Neighborhood Grants

Neighborhood Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: The Rhode Island Community Foundation
Amount: US $1,000 - US $10,000
Last Updated: August 26, 2025

Summary

The Rhode Island Community Foundation's Neighborhood Grants program fosters community engagement by providing funding of $1,000 to $10,000 for resident-led projects. It aims to strengthen social networks, enhance collaboration, and celebrate local traditions, ultimately creating vibrant neighborhoods. Open to nonprofits, public agencies, and volunteer-led groups, the program encourages initiatives that deliver visible results within 12 months while leveraging community resources for lasting impact.

Overview

The Rhode Island Community Foundation Mission As Rhode Island’s only community foundation, we mobilize generosity and motivate change that makes a difference. Our local roots, state-wide relationships, and century of experience anchor our work, and our hopes for our home reach high. Neighborhood Grants The health of a community’s civic and cultural life is vital to its success. Strong connections among neighbors, meaningful relationships between people and public institutions, and vibrant interactions with the places we call home are closely tied to a range of positive outcomes—from improved physical and mental health to economic resilience and adaptability in times of crisis. As Rhode Island’s only community foundation, we are dedicated to strengthening these bonds and creating equitable, thriving communities. The Neighborhood Grants program provides between $1,000 to $10,000 to support projects that bring Rhode Islanders together. Purpose The Neighborhood Grants program supports resident-led, community-making efforts that: Foster social networks, enhance collaboration, and increase community engagement within a neighborhood, city, or town;Strengthen lasting relationships that endure over time and across experiences; Elevate shared public spaces as vital community anchors; Help identify goals, solve problems, or make group decisions; or Celebrate and share traditions that connect neighbors and communities, engage in volunteerism, and arts and cultural activities. Projects may include a variety of community-building activities, from creating accessible public spaces and hosting neighborhood gatherings to improving urban green spaces and preserving cultural traditions.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Neighborhood Grants program is open to nonprofit organizations, public agencies (such as libraries), and volunteer-led groups (like neighborhood or resident associations). We recognize there are entities and efforts without a 501 (c)3 IRS designation that align with our funding priorities. In these cases, we may consider grant applications from groups using a fiscal sponsor that have a 501 (c) (3) IRS designation. To be eligible, proposals must: Be feasible—delivering visible results within 12 monthsHave lasting impact—creating meaningful, enduring outcomesBe accessible to the broader communityBe relevant and beneficial to the specific neighborhood or communityLeverage community resources such as cash matches, volunteer time, donated space, or other in-kind contributions

Ineligibility

The program does not support: Capital campaignsEndowment fundsFor-profit entitiesFundraising eventsIndividualsOngoing operational supportLobbying or political effortsReligious organizations for religious purposes