Grants & Scholarships
Critical Support Amid Federal Funding Cuts
Federal funding cuts have created a ripple effect across Rhode Island’s nonprofit sector, jeopardizing programs that address food insecurity, healthcare access, housing stability, and more. While philanthropy alone cannot fill the financial void left by federal cuts, the Foundation is leveraging its resources and collaborating with partners, donors, and policymakers to navigate these uncertain times.
Earlier this year, we earmarked $3 million to help mitigate the negative impact of federal cuts to ensure our community partners can continue their vital work providing health care, housing, education, food assistance, and other essential services to thousands of Rhode Islanders.
The response includes the creation of the Community Partner Resilience Fund (CPR Fund), seeded with $500,000 from our reserves and matched by generous donors. This fund has already awarded $1.2 million in emergency grants to 27 nonprofits, including Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley, and the Rhode Island Community Food Bank. These organizations, facing disruptions in federal funding, are using the grants to stabilize their operations and plan for the future.
For Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, a $50,000 grant is helping strengthen its volunteer program, ensuring the long term stability of its Home-Delivered Meal Program. “Most of our clients would have nowhere else to turn if service is disrupted,” said Executive Director Meghan Grady, highlighting the critical role the organization plays in supporting older and disabled adults.
"Most of our clients would have nowhere else to turn if service is disrupted."
- Meghan Grady, Executive Director, Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island
Similarly, Southside Community Land Trust, which lost $600,000 due to federal funding freezes, is grappling with tough decisions about staffing and program capacity. The nonprofit fed 25,000 Rhode Islanders last year and supported dozens of small family farms, underscoring the real-life impact of funding cuts. “This isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet—it’s about real people who depend on our programs every day,” said Executive Director Margaret DeVos.
Our response efforts extend beyond direct grants. We also committed $2 million across two rounds of our Community Priority and Capacity Building Grant programs, prioritizing organizations affected by federal actions. Additionally, $200,000 from our Civic Leadership Fund is being used to provide legal assistance, training, and research to better understand the impact of funding cuts on nonprofits and the communities they serve.
The effort is not just a response to a crisis—it’s a model for resilience. By investing in nonprofits’ capacity to adapt and innovate, the fund ensures that Rhode Island’s social safety net remains strong, even in the face of federal uncertainty. It’s a testament to the power of community-driven solutions and the importance of supporting organizations that serve the public good.
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