RI Humanities 2025 Annual Report

MEETING A CRISIS with COMMUNITY STRENGTH

In 2025, you rallied around RI Humanities’s halfcentury legacy of being by and for all Rhode Islanders and truly brought those words to life.

The mission, vision, and values of Rhode Island Humanities inspire our current work and guide efforts to build future sustainability. In April 2025, the abrupt termination of Congressionally appropriated federal funds meant that we lost over $500,000 in revenue—about 40 percent of our budget. We had to pivot quickly.

While collaborating with colleagues from across the country on national advocacy efforts, fundraising with large foundations, and pursuing legal action through the Federation of State Humanities Councils, we were buoyed by our community of grantees and partners—past and present—as well as DEDICATED SUPPORTERS who shared our calls to action and stepped up to make generous gifts in support of public humanities.

In response to the upending of over five decades of federal support, we received an emergency grant of $200,000, part of a $15 million award to the FEDERATION OF STATE HUMANITIES COUNCILS from the ANDREW W. MELLON FOUNDATION to stabilize all 56 state and territorial humanities councils. We are grateful to the RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION for their timely response to this crisis with a $50,000 Community Resilience Grant.

The Mellon Foundation and the Federation of State Humanities Councils also put forward a $50,000 fundraising challenge match. Thanks to the responsiveness and generosity of over 100 donors, RI Humanities met the match in just five weeks, raising an additional $100,000. For the Mellon Foundation, the risk of losing humanities councils and what they contribute to the nation’s communities was too great not to take this step. For the Rhode Island community, it was proof of how deeply they value access to public humanities.

We are still navigating uncertainty in federal funding. As we build the future of RI Humanities our focus remains on serving Rhode Island communities and diversifying our funding to lessen reliance on federal funds. Every single donor this year helped us move closer to that goal. We are grateful for your continued partnership.

2025 BY THE NUMBERS

National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH): General Support, National History Day federal funding Foundation Grants

Gifts and Sponsorships

State of Rhode Island funding

Expenses

Grantmaking

Management & General Fundraising

70% OF ANNUAL SPENDING directly supported grants and initiatives in FY25

4,466

38,000 IN STATE FUNDING was awarded to THRIVE general operating support grants

RHODE TOUR USERS engaged with RI history through 39 tours & 368 stories

PEOPLE RECEIVE Humanities in Context, our bimonthly newsletter

$110K

199

DONORS INVESTED in the future of RI Humanities

24% OF DONORS were new to Rhode Island Humanities in FY25

68% INCREASE IN REVENUE from individuals and sponsors as compared to FY24

GRANTMAKING

$125,665 AWARDED

For over 50 years, grantmaking has been a key way RI Humanities carries out our mission to seed, support, and strengthen public history, cultural heritage, civic education, and community engagement. We were about to announce 15 major grants on the day our NEH funding was terminated, forcing us to suspend those awards and to pause grantmaking with federal funds. Thanks to support from the State of Rhode Island, we continued to make grants to ensure the strength of public humanities in our communities.

THRIVE GRANTS

Supported by an allocation from the State of Rhode Island, RI Humanities awarded 22 general operating support grants, totaling $110,000 to small cultural heritage organizations and local historical and preservation societies in 15 cities and towns. Each organization received $5,000.

Armenian Historical Association of Rhode Island, Providence

Blackstone Valley Historical Society, Lincoln

Bristol Middle Passage Port Marker Project, Bristol

Cape Verdean Museum, Pawtucket Cocumscussoc Association/ Smith’s Castle, North Kingstown Foster Preservation Society, Foster Friends of Hearthside, Inc., Lincoln

The Gilbert Stuart Birthplace and Museum, North Kingstown

PUBLIC PROJECT GRANTS

Hopkinton Historical Association, Hopkinton

Mixed Magic Theatre and Cultural Events, Pawtucket

Narragansett Historical Society, Narragansett

Oasis International, Providence Old Slater Mill Association, Pawtucket Parkgate Restoration Association, Newport Pawtuxet Rangers, RIHM 1774, Warwick

