The Rhode Island Health Center Association (RIHCA) is a Providence, Rhode Island–based public charity that supports community health centers and their ability to provide high-quality, patient-centered, integrated, and equitable primary health care. The association says it has served as the voice of community-based primary care programs since 1972.
Key facts about Rhode Island Health Center Association
In short: Rhode Island Health Center Association gave $606K across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $43K), mostly in Rhode Island. 7% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- EIN
- 23-7404795
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025
- Annual giving (2025)
- $606,070
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- Average grant
- $43,291
- Median grant
- $47,671
- New grantees (estimate)
- 7% first-time grantees (1 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Total assets
- $2,230,710
- Primary geography
- Rhode Island (92% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
Financial Overview
From 2025 IRS Form 990 · View filing
Total Assets
$2.2M
-1.0% YoY
Annual Giving
$606K
-2.8% YoY
Grant Count
14
-6.7% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$43K
+4.2% YoY
Is Rhode Island Health Center Association open to new grantees?
7%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 1 of 14 grantees (7%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. First grants averaged $48K; repeat grants $43K. How we count
Medians: $48K first-time, $48K repeat.
- 93% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+11%). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2025). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
RIHCA’s stated mission is to “support, sustain, and strengthen community health centers so they can provide high-quality, patient-centered, integrated and equitable primary health care to their patients and communities.”
RIHCA reports that it has ten organizational members: eight Federally Qualified Health Centers, Block Island Health Services, and an associate member, The Providence Center. The association provides member training and technical assistance, including support for recruitment, retention, staff development, and community health worker training. Its 2023 filing also describes HRSA-funded training and technical assistance for health centers.
RIHCA’s 2025 grants included SANS-related awards to Rhode Island health centers and community organizations, as well as a cancer-screening grant and an award for health education assistance to eligible professionals. Among the supported organizations, Thundermist Health Center describes its mission as improving patient and community health by delivering exceptional care and removing barriers to care. Comprehensive Community Action Inc. says it provides services including mental health, addiction, health, and dental services as part of its work to fight poverty. United Way of Rhode Island describes its mission as uniting the community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for Rhode Islanders.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, RIHCA reported 14 grants totaling $606,070. Grant amounts ranged from $31,512 to $50,998, with a median of $47,671. Most listed awards were for SANS.
Notable 2025 grants included $50,998 each to The Providence Community Health Centers Inc., Thundermist Health Center, Blackstone Valley Community Health Care Inc., and Care New England Health System. Other awards included $50,000 to the Rhode Island Department of Health’s Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program for health education assistance to eligible professionals; $47,742 each to Comprehensive Community Action Inc. and Tri-County Community Action Agency; $47,600 to Prospect Chartercare RWMC LLC for cancer screening; and $42,332 to United Way of Rhode Island Inc. Northwest Community Health Care, East Bay Community Action Program, and Wood River Health Services each received $34,312.
The association’s website says it manages the statewide Navigator Program under contract with HealthSource RI and the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Its 2023 filing describes SANS funding as supporting outreach, application, and enrollment assistance through a network of assister and navigator entities. The website also describes Certified Application Counselor training and certification for employees of interested agencies; it states that the volunteer program provides no payment to the agency or counselor for that work.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The association is based in Providence, Rhode Island. In 2025, 92% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Rhode Island and 8% to recipients in California.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $547K (2022) to $3.1M (2023). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $606K.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was The Providence Community Health Centers Inc ($51K). Together the top 10 received $474K.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 50 grants of 76 (66%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| The Providence Community Health Centers Inc Providence, RI | SANS | $50,998 |
| Thundermist Health Center Warwick, RI | SANS | $50,998 |
| Blackstone Valley Community Health Care Inc Pawtucket, RI | SANS | $50,998 |
| Care New England Health System Providence, RI | SANS | $50,998 |
| RI Department of Health-Health Professionals Loan Repayment Program Providence, RI | Health Education Assistance to Eligible Professionals. | $50,000 |
| Comprehensive Community Action Inc Cranston, RI | SANS | $47,742 |
| Tri-County Community Action Agency Johnston, RI | SANS | $47,742 |
| Prospect Chartercare RWMC LLC Los Angeles, CA | Cancer Screening | $47,600 |
| United Way of Rhode Island Inc Providence, RI | SANS | $42,332 |
| Northwest Community Health Care Pascoag, RI | SANS | $34,312 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $2,230,710 | $2,045,371 | $2,194,532 | $606,070 (14) |
| 2024 | $2,253,646 | $2,110,496 | $2,006,436 | $623,431 (15) |
| 2023 | $2,290,483 | $4,497,924 | $4,482,756 | $3,059,713 (15) |
| Metric | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,230,710 | $2,253,646 | $2,290,483 |
| Revenue | $2,045,371 | $2,110,496 | $4,497,924 |
| Expenses | $2,194,532 | $2,006,436 | $4,482,756 |
| Net Investment Income | $55,183 | $161,875 | $17,579 |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS March 12, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 8, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 22, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 13, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 30, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2025
