Providence earned a score of 76 out of 100, better than the national average, on the Human Rights Campaign’s new report grading cities across the United States on lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender equality. more

Runners in the 2012 CVS Caremark Downtown 5K hit the streets in Providence Sept. 16. More than 4,400 people participated in the main 5K race while 1,350 children took part in youth races. Along with a host of elite and competitive athletes, recreational runners, wheelchair competitors and walkers joined children to fill out the field. Last year the race raised $75,000 for local charities, bringing the total to that point during CVS Caremark’s 13-year sponsorship to $1.3 million. more

The Rhode Island Blood Center and Dunkin’ Donuts will kick off National Blood Donor Month and the “Give a Pint, Get a Pound” program on Jan. 7. more

Bristol County Savings Bank and its charitable foundation has recently awarded ten grants to Pawtucket area organizations, totaling $33,360. more

Doras International Institute of Rhode Island has launched a national search for a new CEO after the resignation of current CEO Carol Friday. more

Oliver Hazard Perry Rhode Island has announced that the SSV Oliver Hazard Perry, which the nonprofit is building as Rhode Island’s official sailing education vessel, has been granted a permanent home on the north side of a new pier being built as part of improvements at Fort Adams State Park. more

As today’s economic climate continues to be an uphill battle for many, local nonprofits are finding that freshening up fundraising initiatives is imperative. While the typical mainstays of fundraising, such as direct mail campaigns, are unlikely to disappear, some local nonprofits are thinking beyond the postcard and seeing positive results. more

We’re all familiar with the billboard image and mission of Big Brothers and Big Sisters: a man or woman offering care, time and attention to a lonely or overlooked boy or girl. more

Six of Rhode Island’s nine four-year colleges and universities raised a combined $205.6 million in the 2012 fiscal year, an increase of 6.3 percent compared with 2011, according to a report released Wednesday by the Council for Aid to Education. more

Segue Institute for Learning, a charter school opened in 2009, is actively seeking interested community-based service providers to form a planning committee for community programs and services at its new Segue MAGn’t Annex. more