RIF Capacity Building Grants

The Rhode Island Foundation's RIF Capacity Building Grants program supports 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Rhode Island. It aims to empower organizations that align with community priorities, focusing on diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (DEIA). Grants provide funding and technical assistance for strategic planning, business development, and operational improvements to enhance community impact. Proposals are evaluated based on need, readiness, and expected outcomes, ensuring a commitment to addressing systemic inequities in the region.

The outcome is an evolved mission and Five-Year Action Plan that is informed by the people we serve.
Through deep engagement and discussion with the public, collaboration with our partners, research, and data analysis, we identified six community priorities that are essential for a thriving Rhode Island. These priorities were consistently voiced by the community we serve and will guide our efforts in the years ahead.
The Capacity Building Grant program is one of our three core grant programs and primarily provides funding to support the infrastructure and/or technical assistance needs of organizations and programs that respond to one or more of the community priorities, and related focus areas in the Foundation's Five-Year Action Plan.
At the center of each community priority is a focus on inclusiveness, accessibility, compassion, mutual respect and humility, ensuring that our efforts address inequities and support thriving communities.
Other Considerations
Proposals are evaluated based in large part on how the work of the organization responds to community priorities and related focus areas, clear explanation of need, readiness to start and complete the proposed project, and the clarity of expected outcomes.
Capacity Building grants may support activities such as:

• Board development and governance
• Business planning and implementation
• Communications/marketing planning and implementation
• Data and evaluation planning and implementation
• Financial planning and implementation
• Fund development planning and implementation
• Strategic planning and implementation
• Succession planning and implementation

Technology planning and implementation, i.e. purchase/lease of software

Eligibility

Capacity Building Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Rhode Island.