Grants & Scholarships

Browse Scholarships

 

Scholarship Opportunities 

Many generous individuals, families, organizations, and businesses have established scholarship funds at the Rhode Island Foundation to help students cover essential educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and other necessities.

Guided by donor intent, scholarship funds may support general educational assistance or target specific areas such as certain fields of study, trade and technical schools, residents of particular cities or towns, student interests or backgrounds, and other special circumstances.

All Rhode Island students are welcome to apply for scholarship funding.

To make the process as accessible as possible, the Foundation offers scholarships through three application pathways. 

 

Universal Application 

By completing the Universal Application, students can be matched with multiple funding opportunities through a single set of questions. These scholarships are marked “Universal Application” in the directory below. For some opportunities, applicants may need to answer additional essay prompts or provide further information, but our convenient online scholarship platform will help guide students through these steps.  

Stand-Alone Application 

Some scholarship and fellowship funds require a stand-alone application and are not part of the Universal Application. These include funds with very specific criteria or rolling deadlines, scholarships for K–12 students, and fellowships supporting activities beyond essential educational costs. These opportunities are labeled “Stand-Alone Application” in the directory below. 

Nursing Application 

The Foundation awards scholarships from several funds that support students pursuing nursing programs. A single application may be used to apply to all nursing scholarship opportunities. These opportunities are marked “Nursing Application” in the directory below.

For additional information, contact Monica Benson at (401) 427-4017 or email scholarships@rifoundation.org. Si necesita asistencia en Español, por favor de comunicarse con Zaida Hernandez al (401) 427-4039 o zhernandez@rifoundation.org.

Graduate-level Stand-Alone

Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship

April 13, 2026
  • Graduate student in arts education or in the arts with an intention to teach
  • Not a Rhode Island School of Design graduate or seeking a graduate degree from RISD
  • Rhode Island resident

Important: review full requirements

Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship

  • Graduate student in arts education or in the arts with an intention to teach
  • Not a Rhode Island School of Design graduate or seeking a graduate degree from RISD
  • Rhode Island resident
  • Financial need
  • Award: $2,000 to $20,000; past recipients may reapply
Apply for Antonio Cirino Memorial Scholarship Apply
College-level Universal

Constant Memorial Scholarship

April 13, 2026
  • Aquidneck Island resident
  • Art or music student
  • Entering sophomore, junior or senior year at a four-year accredited institution of higher learning

Important: review full requirements

Constant Memorial Scholarship

  • Aquidneck Island resident
  • Art or music student
  • Entering sophomore, junior or senior year at a four-year accredited institution of higher learning
  • Award: $2,000 - $5,000; past recipients may reapply
Apply for Constant Memorial Scholarship Apply
High school-level

Patricia W. Edwards Memorial Art Scholarship

Application Closed
  • High school freshmen, sophomores, and juniors
  • Young Rhode Island artists seeking to take an art class at a Rhode Island institution
  • Award: up to $500
More information about Patricia W. Edwards Memorial Art Scholarship More Information
Other

MacColl Johnson Fellowships

Application Closed
  • Provides artist fellowships, rotating among composers, writers, and visual artists; 2024 awards are for writers
  • Up to three $30,000 fellowships per year
More information about MacColl Johnson Fellowships More Information