2018 Meet the Funders

by Posted in Events, Philanthropy, Resources for Community Organizations

2018 Meet the Funders

Each year, GCRI presents a Meet the Funders session for 50+ nonprofits to “speed network” with GCRI funders.  This year, we have tentatively scheduled the session for Thursday, February 15.   We usually have about 10 GCRI funders participate and try to have a variety of funders — geographic distribution across the state, different issue area funders, and while we usually have some funders from the previous year, we like to have a number of new funders as well.

If you are interested in participating in the 2018 Meet the Funders, please let Nancy know before December 15.

Last year, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island generously hosted the session, and we are looking for a location for 2018.  If any of you are interested in hosting, we need a space for about 75 people, with break out areas for smaller groups.

Rhode Island Foundation and Blue Cross & Blue Shield of RI Team Up to Recognize Nonprofit Excellence

by Posted in Corporate Citizenship, Employee Engagement, Events, Health and Wellness, Member Highlights, Member News, Member Sponsored Events, Nonprofit Capacity Building, Philanthropy, Resources for Community Organizations, RFP

Nonprofit organizations have until July 24 to apply for the Rhode Island Foundation’s 2017 Best Practice Awards. Winners will receive a $1,000 grant, a promotional video highlighting their work and tuition waivers for professional development workshops.

“This is a powerful way for nonprofits to showcase their innovative work while sharing achievements that have the potential to be of widespread value to other organizations,” said Jill Pfitzenmayer, vice president of the Foundation’s Initiative for Nonprofit Excellence (INE).

Sponsored by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, the annual awards program recognizes outstanding practices by Rhode Island nonprofit organizations in the areas of advocacy, communication, innovation, leadership development and collaboration. The application and full details are posted here.

Immigration Workshop Available for Community Leaders and Practitioners

by Posted in Basic Need, Children & Youth, Global Philanthropy, Immigrants and Refugees, Philanthropy, Resources, Resources for Community Organizations, Uncategorized

Immigration lawyers from Roger Williams Immigration Law Clinic, Rhode Island Center for Justice and Rhode Island Parent Information Network will present a workshop on July 12, from 2:00-4:00pm, centered on the rights of immigrants and people who may be undocumented or unsure about their citizenship status, the rights of practitioners workingw ith people who are undocumentd, and to address any other questions people may have about immigration.  Presenters will cover the ways in which practitioners can, at best, protect their constituents, and at least, not endanger their constituents, and what healthcare and public benefits are available.  Dorcas International Institute and Economic Progress Institute are also providing resources, along with the Learning Community.

Panelists are:

  • Deborah Gonzalez, Immigration Attorney and Faculty at Roger Williams University School of Law
  • Jennifer Wood, Executive Director of the RI Center for Justice
  • Sam Salganik, Healthcare Rights Attorney at RIPIN
  • Bruno Sukys, Former Director of Citizenship and Immigration Services at Dorcas International Institute
  • Sarah Friedman, Co-Director of the Learning Community Charter School

 Topics include:

  • Understand the rights of your clients, constituents, patients, congregants.
  • Learn about immigration resources in Rhode Island.
  • Understand your rights as a provider serving foreign-born communities and how your organization can be prepared for any issues that may arise.
  • Get information about changes in immigration policy and its implications for our communities

Please share this opportunity with your grantees, community partners and others in the state who might benefit.  RSVP

Nominations for Nonprofit Leadership Award

by Posted in Nonprofit Capacity Building, Philanthropy, Resources for Community Organizations

Gifford Foundation Invites Nominations for 2017 Kathy Goldfarb-Findling Leadership Award

 

Do you have a community partner who goes above and beyond in engaging others to address community challenges?

The Gifford Foundation has invited invitations for the 2017 Kathy Goldfarb-Findling Leadership Award, a cash prize for a nonprofit professional whose leadership style is nimble and creative, encourages lifelong learning, embraces leaps of faith and does not fear failure, works “with” not “for,” fully engages in collaborative approaches, and at all times believes passionately in the power of change and personal growth. The award can be used for professional development opportunities, personal needs, or just to allow the nominee to recharge his/her batteries. The only restriction is that the funds may not redirected to the nominee’s organization.  The Gifford Foundation is accepting nominations for the 2017 Kathy Goldfarb-Findling Leadership Award, which recognizes a nonprofit professional who best exemplifies the foundation’s former executive director’s approach to leadership.

