Everyday Equity

Rhode Islanders Can Find Help With Medicare Open Enrollment at United Way

Community events statewide, private consultations by appointment highlight assistance available through the Dec. 7 enrollment deadline

Providence, Rhode Island (Nov. 8, 2023) — United Way of Rhode Island is offering assistance to those age 65 and older and adults with disabilities who need help enrolling in or reviewing their Medicare D and Medicare Advantage plans for 2024 coverage. The current open enrollment period ends on Dec. 7 and is the only time at which individuals can make changes to their health and prescription plans for the coming year.

The help with enrollment is available at many community events scheduled throughout the state and by way of one-on-one consultations made by appointment. A list of available enrollment assistance events can be found online. Additionally, individuals may call the Point, Rhode Island's free Aging and Disability Resource Center, at (401) 462-4444 to schedule an appointment or with questions about Medicare enrollment. The Point offers calls in a wide variety of languages.

"Older Rhode Islanders and adults with disabilities need to know it is imperative they annually check their current benefits and enroll in a suitable Medicare D and Medicare Advantage plan if they are to receive coverage next year," said Cortney Nicolato, United Way's president and CEO. "This is all about helping our neighbors get the most out of a program designed specifically for them, but that often feels daunting and has become increasingly complex to navigate."

During open enrollment assistance events and consultations made by appointment, Senior Health Insurance Program (SHIP) counselors will be available to answer questions about coverage and plan options, review and compare previous plan coverage, and assist with enrollment for 2024. Among the factors to keep in mind when considering coverage are:

• Was there a procedure or medication you needed in 2023 that was not covered?
• Have you received a new diagnosis?
• What were your copays last year and are there new medications you are taking or anticipate needing?
• Are you struggling financially or had a change in your income?

Those attending an event or consultation appointment are asked to bring the following documents and information: identification; Medicare card and any other health insurance cards; a list of prescription medications being taken; and the names of all doctors and medical providers being seen.

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United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. As a member of the world's largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), or YouTube.

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United Way of Rhode Island is excited to announce that the Rhode Island Afterschool Network (RIAN) will expand its efforts effective October 1, 2023 with Rhode Island Foundation serving as its fiscal sponsor.

Founded by United Way of Rhode Island in 2002, the Network has transformed the out-of-school-time (OST) learning environment and experience while empowering youth in Rhode Island. In the intervening years RIAN, advised by an Executive Committee of OST experts, has elevated the importance and quality of afterschool and summer programs and fostered a growing network of expert practitioners in the field.

After twenty years of growth and development, the Network will take on a new more autonomous structure with fiscal sponsorship provided by Rhode Island Foundation.

Last fall, United Way of Rhode Island and the executive committee for RIAN announced plans to explore and identify the right structure that will allow the organization to expand its commitment to the out-of-school time learning community.

Through a comprehensive process, it became clear that fiscal sponsorship by the Rhode Island Foundation provides an excellent opportunity for RIAN to continue to grow its membership and impact. United Way of Rhode Island will continue to support RIAN as a lead funder and advocate in afterschool and summer learning programs. Rhode Island Foundation will provide fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services aimed at supporting the independence and capacity of the Network.

"Since its inception, RIAN has transformed out-of-school-time learning through a grassroots, member-driven model of engagement and advocacy," said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way of Rhode Island. "We are proud to have helped RIAN get to this milestone, in partnership with the RIAN executive committee, and we are confident that RIAN will be in excellent hands with our long-time partners at the Rhode Island Foundation."

"The Foundation is so grateful to United Way of Rhode Island, and the Rhode Island Afterschool Network members for their diligent work to expand afterschool opportunities for Rhode Island's students and families over the last 20 years," said David N. Cicilline, president and CEO of Rhode Island Foundation. "We're pleased to provide fiduciary oversight, financial management, and other administrative services aimed at supporting the independence and capacity of the Network into the future and look forward to this continued partnership."

For questions regarding the RIAN network at the Rhode Island Foundation, please contact Lisa DiMartino, Senior Strategic Initiative Officer, email ldimartino@rifoundation.org.

Contact: Michael J. Cerio | michael@ceriocommunications.com | (401) 743-8269

United Way Announces Nancy Wolanski as Inaugural Director of  Rhode Island’s New — and First — Nonprofit Resource Center

Team of local stakeholders engaged candidates from around the country during inclusive, monthslong process

Providence, Rhode Island (July 31, 2023) — United Way of Rhode Island has hired Nancy Wolanski as the inaugural director of the state's new Nonprofit Resource Center. She assumed the role on Monday, July 31. Most recently, Nancy was executive director of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island.

The hiring of Wolanski culminates several years of work and research to create a singular center to serve Rhode Island's entire nonprofit sector, with a particular focus on BIPOC-led organizations and smaller nonprofits that are often undersupported, yet essential to our communities. A first-of-its-kind entity in Rhode Island, the Nonprofit Resource Center is being incubated within United Way. For the search and selection of the center's first director, United Way sought significant input from nonprofit leaders and stakeholders throughout the Ocean State.

