The Rhode Island Foundation is accepting applications through Wednesday, Sept. 24, for neighborhood grants of up to $10,000 for Newport County projects that bring residents together.
The program is open to libraries, schools, neighborhood groups and nonprofits, and targets resident-led efforts — neighborhood gatherings, improvements to shared public spaces, green space projects, preservation of cultural traditions, volunteer and arts programming.
“We are looking for proposals that give neighbors opportunities to come together over common experiences,” said David N. Cicilline, the foundation’s president and CEO.
To qualify, projects have to show visible results within 12 months, be accessible to the broader community, and leverage other resources — a cash match, volunteer hours, donated space or other in-kind support. The grants cover one-time costs rather than ongoing operations, and proposals that have received money through the program before will not be prioritized.
Capital campaigns, endowments, for-profit entities, fundraising events, individuals, operating support and political efforts are not eligible.
Past Newport County recipients include Bike Newport, the Boys & Girls Club of Newport County, the Jamestown Arts Center, the town of Middletown, Melville Elementary School in Portsmouth, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, the Redwood Library and Athenaeum, Newport Live, Newport Classical, the Aquidneck Community Table and the Newport Art Museum.
Applications are at rifoundation.org.
