RISCA Project Grants for Organizations

RISCA Project Grants for Organizations

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Rhode Island State Council on the Arts
Amount: Up to US $6,000
Last Updated: February 05, 2026

Summary

The RISCA Project Grants for Organizations program offers funding up to $3,000 to support arts and culture projects that benefit Rhode Island communities. This entry-level grant program is designed for non-profit organizations that demonstrate a commitment to engaging with historically marginalized groups. The initiative aims to enhance cultural vibrancy and equity in the arts, ensuring all Rhode Islanders have access to meaningful artistic experiences.

Overview

Rhode Island State Council on the Arts (RISCA) Mission Through grantmaking, programming, convening, policy-building and education, the Rhode Island State Council on the Arts ensures that arts and culture will play an ever more significant part in the well-being and experience of all Rhode Island residents. Vision We envision a Rhode Island where arts and culture are valued as an essential part of life, and for their contribution to a thriving state. Values We believe in the transformative power of arts and culture. All Rhode Islanders benefit from creative expression and a culturally vibrant state. As the agency of state government charged with supporting arts and culture in Rhode Island, RISCA is committed to: OPENNESS: Being respectful, welcoming and inviting to all.CONSISTENCY: Behaving intentionally, in a knowledgeable, responsive, engaged, respectful and transparent manner.DEDICATION: Developing authentic relationships, as a team and with others, built on our passion, humor, kindness and optimism.Through grantmaking, programming, and services, RISCA promotes:EQUITY AND ACCESS: Ensuring the identification and removal of barriers in all contexts, including cultural opportunities, resources and RISCA support for diverse communities throughout Rhode Island.COLLABORATION: Creating networks of mutual support among individuals, organizations and RISCA to strengthen communities.ECONOMIC VALUE: Honoring the time, skills, talents and excellence of artists and arts administrators through fair compensation.COLLECTIVE RESPONSIBILITY: Supporting culturally relevant and responsive art to ensure the health and well-being of the arts and cultural ecosystem, beginning with arts education.ARTISTIC EXPRESSION: Protecting freedom of artistic expression in Rhode Island.LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT: Fostering diverse arts and cultural leaders in, from and for Rhode Island. Project Grants for Organizations RISCA’s Project Grant for Organizations program provides grants of up to $3,000 in support of arts and culture projects that are relevant and meaningful to a Rhode Island community or communities. The Project Grant for Organizations (PGO) program is RISCA’s entry-level grant program for organizations. RISCA defines a project as a discrete set of connected activities with a defined beginning and an end. Projects may be one-time events like a festival, show, or exhibition, or a defined series of events such as a roster of classes or series, or thematically connected concerts, productions or arts events. Core to all funded programs is a connection and value to the community being engaged with by the public, fulfilling RISCA’s charge to facilitate a meaningful cultural life for all Rhode Island residents. Per our partnership agreement with the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and our agency values around equity and access, programs that engage “underserved” communities are particularly suitable for PGOs. The NEA defines “underserved” communities as “ones in which individuals lack access to arts programs due to geography, economic conditions, ethnic background, or disability.” Rather than “underserved”, RISCA prefers to use the term “historically and/or continuously marginalized.” In either case, these definitions may include immigrant groups, BIPOC communities, rural populations, aging populations, people living in poverty, people experiencing homeless, people with disabilities, incarcerated populations, communities recovering from trauma or disaster, and military service members and veterans.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. In order to qualify for AAG support, you must be:A non-profit organization. Your organization must be incorporated in and conducting business in the State of Rhode Island, with 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service, registered with the Rhode Island Secretary of State, governed by a revolving board of directors, trustees or advisory board drawn from the community at large and shown to be actively involved in the governance of the organization (for confirmation that your nonprofit organization is incorporated in the State of Rhode Island, visit the Secretary of State’s online database).If your organization is incorporated in a state outside of Rhode Island, they may still apply for a grant. The organization must show that its principal place of business is in Rhode Island, it is registered with the Secretary of State’s office, it is producing programming predominantly in Rhode Island, and it is governed by a revolving board of directors, trustees or advisory board drawn from the Rhode Island community and shown to be actively involved in the governance of the organization. A non-exempt, Rhode Island-based organization using a fiscal sponsor that fits the above requirements.Organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service may be sponsored by an eligible nonprofit organization. In this case, the application must be submitted in the name of the sponsor organization. If a grant is awarded, it is understood that the sponsor organization is financially, administratively, and programmatically responsible for all conditions of the grant. The sponsor is also responsible for signing any grant documents, achieving compliance, and ensuring the submission of final report form.The maximum grant award in this category is $3,000 – but partial awards are VERY common.If you receive a grant, you must credit RISCA on all marketing materials.All RISCA grant awards are contingent upon the availability of funds from the Rhode Island State General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.If you receive a grant award, it can be used for expenses related to your project and its production or presentation, as well as marketing and accessibility efforts associated with the project.

Ineligibility

Divisions, branches, departments, programs, or other subunits of nonprofit corporations, colleges, or universities are ineligible to apply on their own; applications may be submitted only by the parent corporation.Council support may not be used for:Programs that occur in spaces that are not ADA compliant. Persons with disabilities have the right to access all RISCA-funded programs. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act states, in part, that “no otherwise qualified person with a disability … shall solely by reason of their disability be excluded from the participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.”Capital projects. The construction or renovation of buildings or additions to buildings, with the exception of accessibility improvements to cultural facilities.Addressing Debt. Eliminating or reducing existing debt, or for contributions to an endowment fund.Any development efforts, such as social events or benefits.Prizes and awards. Your project having an award or competition component does not make the project ineligible; RISCA funds just may not be used for the prize or award.Hospitality expenses. This includes food and beverages for openings or receptions. Under no circumstances will the purchase of alcoholic beverages be supported. Your project can have hospitality expenses; RISCA funds just may not be used for hospitality expenses.Expenses outside of award period. Expenses incurred or activities occurring prior to July 1 or after June 30 in the fiscal year in which the grant has been awarded.Regranting funds. Applications where the purpose is to “regrant” or award funds using some or all of the RISCA grant funds.Undergraduate or graduate school activities. Activities which are part of a graduate or undergraduate degree program, or for which academic credit is received.Religious activities. Applications for projects that proselytize or promote religious activities, or which take place as part of a religious service. Private functions. Performances and exhibitions not available to the general public.