WARWICK – The Champlin Foundations this year approved and distributed more than $17.62 million in grants to 187 tax-exempt organizations, mostly in Rhode Island, the nonprofits said today.
Top awards and their recipients include:
• $2 million to The Nature Conservancy for the R.I. Land Conservation Program, a public-private partnership among the foundations, the conservancy and the R.I. Department of Environmental Management (DEM).
• $1.1 million to the YMCA of Greater Providence, to aid in the renovation of the Kent County facility in Warwick; plus “major funding” for all the Boys & Girls Clubs in Rhode Island.
• $952,650 in cumulative support to the state’s three public colleges: the Community College of Rhode Island, Rhode Island College and University of Rhode Island.
• $712,850 to a statewide library consortium, to support technology improvements at libraries across the Ocean State; and another $280,000 to the Providence Public Library, mostly for capital improvements at its Mount Pleasant and Wanskuck branches.
• $500,000 to Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island, for its new headquarters and inpatient unit in Providence.
• $500,000 in grants to 23 organizations, to provide “camperships” that enabled thousands of children to attend summer camp this year.
At least one grant was awarded in each of the 39 Rhode Island cities and towns, according to Keith H. Lang, the foundations’ executive director. “Ninety percent of Champlin grants were related to our six focus areas: Youth & Fitness ($3,593,980); Hospitals / Health Care ($3,569,645); Education ($2,831,800); Open Space, Conservation, Parks and Environment ($2,159,500); Libraries ($2,162,705); and Social Services ($1,822,210),” he said in a statement today. “The remaining 10 percent was for Historic Preservation ($844,815); Arts & Culture ($529,245); and Animal & Humane Societies ($98,000).”
The foundations make grant awards once a year, in December, as well as “campership” grants that are distributed in March. The application period for next year’s Champlin grants begins March 1 and ends May 31.
“This year’s total brings Champlin grants in the 76 years since the first foundation was [established] in 1932 to nearly $410 million,” Lang noted in today’s announcement. “Of that amount, $401 million has been distributed since the death of George S. Champlin in 1980.
“Over 900 charities have received Champlin grants over the years,” Lang added.
The Champlin Foundations – three foundations, sharing a single management, that were established in 1932, 1947 and 1975 by Rhode Island natives George S. Champlin, Florence C. Hamilton and Hope C. Neaves – make direct grants most of which support capital needs at Rhode Island-based nonprofit organizations. For more information, including complete grant application guidelines, visit FoundationCenter.org/Grantmaker/Champlin.