"The needs of our state's nonprofit sector, as well as the impact of its mission-driven work on quality of life in Rhode Island, are well-documented, and perhaps no one understands these better than Nancy Wolanski," said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way. "This is in Nancy's DNA, and when you combine that passion with her experience and amazing ability to listen and engage with the community, you have a formula to empower our nonprofits like never before, making Rhode Island stronger in the process."

As director of the center, Nancy has overall strategic and operational responsibility for its development and growth, in collaboration with United Way leadership, and in alignment with the mission and values developed in partnership with local nonprofit leaders during the design process. The position reports directly to United Way's Nicolato.

Nancy will focus on initiatives that address both emerging and systemic needs of the sector while ensuring the center's programs and services are accessible, responsive, and increase the capacity and resilience of Rhode Island nonprofits. The center aims not to duplicate local efforts available to nonprofits; instead, it will serve as an information and collaboration hub, elevate the impact of the sector, support nonprofit staff, and partner with the public sector and funders to develop resources, address funding inequities, and strengthen workforce pipelines. An advisory board for the center will be created, and United Way will continue to engage the community as the center evolves.

"I have spent my entire career in the nonprofit sector, and with each passing day I become more convinced that nonprofit organizations are the foundation on which our community, economy, and government are built," said Nancy Wolanski. "Without a sustainable nonprofit sector, it is impossible to realize a thriving, equitable Rhode Island. And without the collaboration and intentional investment of government, business, foundations, and individual donors, our state's nonprofits cannot continue to provide the essential services so many of our families rely upon. I am beyond excited for this opportunity and for what the center will mean to our state."

Nancy spent eight years as executive director of the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island, leading the statewide funders network and incorporating racial equity and trust-based philanthropy concepts and training, and implementing professional development opportunities. She led the development and execution of Rhode Island's first comprehensive, statewide "State of the Nonprofit Sector" survey, and has been an unwavering public voice for the importance of philanthropy. Nancy is a steadfast advocate for the nonprofit sector at the State House, having recently testified in support of increased wages for human services organizations.

Prior to the Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island, Nancy held various positions with the Feinstein Community Service Center at Johnson & Wales University, including as assistant director. She is also an adjunct professor in the Universit'’s Social Sciences Department. Earlier in her career, Nancy spent time working with the American Mathematical Society and Thames Science Center.

An integral component to both shaping the vision for the Nonprofit Resource Center and the search for its first director has been the contributions of a diverse Design Team, comprised of 11 local nonprofit leaders. For more than a year, the team met biweekly to explore all aspects of the center, facilitate stakeholder engagement, and create a business model. Nancy was among those to help provide strategic leadership to the Design Team, helping members to consult with more than 400 community leaders, funders, and capacity building experts.

"From the beginning of this process, the entire Design Team appreciated Nancy's position in ensuring our work was intentional and would meet the needs of our entire nonprofit community," said Angelo Garcia, M.Ed., founder and executive director of Segue Institute for Learning, and a member of the center's Design Team. "In her we found a supporter who validated our concerns as representatives of the sector. Working with someone closely for a year you learn what they are made of, and Nancy is going to bring not only years of experience, but immeasurable compassion to this initiative."

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United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. As a member of the world's largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, business, nonprofits, community leaders, and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X (formerly known as Twitter), or YouTube.

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Contact: Michael J. Cerio | michael@ceriocommunications.com | (401) 743-8269

United Way Investing $10 Million in Community Programs

Grants support organizations whose work advances the mission to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders

Providence, Rhode Island (May 23, 2023) — With a focus on achieving the goals of its LIVE UNITED 2025 plan to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders, United Way of Rhode Island is investing $10 million in the work of community organizations over three years. These latest grants have been awarded from United Way's Community Impact Fund and received by a total of 45 local nonprofits, following what were intentional changes to the organization's grantmaking program.

In 2021, United Way made the commitment to invest $100 million over five years to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. With this round of funding, the organization's contributions through programs, grants, and philanthropy now total more than $71.25 million toward that goal in just three years. Additionally in 2023, United Way will offer more opportunities for funding with a focus on summer learning, opportunity grants, equity initiatives, and family stabilization, among others.

"Taking on Rhode Island’s biggest challenges, like building racial equity, requires big investments in the most innovative nonprofit organizations in our state," said Cortney Nicolato, United Way's president and CEO. "With the support of our donors, sponsors, and corporate champions, we are driving changes in our state that benefit every Rhode Islander. Our grantees are our partners in this work and in our mission to realize a thriving Rhode Island, and we are proud to work together for a better state."

United Way's overhaul of its grant program was driven by the purpose to better serve organizations whose work is rooted in actively advancing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Among the changes are three years of funding rather than two, awarding only unrestricted grants, instituting nontraditional reporting, and addressing the funding inequities faced by nonprofits led by Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) leaders. On average, these organizations have less than half of the staff and budget as non-BIPOC-led nonprofits.