Providence Brigade Band, Cranston

The Puerto Rican Professional Association of RI, Providence

Rhode Island Latino Arts, Central Falls South County History Center, South Kingstown

Varnum Continentals, Inc., East Greenwich

Warwick Historical Society, Warwick

Westerly Armory Restoration, Westerly

More on our recent grant awards: rihumanities.org/grants/ recent-grants

Eight mini grants, totaling $15,665, supported public projects from Block Island to Woonsocket, giving voice to immigrant experiences, documenting rural histories, engaging with perspectives of disability advocates, and much more.

MINI GRANT AWARDS November 2024 & February 2025

BLOCK ISLAND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, $2,000 to Thursday Night Programs

FOSTER PRESERVATION SOCIETY, $2,000 to Memories of Education in the One-Room Schoolhouse Era

ALEXANDER HERBERT, $2,000 to The Rhode Island History Podcast

JAMESTOWN ARTS CENTER, $1,860 to Perspectives in Progress: Disability Advocacy 32 Years After the Ladd School

HANNAH LITTLE, $1,805 to Write to Grow Workshop Series

VIMALA PHONGSAVANH, $2,000 to The Heart of Wattayai

RHODE ISLAND COMPUTER MUSEUM, $2,000 to History of Data Storage: From the Archival Crypt

BEN SISTO, $2,000 to Museum of Who Let “Who Let the Dogs Out” Out

As a consequence of federal funding cuts in FY25—and the resulting pause of two mini grant cycles as well as a major grant cycle—we were unable to invest $164,335 in Congressionally appropriated funds in the local economy.

INITIATIVES & COLLABORATIONS

RI Humanities continues our commitment to humanities initiatives and collaborations that boost engagement opportunities—helping Rhode Islanders connect with the humanities in public life and deepen community resilience.

Civic Health and Public Humanities

Over the past several years, RI Humanities has undertaken multiple initiatives centering civic health and the humanities. The need for this work continues as our communities face complex issues that require an understanding of our past and present in order to chart paths forward together.

In 2026, we will be launching a new Civic Health Index initiative to continue this work with with national and local partners. Watch our website and social media for more information.

above (L to R): Students visit the Cape Verdean Museum in Pawtucket; Julia Renaud and Julia Aguiar speak at the RI250 Cultural Convening; Participants at the RI250 Cultural Convening connect and learn.

OUR PEOPLE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Renee Soto, MFA Chair

Josh Stenger, PhD Vice Chair

Chrystal Mars Baker Secretary

Eugene B. Mihaly, PhD Treasurer

Doug Popovich, Immediate Past Chair

Cherry Arnold

Stephanie Basile

Robert Craven, Esq

Jaffa Davies, MS

Michael D’Ippolito III, Esq

Annu Palakunnathu Matthew

Imanah Mahmoud

Carolyn Mark

Emily McHugh

Eric E. Sung

Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie

Robert Woolard, MD

HONORARY CHAIRS

Senator Jack Reed

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse

RI250 Cultural Convening

In October, nearly 80 humanities, arts, and cultural leaders gathered at the RI250 Cultural Convening in East Greenwich at the Varnum Armory Museum, co-hosted by the RI250 Commission, RI Humanities, and the RI State Council on the Arts. We were inspired by the energy in the room and look forward to supporting each other in the months ahead. In addition to collaborating with the Commission and other partners, RI Humanities will mark the semiquincentennial anniversary of the American Revolution with a Revolutionary Rhode Island Rhode Tour. Our goal is for every Rhode Islander to have opportunities for reflection, conversation and connection around the founding of the United States and its contemporary relevance.

