Foundation grants record amount to nonprofit organizations in 2010
2010 grants to nonprofits total $29.2 million compared with $27.5 in 2009 The Rhode Island Foundation granted a record $29.2 million in 2010, the largest annual amount in the community foundation's 95-year history. The Foundation, the largest and most comprehensive funder of Rhode Island's nonprofit organizations, works in partnership with donors and nonprofit organizations to meet the needs of the people of Rhode Island. Grants in 2009 totaled $27.5 million.
In announcing the historic grant figures, Foundation President and CEO Neil D. Steinberg stated,"So many Rhode Islanders are still struggling to get by and nonprofits are working extremely hard to address the state's most pressing issues. Our staff works in close partnership with both our generous donors and nonprofit organizations to identify opportunities and achieve maximum positive impact for the grants we award. This record amount demonstrates our shared commitment and belief that charitable giving can improve the quality of life in our state over the long term."
Steinberg also praised the Foundation's donors, noting that they contributed to the record $29.2 million total by granting an additional $1.3 million from their advised funds at the Foundation over the previous year's total.
"The strength of the Foundation is built on decades of donor vision and generosity. Last year, our donors demonstrated their compassion and sense of community through increased giving." said Steinberg. "We appreciate their continued confidence in the Foundation."
The Foundation also applauded the 114 Rhode Island nonprofits that received competitive "strategy" grants last year totaling $5.6 million. Through these grants, the Foundation invests in organizations working on long-term solutions to the state's most critical challenges. The strategy grant program strongly encourages collaborative projects that foster innovation and seek to achieve efficiencies, reduce duplication of service, and provide strategies for long-term sustainability.
"The Foundation is dedicated to strengthening and investing in the state's nonprofit sector, which touches nearly every resident," noted David M. Hirsch, chairman of the Foundation's board of directors. "We are encouraged by the forward-thinking and creative approaches the sector has put forth to have a lasting positive impact in Rhode Island, and take seriously our responsibility to support this important effort."
Strategy grants fall into six sectors: arts and culture, economic and community development, education, environment, health, and human services. Last year, the Foundation announced an added emphasis on two areas within these sectors that it believes are critical to our state's economic well-being: public education and primary health care.
See a list of our 2010 strategy grant recipients. |
