Rhode Island Council for the Humanities
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities, which uses the name Rhode Island Humanities, is a public charity based in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 1973, it is an independent state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities and supports public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement.
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities at a glance
In short: Rhode Island Council for the Humanities reported $124K in grants paid in 2025 (a total; its filing lists no individual grants). 50% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Grants paid (2025)
- $124,360 — reported as a total on the IRS filing, without an itemized list
- -7.7% vs 2024
- Total assets
- $468,055
- -20.1% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $989,225
- -21.5% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $22,294
- +8.4% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $929,057
- -22.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Rhode Island Council for the Humanities
- Contact
Mailing address: 131 Washington Street 210, Providence, RI 02903
Phone: (401) 273-2250
Website: https://rihumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Rhode Island Council for the Humanities
Who Rhode Island Council for the Humanities funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
115 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 115 grants of 115 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The council’s mission and THRIVE eligibility describe work serving Rhode Island and its residents. THRIVE applicants must be located in Rhode Island and primarily serve Rhode Island residents and visitors.
Grant Distribution by State
Cities
Is Rhode Island Council for the Humanities open to new grantees?
50%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 6 of 12 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $11K. How we count
Medians: $12K first-time, $12K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2024). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $108K (2023) to $680K (2021). In 2025 it reported $124K in grants paid, as a total without an itemized list.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Armenian Historical Association of Rhode Island Providence, RI | Armenian Chronicles: a Living History | $12,000 |
| Dirt Palace Public Projects Providence, RI | Letterpress Printers and Printing in Providence, 1762-2024 | $12,000 |
| Fractured Atlas Hartsdale, NY | Scandalous Conduct: a Fairy Extravaganza | $12,000 |
| Little Compton Historical Society Little Compton, RI | The Sakonnet Mishoon Project | $12,000 |
| Newport Historical Society Newport, RI | A name, a voice, a life: the black newporters of the 17th-19th centuries exhibition | $12,000 |
| Providence Public Library Providence, RI | WASHED | $12,000 |
| Queerarchivework Inc Providence, RI | Queer/Trans Zinefest (QTZ) 2024 | $12,000 |
| Tikkun Olam Productions Somerville, MA | Breakin' Away | $12,000 |
| West Broadway Neighborhood Association Providence, RI | Superman: a Building and Its City | $12,000 |
| School One Providence, RI | Write rhode islands pictures with words: comic and graphic novel program (write Rhode Island - read think write) | $10,150 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $468,055 | $989,225 | $929,057 | $124,360 | Total only | $22,294 |
| 2024 | $585,856 | $1,259,896 | $1,203,150 | $134,795 | 12 | $20,563 |
| 2023 | $554,310 | $1,141,056 | $1,160,208 | $107,919 | 10 | $7,381 |
| 2022 | $359,906 | $1,088,377 | $1,103,865 | $128,340 | 12 | $5,898 |
| 2021 | $486,015 | $1,606,142 | $1,596,250 | $679,679 | 81 | $52,577 |
| 2020 | $434,553 | $1,418,248 | $1,312,917 | $435,487 | 43 | $5,038 |
| 2019 | $309,243 | $853,168 | $903,403 | $140,000 | 15 | $13,201 |
"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 September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The council’s mission is to “seed, support, and strengthen public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders.” Its major and mini grants have supported public projects, documentary films, civic education initiatives, and individual humanities research. Projects are intended to connect the public with the humanities through accessible programming for broad audiences and to allow differing points of view.
The council’s 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Providence Public Library describes its mission as engaging learners, inspiring thinkers, and connecting diverse communities. Newport Historical Society says it collects and preserves materials relating to Newport County’s history and makes them available for research, enjoyment, and public education. Little Compton Historical Society describes its mission as preserving historical buildings and artifacts and providing related community education. These are the grantees’ own descriptions, not the council’s mission.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the council reported a grant total of $134,795 across 12 grants. Its 2024 filing also describes activity during fiscal year 2025: $125,665 awarded through 22 state-funded THRIVE general operating grants and eight federally funded mini grants. The filing does not give a typical award size for that fiscal-year activity.
Among the organizations listed as 2024 recipients, Providence Public Library, Newport Historical Society, West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Fractured Atlas Inc., Tikkun Olam Productions Inc., and Dirt Palace Public Projects each received $12,000. Little Compton Historical Society received $12,000, and School One received $10,150.