STAFF

Julia Aguiar, MA Grants & Humanities Initiatives Coordinator

Elizabeth Francis, PhD Executive Director

Rachael Jeffers, MA Associate Director of Engagement

Scott Raker, MFA Associate Director of Operations

Julia Renaud, MA Associate Director of Grants & Humanities Initiatives

Isabella Robinson Development & Engagement Coordinator

Jane Androski Design Consultant

IMAGES & CREDITS

Our thanks to Cat Laine, Madison Van Wylen, and all of our grantees who have contributed photographs.

TRANSFORMATIONAL PHILANTHROPY

Support from individuals, sponsors, and foundations tripled from last year, helping us to meet a moment of unprecedented disruption by filling a historic gap in federal funding. We are grateful to our community for these generous contributions.

INDIVIDUALS & ORGANIZATIONS

Anonymous

Anonymous (4)

Aaronson Lavoie

Streitfeld Diaz & Co.

Joan & Richard Abrams *

Adler Pollock & Sheehan, PC

Candy Adriance

Tom Ahern in memory of Simone Joyaux

Morris Akinfolarin

Thomas Palmer & Dominique Alfandre

Peter & Susan Allen

Onésimo Almeida & Leonor Simas-Almeida

Nancy L. Anderson

Mary-Kim Arnold & Matthew Derby

Cherry Arnold & Peter Goldberg *

Amy Barlow & Peter Kammerer

Reenie & Robert Barrow

Normand & Yvonne Beauregard

The Berkelhammer

Family Fund

Christina Bevilacqua

Ed & Mary Bishop

Jessica & Barry Blake

Debbie Block & Bill Harley

Roger Blumberg & Cristina Mitchell

Tiffini Bowers

Brick Pizza Co.

Elizabeth Brito

Brown University, with support from the Cogut Institute for the Humanities, Office of Community Engagement and the President’s Office

Marisa Brown

Winifred E. Brownell, PhD

Emily Bryant

Thomas & Antoni Bryson*

The Bubba Fund at the Rhode Island Foundation

Len & Judy Cabral

James Campbell

Kathleen Campbell

Nancy Carignan in honor of Marjory O’Toole

Cathleen Carr

Elizabeth Cazden

Center for Independent Documentary

Judith Tolnick Champa

The Chiulli Family

Edward & Audrey Clifton

Abigail S. Congdon

Harold J. Cook

Stephen & Melanie Coon

Trudy Coxe & James Gaffney

Michael Criscione

Michael D’Ippolito III, Esq

Denise Dangremond

Jaffa & David Davies

Ruth Davis

Carol DeBoer-Langworthy

Betsey Delaney

Elizabeth Delude-Dix *

Donald Joseph DeSalvo & Susan Wagner

Faith T. Edwin

Linda Eisenmann

John Eng-Wong & Priscilla Angelo

Sandra Enos, PhD

Holly Ewald

The Elaine and Barry Fain Family Fund *

Michael Fein & Marjorie Feld

Cheryl Foster in honor of Elizabeth Francis

Mollie Flanagan

Stephanie Fortunato

Elizabeth Francis

Jessica Frazier

Jane Gerhard

Brett & Julie Gerstenblatt

Touba Ghadessi & John Richard *

Marianne Gianfrancesco

Gayle L. Gifford & Jonathan W. Howard

Risa Gilpin

The Goodman family

Bruce Graver

Karen Gray

Nancy Grinnell

Lois Harada

Kate Hines

Drew Hoffman & Emily Wu

Bill & Mary Hollinshead

Alizah Holstein

James A. Hopkins

Stephanie Howard

Polly Hutcheson & George Rice

Janet Isserlis

Barbara Jeffers ∞

Polly & Dave Jeffers

Rachael Jeffers

Margaret Kaufer in honor of Rachael Jeffers

Ellen A. Kellner

Nancy & Charlie Kellner

Daniel Kertzner

Beverly Klyberg

Paula M. Krebs & Claire Buck

Jane L. Lancaster, PhD

Joanne Leary

Francis J. Leazes, Jr., PhD

Michelle LeBrun

Karin Liiv *

Perri & Jonathan Leviss

Connie Lima

Jesse Lipson

Hannah Little

Richard Lobban, Jr. Phd & Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban

