PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Fifteen nonprofit organizations working with underserved populations have been awarded a total of $1.5 million in grant money from the Providence Equity Fund at United Way of Rhode Island .

The funding, announced at a news conference Wednesday morning, will support programs that push to make Providence a more equitable place to live. It’s a combination of federal COVID-19 dollars allocated by former Mayor Jorge Elorza (and enacted by Mayor Brett Smiley), in addition to donor support.

Smiley said the rest of the city’s reparations program is going forward as originally intended, but hoped that this would be a source of inspiration and call to action for philanthropy.

“This does, in fact, just scratch the surface,” Smiley added.

The funding follows the work and recommendations of the Providence Municipal Reparations Commission .

Rodney Davis, who chairs the commission, said there are still conversations that need to be had with many state and local entities.

“Reparations are about repairing the harm and investing in the community that has worked hard to make this country what it is,” Davis said.

Story continues below video.

Officials said they prioritized programs that are focused on “closing the racial wealth gap, addressing the negative impacts of urban renewal due to displacement and gentrification, and enhancing access to culturally competent resources in education and out-of-school time learning for K-12 BIPOC youth.”

The funds helps to address needs of Providence residents who are indigenous and tribal peoples, of African heritage, in a qualified census tract and neighborhood, and facing poverty.

UWRI President and CEO Cortney Nicolato said the awards are “unrestricted general operating funds.”

“Unrestricted means we trust you, [the] organizations, to put the investments in the places and spaces where they are most needed,” Nicolato said.

A total of 15 nonprofits were awarded funds of up to $50,000 per year for two years:

• Building Futures
• Center for Indigenous Peoples Rights
• Center for Women & Enterprise
• College Unbound
• DARE
• Justice Assistance
• Manton Avenue Project
• Mini Entrepreneurs of Rhode Island
• Olneyville Neighborhood Association
• Providence Promise
• Providence Revolving Fund
• Rhode Island Black Business Association
• Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
• Sojourner House
• Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council

UWRI’s chief impact and equity officer, Larry Warner, said the awardees represented just an eighth of the applicant pool.

“We received 122 applications in response to this request for proposals and there were many deserving organizations that were not selected for funding,” Warner said.

Warner added that the United Way is in the process of meeting with and providing feedback to applicants not selected for funding.

Alexandra Leslie ( aleslie@wpri.com ) is a Target 12 investigative reporter covering Providence and more for 12 News. Connect with her on Twitter and on Facebook .

Thanks for signing up!

Watch for us in your inbox.

Subscribe Now

This Week in Good News

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WPRI.com.