Our grantees
2021 Community impact and equity partners
Our 2021 Community Impact Fund Grantees
Three months after unveiling its LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan, United Way of Rhode Island is putting $4.5 million in grants to work in the community to create transformational change in the Ocean State. The funding, the first in a two-year grant cycle, was awarded to 72 organizations in support of programs targeting the root causes of the racial inequities that have held back Rhode Island’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities for generations.
Invested in our strategic plan
LIFT UNITED
Achieve United
Invest United
Advocate united
2021 Community Impact and Equity Partners
Thanks to our donors and partners, United Way of Rhode Island is supporting organizations that are on the front lines of building racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders. Grantees are organized by area of impact.
Lift United
• Beautiful Day
• DARE (Direct Action for Rights and Equality)
• Foster Forward
• Fuerza Laboral
• Genesis Center
• Higher Ground International
• House of Hope CDC
• Local Initiatives Support Corporation
• Lucy’s Hearth
• Man Up, Inc.
• Mental Health Assoc. of Rhode Island
• Nonviolence Institute
• One Neighborhood Builders
• Providence Revolving Fund
• Refugee Dream Center
• Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
• Rhode Island Legal Services, Inc.
• Sojourner House
• The Rhode Island Center for Justice
• West Bay Collaborative
• Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation d/b/a NeighborWorks Blackstone River Valley
• YouthBuild Preparatory Academy
Achieve United
• A Leadership Journey
• AS220
• Books Are Wings
• Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island
• Children and Youth Cabinet of RI at TSNE MissionWorks
• DownCity Design
• FabNewport / PVD Young Makers
• Festival Ballet Providence
• FRIENDS WAY, Inc.
• Fund for UCAP on behalf of The UCAP School
• Highlander Charter School
• Oasis International
• OCYL: The Mayor's Office of Children, Youth and Learning
• Providence After School Alliance, Inc.
• Providence ¡CityArts! for Youth
• Rhode Island Black Storytellers
• Rhode Island Parent Information Network
• Rhode Island Urban Debate League
• Riverzedge Arts
• Roger Williams Park Zoo
• The Learning Community
Advocate United / Lift United
• Center for Health and Justice Transformation at The Miriam Hospital
• Center For Southeast Asians
• Childhood Lead Action Project
• College Unbound
• Coyote RI
• Economic Progress Institute
• Generation Citizen
• Grow Smart RI
• Housing Network of Rhode Island
• HousingWorks RI at RWU
• Latino Policy Institute at RWU
• OpenDoors
• Parents Leading for Educational Equity (PLEE)
• Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corporation
• Progreso Latino, Inc.
• Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence
• Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless
• Rhode Island Interfaith Coalition to Reduce Poverty
• SISTA Fire /Project South
• West Elmwood Housing Development Corporation
• Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council
Achieve United / Advocate United
• Movement Education Outdoors
• Young Voices
Achieve United / Lift United
• Federal Hill House
• New Urban Arts
• The Manton Avenue Project
Achieve United / Advocate United / Lift United
• Global Science Envirotech, Inc.
• Southside Community Land Trust
• Youth In Action
Featured 2021 Community Impact Fund grantees
Sistafire
In Rhode Island, women and non-binary people of color are the backbones of our families and our communities. As caregivers, frontline workers, educators and visionaries within our neighborhoods, we see what is possible and fight for justice. But despite the strength and vision we hold for our communities, we face the compounding challenges of structural racism and gender violence. At SISTA Fire, one of the areas we’re fighting to change is birth outcomes for Black women, women of color, and their children through a community accountability process.
– Alexa Barriga, Organizing Coordinator
Fuerza Laboral
We need businesses in our community to have more human capital, civic engagement, and stronger social ties and principles. Workers’ Cooperatives does that. This award from the United Way will allow us to continue our path of success and create a meaningful Economic and Social Impact.
–Heiny Maldonado, Executive Director
FabNewport
We are working in partnership to build an ecosystem of learning using the Providence libraries as hubs for youth to launch their lives. The addition of two coaches focused on building relationships will allow us to connect with more students. Relationships are at the heart of good learning. If our youth feel safe, and they feel like they belong, anything is possible.
Our goal is for students to develop the skills, confidence and commitment so they can make a positive impact on their communities and make their lives.
–Steve Heath, Executive Director
Youth in action
We understand the need and effectiveness of having youth in decision-making positions of power, representing themselves in all of the places that impact them. This funding allows us to expand the team to create more equitable workloads, maintain and expand youth team salaries, and increase equity in the pay of our adult leadership, who are representative of the populations we serve. This will allow us to go deeper and reach new communities that we didn't have the capacity to do before, expanding youth leadership throughout Rhode Island.
–Elliot A. Rivera, Executive Director
Rethinking how one of R.I.’s largest nonprofits can grow
The Boston Globe
In October, [Idrees "Lanre"] Ajakaiye was appointed the new chief development officer at... United Way of Rhode Island where he'll be in charge of helping... United Way achieve its current strategic plan, which outlines the nonprofit's investment of $100 million over five years to help achieve racial equity.
City Council gives final approval to $10M reparations budget
Providence Business News
A two-yearslong effort to bring racial reparations to Providence achieved a milestone Wednesday... The approved funding largely mirrors recommendations set forth by a city panel based on community input, but with one major change that shifts some money into a COVID-19 Equity Fund to be managed by United Way of Rhode Island.
How you can save money amidst Rhode Island Energy rate hike
ABC6
With rates rising starting Oct. 1, Rhode Islanders have many ways to save money and energy this fall... [For] anyone... need[ing]... financial assistance... United Way of Rhode Island’s 211 service may help... 'We’re here to help the community navigate resources,' said Courtney Smith, director of... 211... The service is available online at 211 United Way of Rhode Island or over the phone.
United Way of Rhode Island Makes $3M Available to Nonprofits
A total of $3 million in annual funding is being made available to nonprofits across the Ocean State by United Way of Rhode Island. The grants will be awarded from the organization’s Community Impact Fund to nonprofits whose work advances United Way’s mission of building racial equity and opportunities for all Rhode Islanders.
New Survey of R.I. Nonprofits Highlights Dire Need
As Rhode Islanders… prepare to participate in Giving Tuesday, the results of a new survey paint a stark picture of the challenges facing the state’s nonprofit sector. Local community-based organizations continue to provide services for communities still facing pandemic-level needs, while facing inflation-driven costs and inadequate staffing caused by the physical and emotional toll of the last two years.
United Way of Rhode Island Appoints Four to Its Board of Directors
Four community leaders have been appointed to the United Way of Rhode Island Board of Directors… Elected for three-year terms are David Bonenberger, president, Rhode Island Energy/PPL Corporation; Anthony Botelho, senior vice president, team leader, Washington Trust; Courtney Hawkins, health and human services industry executive, Salesforce; and Yahaira “Jay” Placencia, senior vice president, private client advisor, Bank of America.
UPCOMING EVENTS
401Gives Open House
Join us for a 401Gives Open House on Thursday, Dec. 8 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at Rhode Island College. Learn about Rhode Island's statewide day of giving and how your fabulous nonprofit can be a part of it.
Information sessions will be held at 4:45 p.m. and 5:45 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided.
This event is free and open to the public.
The State of the RI Nonprofit Sector
Join United Way of Rhode Island and Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island for a virtual conversation about The State of the RI Nonprofit Sector on Friday, Dec. 16 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.
Together, we'll explore the challenges facing Rhode Island nonprofits. We'll also discuss opportunities to build capacity and support nonprofit work in 2023.
This event is free and open to the public.