All nonprofit professionals are eligible to be nominated.  See the Gifford Foundation website for complete program guidelines and nomination instructions.

Link to Complete RFP

Women’s Fund Kicks Off “Gender Lens” Series with Women’s Campaign Session

by Posted in Advocacy, Member Highlights, Member News, Member Sponsored Events, Policy, Resources for Community Organizations
“Through A Gender Lens” Workshop Series on Tap
The Women’s Fund of Rhode Island’s Program Committee has created a new workshop series entitled “Through A Gender Lens,” sponsored in part by Amica Insurance.

The first installment of the series will be a workshop called “Run As You Are.”  The program features women who have run for office or conducted campaigns and is meant to inspire more women to get involved politically.

Research shows that when women make up 30% or more of lawmaking or decision making, that the policies that result are better for women and their families, regardless of political affiliation.  And while the Rhode Island Governor is female and 30% of our State House Representatives and Senators are women, women are still underrepresented in local elected offices and Congress.

This hands on workshop for women considering running for office, as well as those who want to support other women who run, will include stories from the campaign trail, brainstorming and information about the steps to run a successful campaign.

The workshop will be held on Saturday, July 22 at the New England Institute of Technology in East Greenwich, from 9-2:30.  Featured speakers include Senator Gayle Goldin (D), Providence City Councillor Sabina Matos (D), East Greenwich Town Councillor Sue Cienki (R) and Karina Holyoak Wood, who co-led the campaign to recall Kevin Jackson.

RSVP for Run As You Are

LISC Highlights: HEZ, Financial Opportunity Centers, Early Learning Work

by Posted in Basic Need, Children & Youth, Collective Impact, Community Development, Education, Financial Literacy, Health and Wellness, Leveraging to Multiply Impact, Member Highlights, Member News, Philanthropy, Policy, Resources for Community Organizations

HEZ Work a Model for Upending Health Inequality

Depending on whether you are born in a prosperous or a poor American neighborhood, your life expectancy can vary by as much as 25 years.  In a blog post for Build Healthy Places, Julia Ryan, LISC’s director of health and safety programs explains how Rhode Island’s Health Equity Zones (HEZ) are working to close the longevity gap.  As lead agency for two of those zones, LISC is helping to tackle the deep-rooted problems underlying that gap with a multi-strategy action plan.

LISC Financial Opportunity Center Success Story Featured on NPR

A recent NPR “Hidden Brain” podcast featured Brandi Drew, a client at a Financial Opportunity Center® in Detroit. In this podcast, Drew describes how financial coaching helped her escape the “scarcity trap.”  View the story here.  A five year, federal grant from the Social Innovation Fund (SIF) that was matched by local private and corporate grants, made it possible for Rhode Island LISC to invest over $2.3 million into four Financial Opportunity Centers® located at Amos House, Genesis Center, Providence Housing Authority and Community Care Alliance.  The Social Innovation Fund has not been included in the new federal spending proposal to fund the government through September 30.

 Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Report Released

In 2015 and 2016, by providing small grants and technical support, the LISC Rhode Island Child Care and Early Learning Facilities Fund (RICCELFF) enabled 83 early learning centers across Rhode Island to dramatically improve the learning environments in their facilities. The grants, which totaled $2.3 million, were made possible by the Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge, a U.S. Department of Education program designed to support high-quality early learning programs as well as increase the number of low-income and disadvantaged children who are enrolled in them. Read the report here.

“2016 By the Numbers” Video

LISC recently released a video highlighting the resources that it invested in Rhode Island in 2016.  LISC provided over 2,000 hours of technical assistance to over 150 groups, awarded over $3.5 million in grants and invested over $21 million in real state statewide.  LISC’s strategies include increasing family income & wealth, stimulating economic development, improving access to quality education and supporting healthy environments and lifestyles.  Watch the video to learn more about their impact!

The 2017 J.M.K Innovation Prize

by Posted in Leveraging to Multiply Impact, Resources, Resources for Community Organizations, RFP

The J.M. Kaplan Fund will award up to 10 prizes to nonprofits and mission-driven for-profits tackling the country’s most pressing needs through social innovation.  The Prize provides up to three years of support at $50,000 per year, as well as a $25,000 “bank” of funds available for technical assistance or targeted project expenses, making a total award of $175,000.  The Prize seeks to support innovation in the fields of the environment, heritage conservation and social justice.  Please distribute to your community partners who might be suited to apply.  Applications will be accepted until April 28. For more information