Major and mini grantmaking with federal funding was paused in April 2025 after the council’s federal operating grant was rescinded. As of the website’s July 2026 update, the federal grantmaking program remained suspended beyond disbursement of paused 2025 major grants. THRIVE, supported by the State of Rhode Island, continues; the council says its fourth cycle will open in winter 2027. THRIVE eligibility is for Rhode Island-based nonprofits serving Rhode Island residents and visitors that meet the program’s definitions of cultural heritage organizations or local historical or preservation societies, have projected current-year income of $150,000 or less, and have leadership that meaningfully reflects the communities served. Individuals, for-profit organizations, schools, colleges, government entities, and organizations outside the stated criteria are ineligible; fiscal sponsorship is not accepted.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Renee Soto as board chair; Doug Popovich as immediate past chair; Josh Stenger, PhD, as vice chair; Tiffini Bowers as vice chair through March 31, 2025; Chrystal Mars Baker as secretary; and Eugene B Mihaly as treasurer. Board members listed are Cherry Arnold, Stephanie Basile, Robert Craven, Esq., and Michael Dippolito III, Esq.
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities is led by Elizabeth Francis, Executive Director on every filing since 2019; 1 of 22 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elizabeth Francis
Executive Director
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$107K (2019) → $120K (2025)
Renee Soto
Board Chair
Board Member → Board Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tiffini Bowers
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2020
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Popovich
Immediate Past Chair
Chair → Board Chair, 2024
Board Chair → Immediate Past Chair, 2025
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeannette E. Riley PhD
Board Member
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Antonia Noori Farzan
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cherry Arnold
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Josh Stenger PhD
Vice Chair
Board Member → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Craven Esq.
Board Member
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chrystal Mars Baker
Secretary
Board Member → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily McHugh
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eric E. Sung
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jaffa Davies
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Basile
Board Member
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Carolyn Mark
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Joseph Westgatephd
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Eugene B. Mihaly
Treasurer
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert Woolard MD
Board Member
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annu Palakunnathu Matthew
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Imanah Mahmoud
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael Dippolito III Esq.
Board Member
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (28)
- Former: Don E. Wineberg (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: James P. Riley (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Kenny Alston (2019–2024) — Board Member
- Former: Jorge Mejia (2021–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Marcia Sousa Da Ponte (2021–2024) — Secretary
- Former: C. Alexander Chiulli (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Elaine B. Fain MD (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jonathan Stevens McP (2019–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Julie Nora PhD (2019–2023) — Immediate Past Chair
- Former: Kenneth C. Newman (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Michael R. Fein PhD (2019–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Cynthia Scheinberg PhD (2020–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Jeanine Dingus-Eason PhD (2021–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Katayoun Alidadi PhD (2022–2023) — Board Member
- Former: Christopher Joseph Westgate (2023) — Board Member
- Former: Joan Abrams (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Rebecca R. Riley (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Reenie Barrow (2019–2022) — Board Member
- Former: Gina McDonald CPA (2019–2021) — Treasurer
- Former: Jean Patiky (2019–2021) — Secretary
- Former: John Simmonds (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Touba Ghadessi PhD (2019–2021) — Board Member
- Former: Froma Harrop (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Phoebe Bean Mls (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Winifred Brownell PhD (2019–2020) — Board Member
- Former: Christina Bevilacqua To (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Daniel Cavicchi Phd To (2019) — Board Member
- Former: Mary Lee Partington To (2019) — Board Member
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $120K, to Elizabeth Francis (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Council for the Humanities
How much does Rhode Island Council for the Humanities give each year?
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities reported $124K in grants paid in 2025 on its 2025 IRS Form 990, as a total without an itemized list of grants. In 2024 it gave $135K across 12 grants.
How large is Rhode Island Council for the Humanities?
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities reported $468K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $989K.
What does Rhode Island Council for the Humanities fund?
The council’s mission is to “seed, support, and strengthen public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement by and for all Rhode Islanders.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rhode Island Council for the Humanities?
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check rihumanities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
Where does Rhode Island Council for the Humanities make grants?
The council’s mission and THRIVE eligibility describe work serving Rhode Island and its residents. THRIVE applicants must be located in Rhode Island and primarily serve Rhode Island residents and visitors.
What is Rhode Island Council for the Humanities's EIN?
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0376246. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 30, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 23, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS June 28, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS April 2, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS March 24, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 25, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 12, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Other open foundation grants in Rhode Island
Rhode Island Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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Figures come from Rhode Island Council for the Humanities's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Rhode Island Council for the Humanities down — hundreds of funders to go?