Mission

The Rhode Island Foundation is a proactive community and philanthropic leader dedicated to meeting the needs of the people of Rhode Island.

Mission in action

To deliver on the Foundation's mission we:

• Actively inspire philanthropy and increase permanent resources for the state of Rhode Island;
• Invest in important community programs through grants; and
• Provide leadership and a forum for dialogue on critical community issues.

Vision

Lead

We have earned the trust of our donors, community leaders, and Rhode Islanders through a century of effective investments, strategic grants, and responsible decisions.

Transform

We align our fundraising, grantmaking, and leadership to inspire and engage Rhode Islanders to address today’s challenges and create lasting improvements in our community.

Inspire

We challenge and encourage Rhode Islanders to become active and involved in the community, to form meaningful partnerships, and to work together for the good of Rhode Island.

Values

• Of, by, and for Rhode Island.
• Excellent stewards of the charitable legacies entrusted to us.
• Focused on finding long-term solutions.
• Committed to innovation.
• Addressing the underlying causes of inequity and eliminating disparities.
• Strengthening the whole community by connecting community members.
• Balancing competing priorities.
• Rewarding high performance and initiative-taking.

Strategy

• Our mission requires us to focus acutely on the levers of change that we believe will advance our three strategic priorities - therefore improving economic, educational, and health outcomes for all Rhode Islanders.
• As the state’s community foundation we must create flexibility in our community investment strategies, so that we are able to work with partners across the nonprofit sector to meet community need.
• In order to create true transformation we must raise up issues of equity, address the social determinants that produce disparate outcomes, and nurture a culture of civic engagement and philanthropy.

The Rhode Island Foundation is accredited by the National Standards for the U.S. Community Foundations program, representing the Foundation’s commitment to meet and exceed federal and state law requirements in practice and by policy.