What we do
A nonprofit initiative focused on attracting and securing resources to support economic and community development in Rhode Island.
With support from the Partnership for Rhode Island, we offer pro bono grant strategy and technical assistance to municipalities and coalitions of community partners — filling the gap between a good project and a funded one.
Finding, evaluating, and applying for grants takes more capacity than most Rhode Island communities have. Researching the right programs, pulling together the data, drafting a competitive narrative, and making sure every required document is in order — that's a full-time job on top of an already full-time job. That's the gap we fill.
Since 2022
We've worked with municipalities, state agencies, and statewide coalitions across Rhode Island, helping bring significant federal resources to the state. Today our pro bono capacity is focused on municipalities and community coalitions.
Beyond the application
We invest in community engagement and convening — bringing together municipalities, funders, and practitioners in ways that produce stronger applications that speak to Rhode Island's actual priorities.
Looking ahead
In 2026 we're broadening our approach — alongside federal funding, we're helping partners identify philanthropic sources and technical assistance that can complement and sustain what federal dollars start.
Our services
We work with cities and towns, state agencies, the Narragansett Indian Tribe, higher education institutions, nonprofits, and coalitions. The applicant is always the partner. We help them get there.
Grant strategy
Before anyone writes a word, we help figure out which program actually fits, whether the project is competitive, and how it should be positioned. Sometimes the answer is that a different program is a better bet, or that the project isn't ready this cycle. That's a useful answer too.
Grant writing and drafting
We help with grant strategy, narrative drafting, and review — making sure applications reflect what communities are actually trying to accomplish and make a compelling case for funding.
Draft review
We work through drafts line by line with municipal and state staff, against the actual scoring criteria.
Submission logistics
Federal portals and registration systems defeat a lot of good applications. We help partners get submissions through SAM.gov, Grants.gov, and agency-specific systems.
Convening
We host and organize events that bring funders, federal officials, and practitioners to Rhode Island, or put Rhode Islanders in front of them. Relationships built in those rooms have produced multi-state collaboration years later.
Compliance and post-award support
Winning is half of it. We support partners after award to keep funds usable, meet reporting requirements, and respond when awards are challenged, delayed, or terminated.
Community engagement
We're trusted across many Rhode Island communities, and state officials have asked us to serve as a go-between for that reason.
Two years of Compete RI
In 2024 we published a report documenting our first two years of work — the partnerships, the applications, the convenings, and the results. It covers what we set out to do and what we actually delivered.
Download the 2024 report →
Working with us
What it costs
Nothing. Our support is pro bono.
Who does the work
A small core team, plus consultants, grant writers, and technical assistance partners we bring in depending on what a project needs. We're grateful for their work — a small core team can support a state's worth of applications only because of them.
How to start
Email us with the project and the timeline. If there's a fit, we'll tell you. If there isn't, we'll usually be able to point you somewhere else.
A note on the current landscape
Federal funding priorities have shifted and the landscape is more competitive than ever. We're still supporting grant applications — but we've expanded our focus to include philanthropy, CDFIs, and other resources that can move Rhode Island projects forward regardless of what's happening in Washington.