Opportunity Overview
The Rhode Island Energy Foundation 2026 Empowering Communities Grants support eligible nonprofits serving Rhode Island in education, inclusion, sustainable communities, community vitality, access to opportunities, and resilience.
Funding and Deadline
Grants range from $2,500 to $20,000, with an average award of approximately $5,000. The Foundation states that it expects to award approximately $500,000 in grants annually. The Fall 2026 application period runs August 1 through September 15, 2026. The controlling Rhode Island Energy materials do not state a submission clock time or time zone, so Atlas does not infer one.
Eligible Applicants
Eligible applicants are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in Rhode Island or Massachusetts that serve Rhode Island and are focused on education, inclusion, or sustainable communities. Municipalities, churches, schools, and chambers of commerce are ineligible. An organization may receive only one Empowering Communities grant award per calendar year.
Education and Workforce Focus
Education priorities include STEM programs, literacy, career pathways, and college readiness. Access to Opportunities priorities include economic development, inclusive skill-building or entrepreneurship training, and workforce development. Community Vitality and Resilience priorities include housing stability, food security, energy assistance, arts and culture, environmental stewardship, neighborhood revitalization, emergency preparedness, and disaster relief.
Important Exclusions and Limits
The Foundation states that it does not fund requests related to animal welfare, mental health, health care, case management, or advocacy. It does not make multiyear commitments. The Foundation will not be the sole contributor to capital campaigns, and scholarship funding is handled separately.
Application Process
Applications are submitted through the Rhode Island Energy Foundation application portal linked from the controlling program page. First-time users create a profile and password. The portal collects contact information, organizational details, a request summary, and supporting materials such as budgets or brochures. Eligibility questions may be sent to Community@RIEnergy.com.
Technology and Dr. Miltie Relevance
N9+ Fit Score: 0/100. The Foundation expressly excludes health care requests, so the Nonagon N9+ remote physical examination platform should not be positioned for this opportunity.
QC Healthcare Fit: 0/100. Health care and mental health requests are expressly excluded.
Atlas Assessment
Atlas Opportunity Score: 79/100. School/Education Funding Score: 89/100. This is a verified, open Rhode Island education and workforce-development opportunity with a clear nonprofit pathway and a $20,000 maximum award. The deadline is approaching, the award size is modest, and schools themselves are not eligible, which limits direct school-district use. Strong fits include eligible Rhode Island nonprofits operating STEM, literacy, career-pathway, college-readiness, skill-building, or workforce-development programs.
Potential Rhode Island Applicant
Skills for Rhode Island’s Future is a verified Rhode Island 501(c)(3) workforce nonprofit and operates career and internship programs serving Rhode Islanders. Its official funding page identifies Kerry Hall, Director of Development and Strategy, as a development contact. Atlas has not treated eligibility or an award as guaranteed; the applicant must confirm program fit and all portal requirements.
Controlling Source
Rhode Island Energy, Empowering Communities Program and Empowering Communities Grants booklet. Verified September 12, 2026. No official solicitation number is stated in the controlling materials.