Foundation continues its traditional grant making process

PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND – The Papitto Opportunity Connection, (POC), announced today it will continue its traditional grant making process rather than implement previously announced changes scheduled to take effect this year. The decision comes as critical federal systems supporting the non-profit community remain in flux, potentially impacting the long-term viability of many organizations that work with communities most in need.

“In response to the uncertainty coming from Washington, coupled with the massive state budget deficit Rhode Island is currently experiencing, POC’s Board of Trustees has decided to indefinitely continue the small grant program that has been a fundamental piece of our work since we were founded in 2020,” said POC Managing Trustee John Tarantino. “While we remain committed to the idea that larger grants are more likely to create systemic change, we also realize that in these uncertain times a small grant to an organization that is doing good workcan be equally important to ensuring those who need help the most receive it.”

By the end of 2025, POC’s small grant program was to sunset, replaced by POC’s Million Dollar Innovation Challenge Grant Program. Now both programs will remain in place. This year POC will make approximately $6 million in unsolicited grants to Rhode Island non-profits under both programs. POC also continues to fund millions of dollars in multi-year grants that were previously awarded.

The POC Million Dollar Innovation Challenge supports programming that is designed to create systemic change for communities most in need in the areas of education, skills training, entrepreneurship, healthcare or housing. Nonprofits are encouraged to collaborate on proposals to leverage resources and cultivate partnerships. POC’s Small Grant Program provides operational funding to organizations with demonstrated needs of varying sizes.  

Applications for both grants, which will be awarded through a competitive RFP process, will be accepted June 1-15 and December 1-15 via our online application portal. All organizations applying for a grant must submit an online application to be considered– this applies to first time grants, and those organizations seeking additional funding. No more than one grant for each organization will be considered in a year.

About the Papitto Opportunity Connection:

The Papitto Opportunity Connection (POC) is a non-profit private foundation dedicated to listening and working together with Rhode Island’s most in-need communities to empower and create individual success stories by investing in education, job skills training, healthcare, housingand entrepreneurial ventures.  Since being established in December 2020, POC has invested more than $100 million in 400+ non-profit organizations across the Ocean State. Learn more at POCFoundation.com.