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Dozens of nonprofit organizations serving Newport County residents will share $290,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation. The funding will support work ranging from educational programs for children and housing to food pantries and arts activities.

“We are honored to be able to help our community partners carry out their vital work,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO. "We are grateful to the donors who make it possible for us to support organizations that are well-positioned to respond every day to needs of Newport County residents.”

Aquidneck Food Pantry in Portsmouth, Child & Family in Middletown, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, the Herron Project in Tiverton, the Jamestown Arts Center, the Little Compton Food Bank and Conexion Latina Newport are among the grant recipients.

Bike Newport received $5,500 to support its “You Have the Power” e-bike safety programming, which includes online and in-person options to review safe e-bike practices, road regulations, and laws, as well as in-person instruction at the organization’s Traffic Garden and group road rides. Bike Newport hopes as many as 200 people will complete the training this year.

“E-bikes are increasingly popular, offering an affordable and eco-friendly alternative to cars. However, their speed and weight create new safety challenges for e-bike riders and other road users - and there is confusion about what qualifies as an e-bike - and what doesn't. There is a pressing need for education on safe riding, regulations, and e-bike classifications,” said Bari Freeman, executive director. “We aim to enhance road safety, increase helmet use, and foster an informed bike-friendly culture. By promoting safe e-bike use, we aim to reduce conflicts and injuries, improve traffic flow, and increase bicycling as a viable alternative to cars.”

Child & Family in Middletown received $7,200 to serve older adults who may come to the attention of a family member, a landlord, police, emergency services or others due to unmet needs and safety concerns. The organization serves about 450 Newport County residents a year; most are age 60 and older.

“Primarily this is a crisis intervention program. Often the response involves the need for financial remedies such as rental support, food, utilities support, a brief stay in a hotel, and assistive devices to remain at home, and victim of crime support. Child & Family is the primary case management agency that supports this region. The goal of these emergency funds is to support families and individuals who are in crisis and to stabilize them to the extent that a higher level of care is not needed, or if they need more ongoing support, to facilitate that treatment planning and referral process,” said Susan Jacobsen, president and CEO.

The Conanicut Island Sailing Foundation in Jamestown received $10,000 to help equip the wet lab at the organization’s new facility at Ft. Getty. The equipment includes a high-quality microscopes with viewfinders, a fiberglass tank to be used as an outdoor touch tank and a PC that will serve as the central hub for student research initiatives; enabling them to record data, manage results and share their findings with the local scientific community.

“For years, our staff has dreamed of a space that bridges the gap between field observations in the local marsh and true laboratory analysis. The new wet lab will provide a controlled setting for experiments that are impossible to perform in a natural environment. This request focuses on equipment that will help us bridge the gap from marsh exploration to deeper learning in the lab using microscopes,” said Meg Myles, executive director.

Conexìon Latina Newport will use its grant to make it easier for people to take part in its programs promoting social, civic and cultural life for Aquidneck Island Latinos. Activities like the Junta Communitaria and the Latino Parent Education Advisory Council provide opportunities for self-growth and leadership development with the goal of building bridges and creating relationships with the wider community.

“In order to participate in these programs, people often have to make difficult choices about how to prioritize their time. Going to a 3-hour school committee meeting or a half-day event might mean there is no dinner on the table that night or missing work. That can mean lost income or savings, lost time with their family or adding another commitment to an already overburdened schedule,” said Rebekah Gomez, executive director. “So, we feed people, offer groceries, transportation, childcare, basic human needs and do whatever we can to reduce the barriers to participation.”

The Fort Adams Trust in Newport received $5,000 to develop a comprehensive interpretive design initiative that will significantly enhance the visitor experience at Fort Adams. The project has two main components: a new set of interpretive panels that will replace the site's existing signage, and a design plan to redefine the Trust's visitor experience vision, explore space planning and interpretive goals, and identify design solutions that bring its collections and stories to life.

"Together, these two initiatives represent a meaningful step forward in Fort Adams Trust's mission to welcome, educate, and inspire the Newport community and the thousands of visitors who walk through its gates each year," said Paul Marshall, executive director. "The overarching goal of this project is to create a more welcoming, engaging, and educational experience for every visitor."

Friends of the Jamestown Philomenian Library received $5,000 to install a state-of-the-art audio-visual system, including cordless microphones, in the facility’s Meeting Hall. The room, which accommodates as many as 85 people, is used for lectures, movies, story times, tax preparation and technology classes, among other activities.

