Our grantees
Examples of nonprofit partners
To achieve our strategic goals, United Way of Rhode Island partners with nonprofits throughout the state in our areas of focus.
Case study: Rhode Island Recovers
Rhode Island Recovers was our most recent round of grants, awarded in August 2020. We granted $600,000 to help 41 nonprofits continue to serve others during the COVID-19 pandemic. These grants were unique in the state for awarding 100% for unrestricted operating funds. In awarding the grants, we prioritized efforts that benefit communities of color.
“This is trust-based philanthropy, where our goal as an organization was to ensure that smaller, and often younger, nonprofits could continue to function and maintain the services they provide to those most at-risk,” said our CEO and president, Cortney Nicolato.
We gave priority to:
- Efforts that are led by or benefit communities of color or other vulnerable groups
- Nonprofits with limited philanthropic support
- Communities most impacted by COVID-19
We also looked at board and leadership diversity. Grantees with senior leadership comprised of 60% or more people of color were awarded $202,000, or 34% of the total amount awarded. You can find additional analysis of our Rhode Island Recovers grants here.
Nonprofits interested in applying for grants can find out more here.
Rhode Island recovers grantees
A Leadership Journey
AIDS Care Ocean State
Amos House
AS220
BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF NORTHERN RHODE ISLAND
Center for Dynamic Learning
Center for Southeast Asians
Child & Family
Clinica Esperanza
Community Action Partnership of Providence
Direct Action for Rights and EQuality
Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County
Dorcas International Institute of Rhode Island
DownCity Design
Federal Hill House Association
Fuerza Laboral (Power of workers)
International charter school
Jammat House
Land and Water Sovereignty project
Lucy's Hearth
Man Up, Inc.
McAuley Ministries
Mt hope learning Center
Oasis International
Olneyville Neighborhood association
ONE Neighborhood builders
OpenDoors
Pawtucket central falls development
Pawtucket Housing
Progreso Latino
Reach Out and Read Rhode Island
The Rhode Island Center for Justice
Rhode Island Hospitality Association Education Foundation
RI Institute for Labor Studies and Research
San Miguel School
SWAP (Stop Wasting Abandoned Property)
Tomaquag Museum
Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corp.
Year Up Rhode Island
IN THE NEWS
United Way starts 21-Day Equity Challenge
Rhode Island Monthly
"If you’d like to learn more about equity and its role in the fight against systemic racism, United Way… is here to help. Starting on Wednesday, February 24, Rhode Islanders can take part in United Way’s 21-Day Equity Challenge. Participants will receive a daily email that will feature different topics on racial equity, [including] racial identity, implicit bias… and allyship."
Labor Vision TV: LIVE UNITED 2025
Labor Vision TV
"Erica Hammond sits down with United Way of Rhode Island's CEO Cortney Nicolato. At the start of the new year United Way… introduced its LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan… The pair will discuss the importance of explicitly addressing systemic inequity, specifically racial inequity, and the role all of us can play in the fight against poverty throughout Rhode Island."
11 Ways Nonprofits Can Garner Feedback
Forbes Nonprofit Council
"As with any business, [nonprofits must] balance… where… donors want to go and what… [customers] desire… [and] find a way to make giving feedback as painless as possible… To help, 11 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council discuss how [nonprofits can] generate feedback from both donors and customers to better plot the trajectory of the organization."
UPCOMING EVENTS
YLC and Wavemaker Networking Night
Join Young Leaders Circle (YLC) members and Wavemaker Fellows at 5:30 p.m for a virtual networking event. You'll have the opportunity to meet other young professionals and expand your network from the comfort of your home.
Forum on Economic Stability
Join United Way of Rhode Island and the City of Providence at 1 p.m. for a virtual forum on economic stability. You'll hear from policymakers and advocates about policies you can advocate for to help Rhode Island families achieve economic stability.
Community Learning Partners Series
Join Women United at 12 p.m. for the next event in their Community Learning Partners Series. You'll hear an update on the state of afterschool in Rhode Island from United Way's Ayana Melvan and Representative Julie A. Casimiro.