Rhode Island Foundation announces $3 million to help nonprofits following Trump cuts
(WJAR) — The Rhode Island Foundation announced on Thursday that it is contributing $3 million to help nonprofits affected by cuts made by the Trump administration.
The administration is making broad, across-the-federal-government cuts, which are manifested by eliminating money for various programs and initiatives.
The grants are for those Rhode Island nonprofits affected by those cuts.
“We understand the harm these policies may pose to the work of our nonprofit partners, and most importantly, to the thousands of Rhode Islanders they serve each day,” said David N. Cicilline, the Foundation’s president and CEO.
The South Side Community Land Trust is one of many Rhode Island nonprofits feeling the impacts of federal funding cuts.
The organization which works with local farmers to help feed thousands of Rhode Islanders is out $600,000.
"That's causing me to have to look for other ways to operate, other ways to drive revenues and also likely cuts to our operations. Last year, about 10,000 people received food throughout the whole growing season from July 1 to October 31, a big bag of fresh vegetables and some fruits," Executive Director Margaret DeVos said. "Every two weeks, one bag for each person in their family, so a lot, a lot of fresh healthy food. So those 10,000 people are not going to get the food, those 30 something farmers are not going to get the revenues."
DeVos said they'll be applying for help from the Rhode Island Foundation.
"Rhode Island Foundation is a leader in our philanthropy community," she said. "So it's exciting that they're rolling them out and we're looking forward to applying."
$1 million of the grant money will go to the Community Partner Resilience Fund.
Those who can demonstrate how the lack of federal funding losses could significantly impact their organization can apply for up to $50,000.
Another $2 million will be part of the Community Priority and Capacity Building Grant Programs. For this group , the priority is given to organizations impacted by federal funding cuts or freezes.
Applications will open on April 1.
More information can be found on the Rhode Island Foundation's website.
NBC 10's Gabrielle Caracciolo contributed to this report.