“Our Meeting Hall is a fundamental part of the library, which serves as the community hub of Jamestown. This space, which is used by Jamestown residents as well as patrons from surrounding towns, is in high demand. As such, it is necessary that this space function properly and consistently. Our dated technology no longer supports the needs of our community and it is imperative that we correct this so that individuals and groups can continue to rely on us,” said Lisa Sheley, the library’s director.

Friends of Little Compton Wellness Center received $4,000 to expand its Parkinson's Support Group. Since launching in April 2025, the program has grown into a monthly support group meeting led by the Rev. Virginia Army that meets on the second Thursday of the month from 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.

“For local residents with a Parkinson's diagnosis, it often means spending a lot of time traveling to the other side of the state for programs and services. Our goal now is to provide our Parkinson's community with a wider array of services. In addition to our monthly support group for people with Parkinson's Disease, we established a new monthly support group for Caregivers, introduced our weekly PWR! Moves Exercise Program and have added a selection of speakers who can address the needs of those living with this disease,” said Cynthia Baker Burns, the Center’s president.

The Housing Hotline in Newport received $10,000 to support its “Saving Lives through Temporary Shelter in Newport County Program,” which provides city residents who are unsheltered with short-term placements at area hotels until more suitable housing or longer-term shelter is obtained.

“We have a steadfast commitment to addressing complex issues affecting the unhoused population that are not being adequately addressed by the area’s social service network. We serve people coping with housing insecurity, complex health concerns, addiction, challenges with obtaining employment or remaining employed, persistent hunger and lack of insurance and transportation,” said Jimmy Winter, executive director, who founded the organization along with Barbara Winters.

The Jamestown Arts Center (JAC) received $5,000 to support its Access Arts Initiative, which is a year-long series of free community arts programs designed to engage and inspire Newport County residents of all ages, abilities, and artistic backgrounds. The programs include Artists’ Open Studios, the JAC’s annual island-wide art tour where the public is invited into participating artists' studios to see art making in process and directly engage with local artists; and the Autumn Arts Open House, which offers a day of family-friendly activities in every studio space and gallery at JAC.

“We believe that creative participation strengthens community connection and civic life through the arts. By providing free opportunities to create, learn and connect with artists, we remove barriers to participation and ensure that residents of Newport County—regardless of age, income, or artistic background—can participate in the cultural life of their community,” said Christine Cocca, executive director. “These programs reflect our core values: fostering artistic growth, strengthening community connections and ensuring that high-quality arts experiences remain accessible to all through free, intergenerational programming.”

The Jamestown Community Farm received $5,900 to install deer-proof fencing around one of its large fields using a model copied from Casey Farm. The organization grows produce for the Jamestown Community Food Pantry, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, the Jonny Cake Center for Hope in South Kingstown and the Pemberton Apartments in Jamestown.

“The summer of 2025 included a drought, which in turn brought a higher incidence of deer activity and crop loss. The fencing is one of the best ways we can increase our production and deliver more fresh food to our partner food pantries,” said Dick Steinbach, president. “Through our community partners, we reach a geographically diverse population of Rhode Islanders who struggle to access fresh, organically grown produce.”

The Katie Brown Educational Program received $7,000 to provide evidence-based, relationship violence prevention education, primarily for students at Wilbur & McMahon Elementary School and Tiverton Middle School. The goal is to give them the skills necessary to recognize, avoid and prevent relationship violence by shifting unhealthy attitudes and changing behaviors.

"Research overwhelmingly indicates that school-based education is the most effective approach to violence prevention because it allows for the unique opportunity to engage in active dialogue and directly address student concerns," said Claire McVicker, executive director. “Our educators are able to adapt instruction to meet the diverse needs of students because we engage them in small group discussions, dynamic activities and real-time conversations with educators that allow them to construct a knowledge of concepts such as power dynamics, autonomy and consent rooted in their own language and experiences.”

The Little Compton Community Center received $10,000 to support its Senior Lunch Program, which addresses two pressing issues among older adults: food insecurity and social isolation. The organization expects to prepare more than 13,000 meals this year.

"Many seniors in Little Compton struggle to access affordable, nutritious meals and opportunities to connect, challenges amplified by our rural geography. Our Senior Lunch Program provides the opportunity for local seniors to enjoy an affordable, healthy meal three days per week. We provide delivery to homebound, dine in for those who wish to socialize and pick-up for those who prefer to eat in the comfort of their own home," said Amy Mooney, executive director. 

The Little Compton Food Bank received $10,000 to respond to increasing food insecurity by opening a third day of the week in order to respond to growing food insecurity in Little Compton and Tiverton. Three part-time staffers are assisted by two dozen volunteers, who stock shelves, collect food contributions from local farms and stores; bag groceries transport groceries to the doorsteps of those unable to visit the food bank.

