Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE, based in Washington, DC, is a public charity that now uses the name DC Squared (Distinct Corridors. Developing Communities.). It supports small businesses in neighborhood commercial corridors and works on community history, arts and culture, food access, and neighborhood revitalization.
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE at a glance
In short: Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE gave $102K across 15 grants in 2025 (avg $7K), mostly in District of Columbia. 80% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $101,923
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 15
- -11.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $6,795
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $345,434
- +36.5% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 80% first-time grantees (12 of 15, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- District of Columbia (91% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE
- Contact
Mailing address: 2300 Rhode Island Ave Ne Ste 202, Washington, DC 20018
Phone: (202) 808-9050
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Studio Chique A Full Service Salon ($13K). Together the top 10 received $77K.
Grant Size Distribution
52 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 52 grants of 52 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The organization describes its work as serving neighborhood commercial corridors in Northeast Washington, DC, including Rhode Island Avenue and Upper Bladensburg Road. In filing year 2025, 91% of grant dollars went to recipients in DC and 9% to recipients in Maryland.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 15 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE open to new grantees?
80%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 12 of 15 grantees (80%) were first-time recipients. With only 15 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $9K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 7% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2023–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $102K (2025) to $357K (2022). In 2025 it made 15 grants totaling $102K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Studio Chique A Full Service Salon Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $13,423 |
| Vernon Martins Salon Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $10,000 |
| Ididos Social House Inc Burtonsville, MD | Small Business Assistance | $9,000 |
| Action Als Tire Company Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $8,500 |
| Jackson and Tull Chartered Engineer Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $7,500 |
| Sai Liquors Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $7,500 |
| BAC 10 LLC dba Ritas Water Ice Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $6,000 |
| Fish King Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $5,000 |
| Jaliyaa Coffee LLC Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $5,000 |
| Jones Electric Washington, DC | Small Business Assistance | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $345,434 | $673,733 | $747,967 | $101,923 | 15 |
| 2024 | $253,033 | $656,275 | $709,186 | $116,423 | 17 |
| 2023 | $185,266 | $704,909 | $691,457 | $129,500 | 20 |
| 2022 | $316,922 | $671,740 | $660,740 | $357,253 | Total only |
| 2021 | $187,731 | $863,293 | $848,212 | $282,249 | Total only |
| 2020 | $175,623 | $917,571 | $892,322 | $275,036 | Total only |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
DC Squared’s stated mission is to support, develop, and grow small businesses in neighborhood commercial corridors and preserve and promote community history through art, culture, and architecture. Its filing also describes work to improve commercial properties and streetscapes, increase food access, promote local businesses through events and festivals, create jobs, and attract locally owned businesses.
The organization describes support that includes small-business technical assistance, storefront improvements, market analysis, business recruitment, vacancy activation, entrepreneur support, and opportunities to launch and grow businesses. Its website also describes financial-planning workshops and facade-improvement grants through Rhode Island Avenue Main Street, and branding assistance and access to capital through Bladensburg Road Main Street.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the organization reported 15 grants totaling $101,923. Grants ranged from $5,000 to $13,423, with a median of $5,000. The listed grants were for small-business assistance. The largest were $13,423 to Studio Chique A Full Service Salon, $10,000 to Vernon Martins Salon, $9,000 to Ididos Social House Inc, and $8,500 to Action Als Tire Company. Other listed grants included $7,500 each to Jackson and Tull Chartered Engineer and Sai Liquors, and $6,000 to BAC 10 LLC dba Ritas Water Ice. The filing also lists grants of $5,000 each to Fish King, Jaliyaa Coffee LLC, Jones Electric, KBCDC Inc, and Provost.
The organization’s Rhode Island Avenue Main Street webpage reports $40,000 in subgrants awarded in 2023 to seven participants. Its website provides a Small Business Grant Application, but the listed pages do not specify application materials, restrictions, or deadlines.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Michaela Blanchard as Executive Director; Carlos Davis as Chair; Jack Sterne as Vice Chair; Patrick Murray as Treasurer; and Evette Banfield as Secretary. It lists Malik Edwards, Chloe Fedyna, Evan Omersa, and Lynsey Templeton as directors.
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE is led by Michaela Blanchard, Executive Director since 2022 (on filings since 2020); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Michaela Blanchard
Executive Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → Executive Director, 2022
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$100K (2022) → $80K (2025)
Carlos Davis
Chair
Director → Treasurer, 2021
Treasurer → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Chloe Fedyna
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Malik Edwards
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evan Omersa
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lynsey Templeton
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jack Sterne
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Evette Banfield
Secretary
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Patrick Murray
Treasurer
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Monica Leibovitz (2020–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: John Dagget (2023) — Director
- Former: DAndre Phillips (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Elise Scott (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Mari Rodela (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Simon Sarver (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Kathleen Pittman (2021–2022) — Vice Chair
- Former: R Kyle Todd (2020–2021) — Executive Director Former
- Former: Denise McNeill (2020) — Director
- Former: Eric Ohlsen (2020) — Treasurer
- Former: Holly Trogdon (2020) — Director
- Former: Kathleen Pessolano (2020) — Secretary
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $80K, to Michaela Blanchard (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE
How much does Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE give each year?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE gave $102K across 15 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $116K across 17 grants.
What is Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's typical grant size?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $6,795, across 15 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE that year got $6K on average.
Where does Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE give grants?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE gives mostly in District of Columbia: 91% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maryland (9%). The most frequent recipient cities were Washington, DC (14 grants).
Does Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 15 grants with a stated purpose on Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Small Business Assistance" (15 grants).
Who are Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's largest grantees?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's largest 2025 grantees include Studio Chique A Full Service Salon ($13,423), Vernon Martins Salon ($10,000) and Ididos Social House Inc ($9,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE reported $345K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $674K.
What does Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE fund?
DC Squared’s stated mission is to support, develop, and grow small businesses in neighborhood commercial corridors and preserve and promote community history through art, culture, and architecture. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's EIN?
Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 46-0716370. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 12, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS April 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 9, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS July 13, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 15, 2025)
Live grants for the work Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE funds
Community Improvement & Capacity Building Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
- Leveling-Up Award $1,000 · Due October 25, 2026
- Arnold F. Keller, Jr. Grant for New Initiatives/Program Expansion $25,000 · Due October 27, 2026
- Wausau Marathon County Impact Grants (Community Foundation of North Central Wisconsin) $1,000 to $100,000 depending on the scope of the project · Due October 27, 2026
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE's focus areas in our free grants database
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Friends of Rhode Island Ave NE down — hundreds of funders to go?