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists the following officers and directors:
- Merrill Thomas — vice chair through October 2024; chair beginning October 2024
- Brenda Dowlatsahi — secretary through October 2024; vice chair beginning October 2024
- Peter Bancroft — director through October 2024; treasurer beginning October 2024
- Alison Croke — director in October 2024; secretary beginning October 2024
- Nettierose Cooley — director beginning June 2025
- Rilwan Feyisitan — director
- Jonathan Gates, MD — director beginning January 2025
- William Hochstrasser-Walsh — chair through October 2024; director through December 2024
- Chuck Jones — director beginning December 2024
- Jeanne Lachance — treasurer through August 2024
Rhode Island Health Center Association is led by Elena Nicolella, President & CEO on every filing since 2022; 2 of 17 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Elena Nicolella
President & CEO
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$13K (2022) → $178K (2025)
Brenda Dowlatshahi
Secretary V Chair
Secretary → Secretary V Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Merrill Thomas
V Chair Chair
Treasurer → Vice Chair, 2021
Vice Chair → V Chair Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
William Hochstrasser-Walsh
Chair Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Chair Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alison Croke
Director Secretary
Director → Director Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Peter Bancroft
Director Treasurer
Director → Director Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas K. Warcup Do Mha
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Elena Kwetkowski DO
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Mansfield
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Chuck Jones
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cristina Pacheco MD
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jillian Roy
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jonathan Gates MD
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nettierose Cooley
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rilwan Feyisitan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hannah Marston
Chief Financial Officer
Senior Director of Finance & Accounting → Senior Director of Finance, 2023
Senior Director of Finance → Chief Financial Officer, 2025
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$120K (2022) → $143K (2025)
Jeanne Lachance
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (22)
- Former: Cristy Pacheco MD (2023–2024) — Director · Filing note: From 5/2024
- Former: Jillian Pastina (2023–2024) — Director · Filing note: From 042023
- Former: Rilwan Feyistian (2023–2024) — Director · Filing note: From 022023
- Former: David Ragosta (2024) — Director
- Former: Raymond Lavoie Till (2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Raymond Lavoie (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Dennis Roy Till (2023) — Director
- Former: Mary Evans Till (2023) — Director & COO
- Former: Sarah Fessler Till (2023) — Director
- Former: Dennis Roy (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Jane Hayward Til (2021–2022) — President & CEO
- Former: Sarah Fessler MD (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Tiffney Davidson Parker (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Mary Evans Til (2022) — COO
- Former: Mary Marran (2022) — Director
- Former: Deb O'Brien (2020–2021) — Director
- Former: Mary Evans (2020–2021) — COO
- Former: Owen Heleen (2021) — Director
- Former: Jane Hayward (2020) — President & CEO
- Former: Mark Clark MD (2020) — Director
- Former: Matthew Malek MD (2020) — Director
- Former: Thomas K. Warcup (2020) — Director
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 $178K, to Elena Nicolella (President & CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 235 Promenade Street 455, Providence, RI 02908
Phone: (401) 274-1771
Website: https://rihca.org
Frequently asked questions about Rhode Island Health Center Association
How much does Rhode Island Health Center Association give each year?
Rhode Island Health Center Association gave $606K across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $623K across 15 grants.
What is Rhode Island Health Center Association's typical grant size?
Rhode Island Health Center Association's median grant in 2025 was $47,671, and its average grant was $43,291, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rhode Island Health Center Association that year got $48K on average.
Where does Rhode Island Health Center Association give grants?
Rhode Island Health Center Association gives mostly in Rhode Island: 92% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The next largest state was California (8%). The most frequent recipient cities were Providence, RI (5 grants) and Cranston, RI (2 grants).
Does Rhode Island Health Center Association give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Rhode Island Health Center Association's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Sans" (12 grants).
Who are Rhode Island Health Center Association's largest grantees?
Rhode Island Health Center Association's largest 2025 grantees include The Providence Community Health Centers Inc ($50,998), Thundermist Health Center ($50,998) and Blackstone Valley Community Health Care Inc ($50,998), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 25% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rhode Island Health Center Association?
Rhode Island Health Center Association reported $2.2M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.0M.
What does Rhode Island Health Center Association fund?
RIHCA’s stated mission is to “support, sustain, and strengthen community health centers so they can provide high-quality, patient-centered, integrated and equitable primary health care to their patients and communities.” See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rhode Island Health Center Association?
Rhode Island Health Center Association has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check rihca.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Rhode Island Health Center Association's EIN?
Rhode Island Health Center Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7404795. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
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