The Rhode Island Foundation stewards a collection of funds of various sizes that generous donors have established to address health and healthcare needs of Rhode Islanders. These funds are used to support our Medical Research program and, through the Specialized Health Funds program, provide support to nonprofit organizations working in these fields. Funding availability varies each year and could include the following areas:

• Working on the education, prevention, and care of those with renal disease
• Providing hospice care for the terminally ill
• Providing care and relief to individuals suffering from incurable diseases
• Providing care and treatment for those with cancer
• Providing support for persons with physical disabilities
• Helping or aiding those with developmental or intellectual disabilities
• In addition to the medical conditions listed above, there may be limited funding available for organizations providing support and care to individuals suffering from mental illness, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, or heart ailments.
• Focusing on the outreach, education, clinical or basic research involving human growth hormone steroids or other performance enhancing substances
• Providing care and support for individuals with low-vision and blindness:
  • -Assists visually impaired individuals in Rhode Island to move towards economic self-sufficiency
  • -Advances innovative solutions for people affected by blindness or vision loss
  • -Develops research-based solutions to the underlying disease or condition that causes blindness or vision loss, particularly macular degeneration
  • -Supports summer camps for Rhode Island children with low-vision and blindness**

The Specialized Health Funds program is complementary to the Foundation’s Healthy and Strong Community Priority. Priority will be given to programs or projects that demonstrate the greatest impact on health and healthcare and address health inequities and disparities in Rhode Island. 

Grants generally range from $10,000 to $50,000 depending upon availability of funds.

Eligibility and Criteria

• Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations located or delivering services in the state of Rhode Island
• Specialized Health Fund awards do not fund individuals, scholarships, capital or endowment efforts, fundraising events, or campaigns to elect candidates to public office
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the area of proposed work
• Organizational infrastructure that indicates sufficient capacity for this work, including financial infrastructure and staff
• Grant support for Specialized Health Funds will not exclude and organization’s ability to apply to the Rhode Island Foundation for other grant programs
• Alignment with available funds

The online application includes:

• Narrative  
  • -What are your proposed goals and activities?
  • -What are your intended outcomes, and how will you assess your impact?
  • -Describe past work in this area, gaps in the field you are addressing, and how your organization and proposal would help address inequities and support thriving communities.  
  • -How will the funding requested be used?
• 12-Month 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.
• Most recently Board-approved organizational budget

To apply

Due to the limited funding and varying amounts available for different specialized health funds, please contact  Zach Nieder to discuss your project. If it fits with the funding areas and available amounts, we will provide guidance on how to apply. 

Application deadline

There are two grant deadlines:

**Applications for summer camps for Rhode Island children with low-vision and blindness must be submitted by April 25, 2025.  

All other applications must be submitted August 18, 2025.