Media release

Rhode Island Foundation expands services for donors

The Rhode Island Foundation has appointed Adrienne Adeyemi as a Senior Philanthropic Advisor and Adrian C. Bonéy as Co-funding and Donor Advised Fund Officer.

“Adrienne and Adrian bring impressive professional experience, collaborative spirits, and exceptional commitments to Rhode Island that will make them outstanding contributors to our work. With this announcement, we are making an even bigger commitment to our donors and philanthropy in Rhode Island," said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.

Adeyemi will be responsible for inspiring philanthropy with new relationships and current donors by providing charitable planning advice and high-level relationship management, and donor service.

Most recently, Adeyemi was a Donor Relations Officer for Major Gifts at Planned Parenthood of Southern New England. In addition, she previously served as a Major Gifts Officer at the Rhode Island School of Design and as Program Director of Grants to Organizations at the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts. She earned a B.A. in Studio Art and Film Studies and a Master of Public Administration at Clark University.

She recently served as Vice Chair/City Commissioner for the Providence Department of Arts, Culture and Tourism’s Art in City Life Commission, and served on the Board of Directors and chaired the Development Committee for New Urban Arts.

Bonéy will be responsible for building relationships and inspiring philanthropy with existing and prospective donors by partnering with the Foundation’s senior philanthropic advisors to expand giving to and through the Foundation by deepening relationships with donors, their families and the causes they care about.

The Warren resident had served as a Grant Programs Officer on the Foundation’s Grants and Community Investments team since 2007. In addition to her long-term work in the housing sector, she administered special programs such as the Equity Action Fund, the Newport County Fund, the Clean Competition Fund and the Program for Animal Welfare.

Bonéy has served on LISC Rhode Island’s Local Advisory Committee and Neighborhood Development Fund, the Advisory Board for HousingWorks RI @RWU at Roger Williams University, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston’s Community Development Advisory Council.

She earned a B.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources at the University of California, Berkeley. Prior to joining the Foundation, she served as the Director of Volunteer and Community Relations for the Human Rights Campaign and the Director of Institutional Relations for the School for Field Studies.

The Foundation focuses on three strategic priorities: educational success, healthy lives and economic security. In addition, the Foundation also makes grants in a wide variety of sectors, including the arts, the environment, housing and basic human needs.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Through civic leadership, fundraising and grant-making activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping improve the lives of all Rhode Islanders.