whether your organization is just starting out, growing, or well-established, we welcome applications for funding through the Community Priority Grant Program.
- Organizational health: There are many ways for you to show the health of your organization, including by demonstrating a clear mission and vision, commitment to financial stability, capacity to learn from your work, strong board and staff leadership, and evidence of your connection with the community you serve.
- Potential for community impact: Demonstrate how the work of your organization and your experience, partnerships, technical/content expertise, or other capabilities or unique qualities help your proposal respond to one or more of the community priorities, and related focus areas, in the Foundation's Five-Year Action Plan.
- Support thriving communities: Show how your organization demonstrates trust between, and engagement with, the population you serve, and how that helps your proposal respond to the needs of the community served and ensure their voice is part of the planning process.
- Sound implementation plan: Provide a practical budget, demonstrate sufficient capacity to accomplish the work described in the grant proposal, have a plan to track progress and outcomes, and identify ways to sustain the work in the future.
- Sustainability plan: You have an identified path towards sustainability, with the understanding that sustainability can come in many different forms and timelines.
Application process
Prepare your application
Grants for this program are offered twice 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. Organizations are eligible to be awarded one Community Priority grant per year.
Pre-Application
Interested organizations must complete a brief pre-application.
- The pre-application will open on January 17, 2025 (Round 1) and August 1, 2025 (Round 2).
- Submissions will be reviewed as received on a rolling basis.
- After review by the officer assigned to your Community Priority – which may include an in-person conversation – you will be notified by email if you advance to the second stage to complete a full application. Applicants will also be notified of denials in a timely manner.
- The pre-application may be previewed by clicking here.
The Community Priority Grant pre-application will be available on the Foundation's online grants portal on January 17, 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 to submit a full application.
- The application package consists of a narrative with details about the work the grant funding would support, 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 June and December annually.
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.