NONPROFIT RESOURCES
research and data sources relevant to our areas of focus
Building nonprofit resiliency, especially for organizations led by and serving people of color, is a strategic priority here at United Way of Rhode Island.
You’ll find information elsewhere in this section of our site about our current programs for nonprofits. (Run an afterschool or summer learning program? Make sure to join our Rhode Island Afterschool Network.)
Grantmakers Council of Rhode Island, a strategic partner co-located in our office, provides targeted support for nonprofits, including professional development programs, opportunities to engage and learn with funders, and connection with local and national resources.
Rhode Island equity and basic needs data
- DataSpark: Maps, infographics, and reports on issues United Way cares about. Go here before you re-create the wheel, or if you need some already processed data.
- RI DataHub (run by DataSpark): Data stories, data reports, and even a data catalog with info on adult education, housing, workforce, health, etc.
- RI Community Profiles: Information about each of Rhode Island’s 39 cities and towns.
- Rhode Island KIDS COUNT:
Produces a comprehensive report that assesses child well-being in Rhode Island.
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): Reports on CCAP impact, etc.
- Rhode Island Afterschool Network: Professional development and practice information for youth-serving professionals.
- Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training: Data on wage rates and other labor stats.
- Economic Progress Institute: A go-to source for expert information on budget and policy issues impacting the economic well-being of Rhode Islanders.
- Latino Policy Institute: Studies that investigate issue areas impacting the Latino community and, in some cases, Rhode Island’s broader communities of color.
- University of Rhode Island Feinstein Center for a Hunger Free America’s Hunger and Poverty Facts: Data and research on food insecurity and SNAP in Rhode Island.
- Rhode Island Food Bank Status Report on Hunger: National and local data on food insecurity (runs one year behind).
- HousingWorks RI: Online factbook, as well as information about housing trends, housing in Rhode Island’s cities and towns, affordable housing, and housing and the Affordable Care Act.
- American Community Survey by the United States Census Bureau: Broad range of data, both raw and processed, about Rhode Island and its various communities. (Many research and data entities use the ACS data as the basis of their work.)
- Brookings Institute: Wide array of materials from international to local; focuses largely on economics, cities, and policy.
- Pew Research Center: Research on numerous social issues. (This is a great place to begin the hunt for research and data on nearly any social topic.)
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development: Data on the United States and countries all over the world with particular indicators on demographics, debt, environmental issues, and much more.
- Racial Equity Tools: Tools, research, tips, curricula and ideas for people who want to increase their understanding and help those working toward justice at the organizational and systemic levels.
- National Equity Atlas: Detailed report card on racial and economic equity.
- US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Minority Health Policy and Data
- Loving Cities Index: Schott Foundation for Public Education dashboard on supports that provide children the opportunity to learn (Providence profile).
- Race in America 2019 (Pew Research Center)
Form Symbiotic Nonprofit Relationships
Forbes Nonprofit Council
"If not done carefully, a business relationship has the potential to hinder rather than help the work being done by both organizations. To prevent collaborations that hinder nonprofit work, 11 members of Forbes Nonprofit Council, including Cortney Nicolato, United Way of Rhode Island's president and CEO, share how nonprofit leaders can form mutually beneficial relationships with a partner or another organization."
Nonprofit Center Design Team Announced
GoLocalProv
"United Way of Rhode Island announced on Tuesday the... members of a 'Design Team' that will be tasked with co-creating a vision and plan for... a Nonprofit Resource Center... 'We had a strong application response, and [these] individuals particularly stood out for their collection of unique insights and commitment to collaboration,' said Cortney Nicolato, president and CEO of United Way."
401Gives raises $3.09M for 507 nonprofits
Providence Business News
"This year's 401Gives Day raised the bar, once again, in supporting the state's nonprofit sector. As of Monday afternoon, the annual online fundraising initiative raised $3.09M, breaking last year's record total by close to a million dollars. It also saw a record number of donors – 12,850 in total as of 2:15 p.m. Monday – and number of organizations supported at 507, exceeding last year's mark by 87."
Seeking Input for Nonprofit Resource Center
“The Design Team working with United Way of Rhode Island to create a vision and plan for a statewide Nonprofit Resource Center is seeking input from the community to help guide what the center could offer. The first virtual session will look at current nonprofit capacity, followed by a number of visioning sessions focused on brainstorming strategies to strengthen nonprofits.”
Olneyville Community Fund RFP Released
“Continuing its commitment to strengthening the neighborhood it calls home, United Way of Rhode Island has released a request for proposal (RFP) for funding from its Olneyville Community Fund. More than $100,000 in grants is being made available to nonprofits located in Olneyville and those whose work specifically serves the Olneyville community.”
11 Leaders Selected for Design Team
“Work to create a Nonprofit Resource Center to support Rhode Island organizations is picking up steam with the selection of the members of the Design Team that will be tasked with cocreating a vision and plan for what the effort will look like. United Way of Rhode Island… has named 11 nonprofit leaders to the team.”
UPCOMING EVENTS
Visioning Session: Capacity Building Effort
United Way of Rhode Island is partnering with local nonprofit leaders to design a nonprofit resource hub for organizations across the state. Join us for a virtual, 90-minute visioning session to brainstorm strategies to address the needs of Rhode Island nonprofits and structural inequities in the sector. There will be five sessions — choose the one that best fits your schedule.
Day of Action
Join United Way of Rhode Island for Day of Action on Saturday, June 4 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m at United Way in Providence. We'll be sorting, labeling, and preparing books collected during our Children's Book Drive 2022 for distribution to kids in afterschool and summer learning programs. Three shifts are available — 9 - 11 a.m., 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m., and 2 - 4 p.m. This is a family friendly volunteer opportunity.
The Night Is Young
Don't miss the largest young professionals event of the year! Join United Way's Young Leaders Circle for The Night Is Young on Saturday, June 18 from 7 - 11 p.m. at Skyline at Waterplace. Register now to get early bird tickets for $45.