Aligning with United Way's strategic priorities, the focus areas of the awarded grants include out-of-school time and experiential learning opportunities for students in underserved communities, housing, job training and economic empowerment, and community-based advocacy to advance social justice and racial equity.

"The process for these funding decisions took the old model of grantmaking and turned it upside down, and I truly believe that can be transformational for nonprofits in our state," said Larry Warner, DrPH, MPH, chief impact and equity officer for United Way. "We know our community has needs and that unrestricted support allows organizations to do the important work that meets those needs. This is what trust-based philanthropy looks like."

Among the grantee organizations, two — Inspiring Minds and Mt. Hope Learning Center — were funded at the recommendation of United Way’s Women United group. Women United works actively to further childhood literacy and ensure Rhode Island children have equitable opportunities to learn and read through its grantmaking and volunteerism.

Organizations were invited to apply for up to $75,000 in annual funding for the three-year period of 2023 to 2026. Proposals went through a multiphase review process, in which a committee of 29 took a holistic approach to reviewing each application. Proposals were scored on alignment with United Way's mission; organizational readiness to invest; population served and geographical reach; justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion plans; and proposed activities. There were 238 grant applications received, totaling $17.8 million in funding requests.

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United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. A member of the world's largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

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Contact: Michael J. Cerio | michael@ceriocommunications.com | (401) 743-8269

United Way Begins Search to Hire First-Ever Director for a New, Statewide Nonprofit Resource Center

Providence, Rhode Island (April 27, 2023) — A new, first-of-its-kind statewide resource center for Rhode Island nonprofits is becoming a reality. United Way of Rhode Island, which has convened the state's nonprofit community to establish the center, today announced it has opened the hiring for the center's inaugural director. A job description for the position, along with how to apply, can be found online.

The Nonprofit Resource Center is being developed and incubated within United Way with the potential of spinning off as its own 501(c)3 in the future. The director will have overall strategic and operational responsibility for the center's development and growth, in alignment with the mission and values of the center. In collaboration with United Way leadership, and with the advice of the center's Advisory Board, as well as ongoing input from nonprofit staff across the state, the director will facilitate the development of the center's strategic plan and initiatives to meet the evolving needs of Rhode Island's nonprofit sector. Additionally, the director will ensure the programs and services of the center are accessible, responsive, and increase the capacity and resilience of local nonprofits and especially those organizations led by people of color.

"This is a transformational moment for all Rhode Island nonprofits and a testament to the passion and drive of hundreds upon hundreds of people who worked tirelessly to get us here," said Cortney Nicolato, United Way's president and CEO. "While there is more to be done, the excitement is palpable and for good reason. Nonprofits and their mission-driven work are the backbone of our state, and it is long overdue that they have a singular resource dedicated to their unique needs and their efforts to change lives for the better and strengthen our communities."

Posting for the director position culminates several years of exploratory discussions and work around a potential Nonprofit Resource Center and how it would serve Rhode Island organizations. In late 2021, United Way doubled down, launching a formal discovery process and engaging Community Wealth Partners — a social change consulting firm — to lead the design process for the new center. The effort gained substantial momentum throughout 2022 as 11 local nonprofit leaders were selected for the design team. The team was intentionally diverse to ensure voices from across the sector were represented, particularly those that often go unheard. They met biweekly, exploring all aspects of the center, facilitating stakeholder involvement, and designing a business model. All told, along with their own expertise, the design team engaged more than 400 nonprofit leaders, funders, and capacity building experts in focus groups, input surveys, broad visioning sessions, and interviews.

Simultaneous to the design team's work, United Way contracted research on the structure and scope of nonprofit resource centers from across the country. The research focused on understanding the public and philanthropic investment necessary for sustainability and how centers prioritize accessibility and racial equity.

From this research and from community input, the design team identified four top target areas for the launch of the center. Those areas are: connecting nonprofits with funders to establish more equitable funding, coaching and tools to support small nonprofits' day-to-day operations, uniting nonprofits to share knowledge and resources, and advocating to state and local lawmakers on behalf of the sector to increase recognition and support. Additionally, the design team created a vision for the Nonprofit Resource Center, where "Nonprofits in Rhode Island — in particular, small, BIPOC-led organizations — have what they need to strengthen their communities and push for systemic change."

The position will be open for the next several weeks, and questions may be directed to human.resources@unitedwayri.org.

"We are beyond thrilled to open the search for the center's first leader," added Nicolato. "This individual will have an incredible opportunity to advance our state's nonprofit landscape and help elevate the vital work of so many great organizations. We're looking at a gamechanger for our nonprofits and for a sector that employs nearly one out of every five Rhode Islanders."

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United Way of Rhode Island is uniting our community and resources to build racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. A member of the world's largest nonprofit network, we bring together individuals, businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, and government to tackle the root causes of inequity and achieve specific, measurable goals. Our programs include 211, the statewide front door connecting Rhode Islanders with social services, resources, and vital programs. Both directly and through grants to nonprofits, we are investing to build economic opportunity, advance childhood learning, expand philanthropy, and drive policy and participation. To learn more, visit unitedwayri.org, or follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or Twitter.

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