Sixty-two nonprofit organizations serving Newport County received a total of $375,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation to support programs ranging from educational initiatives and housing assistance to food pantries and arts activities.
The funding comes through the foundation’s Newport County Fund, which provides grants of up to $10,000 to strengthen existing programs, support new projects, and foster community partnerships across Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth, and Tiverton.
“We are fortunate to be able to help our partners carry out their critical work,” said David N. Cicilline, the foundation’s president and CEO. “We are grateful for the dedicated donors who make it possible for us to support nonprofits that are on the frontlines of serving the needs of their communities.”
Recipients include organizations focused on youth development, such as the Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County and the Newport County YMCA, as well as groups addressing basic needs like the Jamestown Community Food Pantry and Little Compton Food Bank. Cultural organizations like the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport Classical, and the Jamestown Arts Center also received funding.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Newport County received $5,000 to support its Anchor Academy, an intensive leadership program for about 20 Middletown High School freshmen. The program runs from October to April and includes an eight-week skills training component, culminating in peer leaders helping incoming freshmen adjust to high school.
“Our program addresses the challenges many youth experience during the critical transition between middle and high school,” said Bill Parks, interim executive director. “Students’ experiences in their first year of high school often determine their success throughout high school and beyond.”
Child & Family received $10,000 for case management services in its supportive housing program, which works with the Newport Housing Authority to provide affordable apartments for up to 12 families annually. The program offers wraparound services to help families secure permanent housing and avoid involvement with the child welfare system.
“Our focus on connecting families to care is what makes our program successful in keeping families together and keeping children out of the costly child welfare system,” said Susan Jacobson, the organization’s president and CEO.
The Jamestown Community Food Pantry received $10,000 to help offset rising food costs. The organization served 86 households supporting 167 individuals last year, distributing an average of more than 1,900 items monthly across 467 pantry visits.
“Our budget continues to be challenged by the cost of stocking our shelves,” said Deborah Nordstrom, the pantry’s president. “Without our services, the needy in Jamestown would need to travel across one of the bridges to another food pantry, and many of our clients are shut-ins or don’t have reliable transportation.”
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center was granted $10,000 for need-based preschool scholarships for children from low-income, working families. The center serves up to 45 children ages 3 to 5 and opened a third classroom in September to address the gap in preschool availability on Aquidneck Island.
The Newport County YMCA received $7,500 for RhodySquash, an after-school program for students in grades four through eight that combines squash instruction with mentorship and tutoring. The program targets students with financial, academic or psychosocial needs.
The Village Common of Rhode Island was awarded $5,650 to strengthen its Jamestown Village and Aquidneck Island Village chapters, which help older adults stay active and independent. The Aquidneck Island chapter has 57 volunteers serving 64 members, while Jamestown Village has 27 volunteers and 19 members.
Other recipients include educational organizations such as Salve Regina University and Newport Community School; environmental groups, such as the Norman Bird Sanctuary and Newport Tree Conservancy; and cultural institutions, including Newport Contemporary Ballet and the Rhode Island Black Storytellers.
The grants were awarded with input from an advisory committee comprised of residents from every Newport County community. Since its establishment in 2002, the Newport County Fund has awarded more than $6 million in grants. The Rhode Island Foundation has provided nearly $12 million in grants to Newport County nonprofits since 2023 alone.
The Rhode Island Foundation describes itself as the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island.
The complete list of recipients is available at rifoundation.org.