Business Beat: BankNewport Charitable Foundation Awards $470K+ in Spring 2026 Grants

Funding supports nearly 50 nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island

The BankNewport Charitable Foundation is proud to announce the recipients of its Spring 2026 grants. More than $470,000 was awarded to nearly 50 nonprofit organizations across Rhode Island, reflecting the Foundation’s continued commitment to strengthening communities and supporting programs focused on arts and culture, basic needs, education success, and healthy lives.

“BankNewport is proud to support organizations that are making a meaningful difference in the lives of Rhode Islanders every day,” said Jack Murphy, President and CEO, BankNewport. “The grants will help advance important work in communities across the state, and we’re honored to partner with nonprofits that are expanding opportunity, improving wellbeing, and meeting critical needs.”

Among the recipients, the BankNewport Charitable Foundation recommended key grants, including $100,000 to the Newport Hospital Foundation to help acquire the da Vinci Robotic Surgical System, a state-of-the-art tool for minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, and $50,000 to the Friends of Middletown Public Library to support the Children’s Room as part of the Middletown Public Library campaign.

Recipients of the Spring 2026 grants include:

Arts & Culture

• FirstWorks, for its Family & Arts Education Programs in Providence, Pawtucket, Central Falls, and Newport.
• Greenwich Odeum, to support its 100th anniversary restoration project, including installation of a new marquee that pays tribute to the theater’s past.
• Newport Art Museum, for its “Free for All” Saturday Community Arts Programming.
• Newport Restoration Foundation, for its Keeping History Above Water year-long community programming.
• Providence Performing Arts Center, to support a sensory-friendly, neuro-divergent performance of Bill Blagg’s Family Magic.
• Rhode Island Slave History Medallions, to support the Juneteenth Semi quincentennial Celebration, Newport Black History Walking Tours, and Juneteenth cultural event.

Basic Needs

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island, for its Family Empowerment and Investment Fund.
• Boys and Girls Clubs of Northern Rhode Island, to support its Healthy Habits Kitchen afterschool initiative.
• Centro de Innovación Mujer Latina, for its Warehouse Project serving families facing economic hardship and housing transitions.
• East Bay Community Development Corporation, to support the purchase of a transit van for seniors needing transportation to medical appointments, food pantries, and community programs.
• FAB Newport, for its Healthy Meals Program serving youth participating in their summer programming.
• Farm Fresh RI, for its Bonus Bucks program that helps SNAP users.
• Good Neighbors, to support its Food for Kids seasonal initiative.
• Meals on Wheels of Rhode Island, for its Home Delivered Meal Program.
• Pawtucket Central Falls Development, for its HUD-approved pre-purchase Homebuyer Education Program.
• Project Weber/RENEW, to support basic needs resources for unhoused and at-risk individuals.
• St. Vincent De Paul Society, Saint Joseph Conference, to provide emergency financial assistance to Newport County residents facing crisis.
• Trinity Church, Newport, to support community meals hosted each month.

Education Success

• The Children’s Workshop Foundation, to support the purchase of a transit van for food delivery and program coordination across six school locations.
• College Visions, for Newport Summer Prep career exploration programming.
• Community String Project, for string music instruction and instruments for low-income youth.
• The Empowerment Factory, for afterschool and community program supplies serving Pawtucket and Providence students.
• IYRS School of Technology & Trade, for its scholarship fund supporting need-based students.
• The Learning Community, for its Exploratorium STEAM-focused after-school and summer program.
• Looking Upwards, for its Inclusive Aquidneck Island Day Camp.
• Project Goal, Inc., to support after-school education, mentoring, tutoring, life skills, and soccer programming.
• Providence Public Library, for its Technology Career Pathway workforce program.
• RI School for Progressive Education, to expand Accelerated Teacher Certification, English to Speakers of Other Languages, and Multilingual Learner Endorsement programs.
• Sail Newport, to support the Jason Titunik Racing Education Center.
• San Miguel School of Providence, for its 2026-2027 academic sponsorship program.
• STEAM Box, to support transportation vouchers and meals for youth participating in workforce-aligned STEAM learning.
• Star Kids Scholarship Program, for educational and wraparound supports for youth.
• United States Sailing Association, for STEM activity materials for students.
• YMCA of Greater Providence, for Providence Youth Services programming focused on STEM, leadership, and wellness development.
• Youth In Action, to support youth programming, transportation, leadership development, and service learning.

Healthy Lives, Thriving Communities

• Aquidneck Community Table, for its Food Explorers Program.
• Clinica Esperanza/Hope Clinic, to expand access to essential diagnostic screenings for low-income adults.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center, for its Safe Housing Program.
• Hope & Main, to advance inclusive culinary entrepreneurship through Spanish-language training.
• Melior Inc., to expand access to vaccinations and preventative health services.
• Newport Mental Health, for its Engage and Thrive project serving youth, and families in Newport County.
• Potter League for Animals, for its Community Navigator Program.
• Rhode Island Land Trust Council, to support statewide efforts that strengthen local land trusts and expand equitable access to nature.
• Shri Service Corps, to expand wellness support for adults with disabilities through community art and adaptive yoga classes.
• Tiverton Farmers Market, to support a safe and accessible platform for local farms, food producers, makers, artists, and musicians.
• Visiting Nurse Home and Hospice, for its Maternal and Child Health program serving Newport County.

Founded in 1819, BankNewport operates 19 branch locations across Rhode Island, along with a community lending center in Central Falls and a commercial lending office in Providence. The bank says it has awarded more than $12 million in grants, sponsorships, and donations over the past decade to nonprofit organizations throughout the state.