• Nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organizations, public agencies (such as libraries), and volunteer-led groups (such as neighborhood and resident associations) located or delivering services in the state of Rhode Island.
• We also recognize there are entities and efforts without a 501(c)(3) IRS designation that align with this funding opportunity. Given that, we will also consider grant applications from groups using a fiscal sponsor with a 501(c)(3) IRS designation.
• The Neighborhood Grants Program does not fund individuals, scholarships, capital campaigns, endowment efforts, fundraising events, lobbying or campaigns to elect candidates to public office.
• The program does not support ongoing operational support. 

The Neighborhood Grants program supports resident-led, community-making efforts that:  

• Foster social networks, enhance collaboration, and increase community engagement within a neighborhood, city, or town;  
• Strengthen lasting relationships that endure over time and across experiences;  
• Activate shared public spaces as vibrant hubs for community connection and engagement;
• Help identify goals, solve problems, or make group decisions; or  
• Celebrate, promote, and share traditions that connect neighbors and communities, encourage volunteerism, and support arts and cultural activities.

Projects may include a variety of community-building activities, from activating accessible public spaces and hosting neighborhood gatherings to improving urban green spaces and preserving cultural traditions.

Proposals must:  

• Be feasible—delivering visible results within 12 months  
• Have lasting impact—creating meaningful, enduring outcomes  
• Be accessible to the broader community  
• Be relevant and beneficial to the specific neighborhood or community  
• Leverage community resources such as cash matches, volunteer time, donated space, or other in-kind contributions  

While projects may include new initiatives or enhancements to existing programs, funding is intended to support one-time costs, and proposals that have received prior funding through the program will not be prioritized.

Additionally, the Neighborhood Grants program will prioritize organizations that are not receiving funding through the Foundation’s Community Priority Grant program.

This program is supported in part by the generosity of donors who have established charitable funds at the Foundation. Some of those funds are geographically focused or tailored to specific fields of interest, which will be considered during the grantmaking process.  

The Neighborhood Grants program provides grants of between $1,000 to $10,000.

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