"Significant pockets of poverty exist on the bucolic eastern shore of the Sakonnet. Many in the area who are in need are homebound for reasons of infirmities or poverty. To respond to those limitations, we have budgeted for a third day of shopping -- likely a weekday evening -- in addition to our current Friday afternoons and Saturday mornings," said John Hitchcock, president of the Board of Trustees.

The James L. Maher Center in Middletown received $10,000 to support its Newport County Connect: Building Skills, Building Belonging initiative, which offers workshops targeting social skill development, including communication strategies, conflict resolution, peer interaction, emotional regulation and confidence-building. Participants will practice these skills in real-world, community-centered environments, reinforcing learning through lived experience.

“Adults with IDD often face barriers to accessing recreational and educational opportunities in the broader community, including transportation limitations, financial constraints and a lack of inclusive programming. This program will deepen meaningful community partnerships across Newport County while expanding social, educational and cultural opportunities for participants. This initiative recognizes that true inclusion happens not only within program walls, but through authentic participation in the broader community,” said Lynne Maher, executive director.

The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center received $10,000 to support a new satellite food pantry at 120 Hillside Ave. near Miantonomi Park in the city’s North End. Open three days each week, the new facility offers both a traditional food pantry as well as the organization’s Produce to the People programs, which provides fruits and vegetables to the community weekly.

"We are really proud of the rapport we have with our clients at the MLK Community Center. They are not afraid to let us know when a need is not being met, and then we go to the drawing board to figure out how we can problem-solve,” said Heather Strout, MLK’s executive director. “For various reasons, transportation from Newport's North End to our downtown location is a challenge. The North End Food Pantry brings two of our most vital programs, the Food Pantry and Produce to the People, directly to their neighborhood for convenient access."

Meals on Wheels received $5,000 to deliver meals to homebound Newport County seniors who cannot safely leave the home to shop for or prepare their own nutritious meals. Last year, the organization reports serving 29,392 meals to 183 older adult homebound Newport County residents.

“Our home-delivered program for older adults continues to make meaningful impact in the lives of Newport County residents at risk of food and nutrition insecurity and social isolation, helping them to realize equitable access to fully healthy lives,” said Meghan Grady, executive director.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County received $5,000, primarily to support its “Anchor Academy” at Middletown High School, which provides peer mentoring, leadership and essential skills training to incoming freshmen; and its “Leadership Academy” at Rogers High School, which is designed to help students improve their skills and connections within the school community. The two programs are projected to serve more than 150 students over the coming school year.

“The goal is to help students become ‘future ready’ and help diminish the disengagement that can cause a student to fall behind and impede reaching their full potential. Students will develop essential skills and self-confidence at weekly meetings with Club staff during the school day. The programs fill an unmet need for in-school opportunities for individuals who have potential and interest in exploring and developing such skills,” said Kelley Coen, executive director.

Newport Classical received $7,000 to support its Community Concerts Series. The year-round program brings free live classical music to community spaces across Aquidneck Island while upholding Newport Classical’s high standard of artistic quality.

“Ultimately, the Community Concerts are a public good that resonates beyond the music at the center. Each event is an opportunity for Newport residents of all backgrounds to come together and celebrate the arts with their community. We expand the concert experience, often coordinating with affordable food trucks to create a meaningful community ritual and a shared experience for the whole family,” said Oliver Inteeworn, executive director.

Newport Community School received $5,000 to build a local pipeline of trained in-home personal care workers in Newport County. The program will expand access to CPR, AED, and basic emergency response training for residents while integrating these certifications into a structured workforce development pathway that prepares adults for entry-level caregiving roles supporting seniors and individuals with disabilities living safely in their homes.

“Community safety starts with being prepared. This initiative brings together two critical needs—equipping Newport County residents with the skills to respond in an emergency while preparing adults for meaningful careers caring for our aging neighbors. By expanding access to CPR and AED training and building those skills into personal care worker training, we are creating a stronger, more connected community where residents are prepared to help when it matters most and older adults can remain safely at home.” said Tracy L. Shea, executive director.

The Newport County YANA Club received $2,500 to continue its work addressing substance use disorder. The organization reports seeing over 300 individuals a week and hosts around 850 meetings per year.

