Awesome Foundation Rhode Island

Jan 01: Application period opens
Jan 15: Application period closes, 11:59 PM EST
Jan 29: Review and voting
Jan 30: Notifications out

*Each month’s application period is open from the 1st of the month until 11:59 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of the month, or until a total of 100 applications come in, whichever is first.

Jan 2025 Grant Dates

Awesome Foundation Rhode Island is a local chapter of Awesome Foundation. We were founded in late 2023, and issue a monthly gift or $1,000 in support of people and ideas of benefit to the Ocean State. We are not a 501c3 non-profit. We all live in Rhode Island. This is chapter’s micro-site; the actual grants portal is here.

Grant Basics

Anyone with a project or idea in need of $1,000 is encouraged to apply. Individuals, groups, and organizations are all welcome, though priority is often given to those without existing funding networks. You don’t need fiscal sponsorship or to be a 501c3

Who Can Apply?

Each Trustee (individual or shared seat, plus a monthly guest trustee) identifies (3) proposals to up-vote. Projects with the most up-votes are discussed in-person. There is no set rubric.

Our Process

Christina Alderman is the Director of Family and Teen Programs at the RISD Museum.

Tommy Allen and Natallie VanLandingham are musicians and co-owners of Myrtle.

Jordan Goffin is Director of Special Collections at the Providence Public Library.

Elizabeth Goodspeed is a designer and educator based in Providence. She made our logo.

Marie Janssen makes bread, biscuits, and Bluetooth.

Dennis Legget is a dancer and educator who also oversees operations at Dye House.

Deidra Montgomery is a freelance musician, consultant, and coach helping orgs and individuals.

Annaliese Neff is an artist, video editor, and owner of The Wilds.

Ben Sisto is an artist living in Providence; he organizes this AF chapter.

Neal Walsh is an artist and Gallery Director at AS220.

Candace Williams is a poet, UX designer, and educaor; Laimah Osman is an educator, artist, and designer with experience in public and private institutions.

Joshua Wizer-Vecchi is Director of School-Based Mental Health Services at Rhode Island College.

People

We invite one guest trustee per round, helping keep our perspectives fresh and conversations lively. Want in? rhodeisland@awesomefoundation.org. Guests to date: Henry Brown, Marisa Finos, Kristine Alach, and Morgan Dixon.