Community Priority Grants / Catalyst Grants

Community Priority Grants / Catalyst Grants is sponsored by Rhode Island Foundation. Core grant streams designed to support organizations advancing community priorities outlined in the Foundation's Five-Year Action Plan, which prioritizes education, student success, and workforce/economic mobility initiatives.

RI Foundation | Grants & Scholarships Support for a thriving Rhode Island Through deep engagement and discussion with the public, collaboration with our partners, research, and data analysis, we have evolved our approach to charitable giving, grantmaking and investments, convening, capacity building, and advocacy.

Thanks to this feedback from the community, our grant programs are evolving in step with our Five-Year Action Plan and aligning with our Community Priorities .

We now offer three core grant programs to support organizations advancing these priorities, including a simplified application process, and continue to offer topic- and geography-specific program grants, as well as scholarship and fellowships to support Rhode Islanders pursuing higher education, personal, and professional development opportunities.

Our core grant programs support organizations advancing community priorities and related focus areas, as described in the Foundation's Five-Year Action Plan . Learn more and apply here for the Foundation's three core grant programs: Catalyst Grants , Community Priority Grants , and Capacity Building Grants .

Core grant program opportunities Topic and geography-specific grant programs Apply here for grants from our programs that are topic and geography-specific - programs like Newport County Fund Grants , Program for Animal Welfare Grants , and many more. Topic and geography-specific grant program opportunities Scholarships and fellowships Learn, grow, create, or travel – check out our many scholarship and fellowship opportunities.

All Rhode Island students are eligible to apply. Many generous individuals, families, organizations, and businesses have established scholarship funds at the Rhode Island Foundation to help students cover essential educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, and other necessities. A heartfelt thank you to our advisory committee members Many of our grant and scholarship programs rely on the engagement of volunteers.

Each year, with guidance from Foundation team members, hundreds of Rhode Islanders offer their time to review grant and scholarship applications. We are profoundly grateful for the hours they invest, the wisdom they share, and the values they bring to this important work. Their service reflects the very spirit of community that drives our mission.