89 Rhode Island Nonprofits Receive Champlin Support – $8 Million in Grants Helps Organizations Across the State Meet Increasing Need

Cranston, RI – The Champlin Foundation today announced $8 million in grants that will help advance improvements for 89 nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island. Grants in this cycle include 12 first-time recipients of Champlin funding. 

“A core value for The Champlin Foundation is constancy. We recognize that for any business environment to thrive– whether nonprofit or commercial – it relies on consistency from its investors. In today’s environment, where there is so much uncertainty and upheaval, the Foundation recognizes its responsibility to support the organizations that provide help and hope to Rhode Island,” said Nina Stack, executive director of The Champlin Foundation.  

For nearly a century, The Champlin Foundation’s grantmaking has centered on capital needs – projects that impact services, but for which it can often be difficult to raise funds. Applicants are considered from nine areas of focus: Arts & Culture, Conservation & Parks, Education, Healthcare, Historic Preservation & Heritage, Libraries, Social Services, Welfare of Animals, and Youth Services.  

Among the 89 nonprofits receiving funding this cycle, many are on the frontline of our state’s most pressing issues, including the intersecting challenges of emergency housing, nursing homes, and behavioral health needs. 

The media coverage makes it clear: housing insecurity in Rhode Island is on the rise, with the number of people experiencing homelessness increasing by 35 percent between 2023 and 2024. Amos House, which provides shelter, housing, and homeless prevention services to more than 1,000 individuals each year, will enhance the safety and accessibility of its Community Center and main service facility with a $122,726 Champlin grant. 

“For nearly 50 years, Amos House has helped people lift themselves out of difficult circumstances, including poverty and homelessness. The number of people who need our services and our compassionate one-on-one support continues to grow, and we invite all Rhode Islanders to join us at this critical moment to ensure that each of our neighbors has the opportunity to succeed,” said President and CEO Eileen Hayes. 

Kent Hospital aims to address the behavioral health crisis with a significant renovation and expansion of its Care Team Two unit. This project includes a dedicated trauma-informed space for patients experiencing behavioral health and substance abuse challenges, supported by a $660,000 Champlin grant. 

“As the second largest hospital in Rhode Island, Kent Hospital has a tremendous impact on the health and vitality of our state. Our vision with this innovative approach is to reduce overcrowding and delays in our Emergency Department, while providing people in crisis with a better experience, better care coordination, and ultimately better patient outcomes,” said President and COO Paari Gopalakrishnan, MD. 

Also related to the overall health care crisis, Rhode Island lacks availability in nursing homes, with a workforce shortage and deepening financial pressures driven by years of inadequate Medicaid reimbursement rates. Saint Elizabeth Community, which has eight locations across three municipalities, will enhance its East Greenwich nursing home with a $100,000 grant toward an overhaul of its dated HVAC system. 

“Rhode Island’s ability to provide long-term skilled nursing for our most vulnerable citizens, our elderly, is significantly challenged as more and more mission-driven nursing homes struggle. Saint Elizabeth Community fills an urgent need in our state. People are living longer, and their needs are becoming increasingly complex. We must collectively invest in nursing home care so that Rhode Islanders can age with dignity and maintain the quality of life they deserve,” said President and CEO Matthew Trimble. 

Champlin conducts two grant application and distribution cycles each year. The next application cycle opens on June 1 and will close on July 1, 2025, with the Distribution Committee making its final decisions in mid-November.