East Greenwich Nonprofits Land $70,000 in RI Foundation Grants

The Rhode Island Foundation announced that it awarded nearly $70,000 in grants to local nonprofit groups on the way to a record-breaking year. Statewide, the Foundation awarded $34.8 million in grants in 2014, the most in its 98-year history. The Foundation also raised $33.7 million in new gifts from individual, organizational and corporate donors last year.

“We are grateful to our dedicated donors for joining with us to take on the state’s challenges and opportunities,” said Neil Steinberg, the Foundation’s president and CEO. “Their inspiring generosity enabled us to invest in Rhode Island’s as never before.”

Many of the local awards were made under the Foundation’s competitive Strategy Grant Program, which targets seven key sectors: arts and culture, children and families, education, economic security, environment, health and housing. Through these grants, the Foundation invests in organizations and programs that strive for long-term solutions to significant community issues. Others are discretionary grants made by the Foundation’s staff and directors.

Tails To Teach received $39,000 to expand its humane education programs to more schools as well as to recruit and train more classroom volunteers.

The New England Institute of Technology received $19,000 to provide scholarship assistance.

The Westminster Unitarian Church was awarded $5,000 for The Sharing Locker, which provides toiletries and personal hygiene products, as well as pet food and cat litter to needy residents. The primary goal is to offer essential non-food items, not available from other local aid agencies, which cannot be purchased with funds provided through many public food assistance programs.

The Saint Elizabeth Community received $5,500 to support an on-site health and wellness center providing primary care, health education and wellness services to underserved residents of Saint Elizabeth Place.

“From fostering the thriving food sector to investing in the state’s capacity to prepare its youth for productive lives, our grants advance issues that will drive Rhode Island’s future,” said Daniel Kertzner, vice president for grant programs.

In addition to grantmaking and fundraising, community leadership is central to the Foundation’s activities and business. In 2014, the Foundation raised a record $308,843 in the third year of its annual Civic Leadership Fund, which enables the Foundation to go beyond traditional grantmaking to provide leadership and a forum for dialogue on critical community issues. Among CLF’s ongoing projects are the Make It Happen economic development initiative, an ongoing Community Conversations series and the “It’s All In Our Backyard” campaign.

“We are grateful to our CLF donors for recognizing that change can require many different approaches. The ability to seize opportunities enhances the work our nonprofit partners are already doing,” said Jessica David, the Foundation’s vice president of strategy and community investments.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2014, the Foundation awarded $34.8 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit rifoundation.org.