“Despite our successes, thousands of people are still unaware of our services. Newport County continues to face alarming rates of substance use disorder, with overdose deaths and mental health challenges affecting individuals and families across all demographics. In a region where treatment options are often costly, overburdened or difficult to access, YANA fills a crucial gap by offering free, consistent and compassionate support. We are more than a meeting space; we are a community,” said Ted Cordin, president of the Board of Directors.

Newport Sings received $2,500 to strengthen and expand its community programs and opportunities, which currently serve over 300 people in Newport County. The funding will support implementing the Board of Directors’ recommendations based on its work assessing the organization’s program structures, strengths and needs, which will guide strategic growth and sustainability over the next two years.

“Our programs are a safe and empowering space for people to express, create and connect. Newport Sings is a unique organization that has created and developed programs in response to the needs of the community. We are committed to exploring new ideas and partnerships to reach more people on Aquidneck Island and beyond. Newport Sings helps participants and the greater community feel less isolated, more deeply connected, and musically, socially and emotionally engaged,” said Elizabeth Woodhouse, founder and artistic director.

The Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown received $4,000 to expand its Good Gardens complex. The work includes adding four interpretive signs, 30 tree IDs in the Arboretum, and 75 plant IDs. The garden complex is the start of the organization’s Universal Trail, an ADA accessible trail and one of the first points of entry that members and visitors encounter.

“The goal is to transform our award-winning Good Gardens, our new 5-acre arboretum and 10-acre pollinator field into a campus-wide living classroom. By designing and installing interpretive signage, plant and tree ID markers and QR codes for pollinator, tree and plant identification apps, such as iNaturalist, we can engage and educate the tens of thousands of guests who will visit us this year,” said Kaity Ryan, executive director.

RENEWport received $2,500 to implement the Semiquicentennial 250 Archival Project: A Youth StoryMap for America’s Birthday, a community-wide initiative inviting Newport students to reflect on the 250th anniversary of the United States through creative expression.

“This project positions young people as historians and storytellers during a pivotal national milestone, while creating an accessible platform for civic expression that is inclusive, representative, and future-focused,” said Susan Sipprelle, co-president.

Students from Newport Public Schools, including the MET, will respond to prompts about identity, belonging, and the future of America using art, writing, photography, and video.

The digital archive will be donated to the Newport Historical Society.

“Submissions will be collected through school and community partnerships, digitized, and curated into an interactive StoryMap—a public-facing digital archive that highlights youth perspectives across Newport,” said Ellen Pinnock, co-president.

Rhode Island Black Storytellers (RIBS) received $5,000 to bring the transformative power of Black storytelling to Newport County through FUNDA Across RI, a signature initiative of FUNDA FEST: A Celebration of Black Storytelling, in January 2027. RIBS will present 10 Black storytelling programs in Newport County schools and public venues, reaching as many as 1,500 students, families, educators, and community members.

Building toward this experience, in November 2026, RIBS will welcome attendees of the “In the Tradition” National Association of Black Storytellers (NABS) Festival and Conference to Newport for a Black History Tour, connecting visitors and residents to the rich and often underrepresented history of Black Rhode Islanders and the Newport community. The tour will culminate in a public storytelling performance in partnership with Newport’s new Black History Museum, opened on Juneteenth 2026, creating a powerful bridge between history, place, culture and contemporary storytelling.

“We believe in the transformative power of storytelling to inspire, educate and unite. Our program engages engage people in a culturally rich journey, weaving together art, dance, music and performance to illuminate the vibrant history of Black people. The messages in the stories are a vehicle for socio-emotional learning, the potential for connecting storytelling to literacy, and our ability to provide attendees with an opportunity to hear and tell stories that are connected to their heritage,” said Sara Monteiro, acting director.

Amenity Aid, the American Red Cross, Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England, Gnome Inc., Herren Project, Looking Upwards, Mentor Rhode Island, Newport Gulls, Newport Historical Society, Newport Pride, Newport Tree Conservancy, Rhode Island Center for the Book, Sail Newport, Save the Bay, SVCP St. Joseph Newport, the Village Common, Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice, Washington Square Services and the Women's Resource Center also received grants.

The grants are through the Foundation’s Newport County Fund, which awards grants of up $10,000 to strengthen or expand established programs, to support policy or advocacy efforts on behalf of community concerns, to fund new projects that focus on significant problems or opportunities, and to leverage strategic collaborations and partnerships.

In making the funding decisions, the Foundation worked with an advisory committee comprised of residents from every community in Newport County.

It is just one of the grant programs that enable the Foundation to serve Newport County communities. Just since 2023, the Foundation has awarded $14.3 million in grants to Newport County nonprofits.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, together with neighbors and partners, the Foundation is helping to create progress that lasts.