- No grant shall exceed $20,000 in any calendar year, and all applications for grants must be processed online.
- Grantees must be charitable organizations qualified under Section 501(C)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and must present proof thereof. Grantees may not be private foundations or individual persons.
- Grantees must be legal entities located in the State of Rhode Island, and be actively engaged in charitable endeavors and activities in the State of Rhode Island.
- Regional programs will only be considered for grants if there is a measurable way to monitor and document activity within the State of Rhode Island.
- Grantees must operate to enhance the quality of life of Rhode Islanders, promote social welfare in the state, or assist the people of Rhode Island such as in the areas of housing, health, education, or similar activities.
- There shall be two funding cycles per year – one in May and one in November. The Executive Director of the Trust shall receive all applications by February 1 and August 1 proceeding the funding cycle. The Trust will not accept applications for 18 months from organizations that had previously been granted funding.
- Awarded grants must be spent within one year of the funding date or the funds will be returned to Ocean State Charities Trust. If you find that the original purpose for which the grant was provided cannot be accomplished because of events not now foreseen, it is expected that the grant will be returned to the Trust.
- The Trust will not make grants for the purpose of adding to endowment funds, will not make loans, will not make grants to reduce a prior year’s deficit, and will not make grants that will be re-distributed to other charities.
- It is the policy of the Trust not to fund regular operating expenses of groups or fund personnel costs.
- Any 501(C)(3) agency or organization applying to the Trust must be in operation for two consecutive years before applying.
- The audit report, review, compilation or 990 must be completed by an outside independent accounting agency or CPA and be no more than 18 months old.
