Grant Deadline for Newport County Nonprofits is Fast Approaching

NEWPORT, RI – Nonprofit organizations serving Newport County’s six communities have until Feb. 18 to apply for more than $250,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation.

The Newport County Fund (NCF) offers awards of up to $10,000 in eight key funding areas: arts and culture, children and families, education, economic security, environment, health, housing and basic human needs.

“This fund is focused on serving the unique needs of these communities. Collaborating with partners who have deep, local roots gives us the resources and context to address local priorities,” said Adrian Bonéy, the Foundation’s grantmaker for special programs.

Among the eligible uses are developing new programs, strengthening or expanding established programs and community or municipal planning or leadership. Applicants should focus on significant problems or opportunities, strategic partnerships or collaborations, innovation and measuring results.

The NCF does not fund individuals or scholarships, medical research, debt reduction or fundraising. Grants may support faith-based organizations for secular programs or projects. These are annual grants; NCF does not make multi-year commitments.

In making this year’s funding decisions, the Foundation will work with an advisory committee comprised of Newport County residents, including Jack Ellis, Bill Harvey, Kristen Humphrey, Victoria Johnson, John Murphy and John Trifero.

Over the years, the NCF has invested more than $2.8 million in funding programs and services for residents of Jamestown, Little Compton, Middletown, Newport, Portsmouth and Tiverton.

Recent grant recipients include Day One, which received $10,000 to expand its work serving young and adult victims of sexual violence; Visiting Nurse Services of Newport and Bristol Counties, which was awarded $5,000 to train staff on how to work with patients with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers; and the Newport Partnership for Families, which received $4,400 for a summer learning initiative, “Reading Reaps Rewards.”

The NCF is supplemented by the Jamestown Community Fund and the Jamestown Fund for the Performing Arts. Over the years, the two funds have awarded more than $93,000 in grants.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in the state. In 2015, the Foundation awarded $41.5 million in grants to organizations addressing Rhode Island’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information about applying for the NCF grants, visit www.rifoundation.org.