Samuel Lovett

Steven Lubar

James Ludes

Sophia Mackenzie

Jeryl Malloy

Patrick Malone, PhD

Carolyn Mark & Bill Stone * Xander Marro

Annu Palakunnathu

Matthew

Emily McHugh

Elizabeth McNab

Joanne Melish

Gero Meyersiek

Eugene & Stacey Mihaly

Mev Miller & Nancy Howard

E. Pierre & Sarah Morenon

Adrienne Morris & Stewart Martin

John Nazarian, PhD

Catherine Nellis

Ken Newman*

Antonia Noori Farzan

Reverend Clare Novak & David Renaud in honor of Julia Louise Renaud and all RIH staff

Marjory & Tim O’Toole

Ronald Onorato

Ken Orenstein

Suzy Ott in honor of Isabella Robinson

Susan Lee Pasquarelli

Jean & Mark Patiky

Cynthia Patterson *

Christopher H. Pell

Sara Picard

Taylor Polites

Doug Popovich & Bradley Wester*

Paola Prado

Anne Scurria & Barry Press

Judith Queen

Scott Raker & Abby

Berkelhammer

Anisa Raoof & Doug Itkin

Sara Rapport

Maureen Reddy & Douglas Best

Amy Remensnyder

Elaine P. Reynolds

Rhode Island

Black Storytellers

Rhode Island Kung Fu & Lion Dance Club

Rhode Island School of Design

Craig & Sarah Richardson *

David & Jennifer Riedel

Jeannette E. Riley &

Kathleen M. Torrens *

Rebecca Riley & David Carden*

Tom Roberts

Martha Rojas in honor of the RI public and cultural communities

Karen T. Romer

Bettina Rounds & Bob Bonadies

Deborah Ruggiero

Micah Salkind

Catherine Saunders

Suzanne Scanlan

Cynthia Scheinberg, PhD

Rich & Jane Schweinsburg

Shaw’s Give Back Where it Counts Program

Consuelo Sherba

Deming & Jane Sherman

Rebecca A. Silliman

John Simmonds

Gretchen Dow Simpson ∞

Harton Smith & Mary Bandura

Susan Smulyan

Sylvia Ann Soares

Renee Soto & Thomas F. Howard

June Speakman

Pamela S. Stanton & Jack O’Donnell

Phoebe Stein

Josh Stenger & Shannon Dolan

Evelyn Sterne, PhD

Caroline Nye Stevens

Dr. Elaine B. Stiles

Marjorie Lee Sundlun *

Eric Sung

Kisa Jo Takesue & Glenn E. Turner

Carol S. Terry & James S. Janecek

Barbara Thornton

Rosanne Trissler

Valerie Tutson

University of Rhode Island

Lori Urso

Doug Victor

Jodie Vinson

Allen Waters

Shana Weinberg & Timothy Sandiford

The Weisberg Family Foundation *

Christopher Westgate, PhD

Fox Wetle

Wheaton College

Liz & John White and Taco/The White Family Foundation*

Jennifer Wilson

Anne & Ryder Windham

Don & Kitty Wineberg *

Melissa Wong

Nancy Wolanski

Scott Wolf

Robert Woolard & Nadah Zafar *

Connie Worthington & Terry Tullis *

Karin Wulf

Sarah Zurier

GRANTS

Rhode Island Humanities gratefully acknowledges the major support of:

Federation of State Humanities Councils

Andrew W. Mellon Foundation

National Endowment for the Humanities

Rhode Island Foundation

State of Rhode Island

The Rhode Island Humanities 2025 Annual Campaign began on November 1, 2024 and concluded on October 31, 2025.

If you find any errors or omissions, we apologize and ask that you please notify us at: isabella@rihumanities.org

Gifts of $1,000 & over

* Pell Circle Donors

∞ Grateful thanks to donors who passed away this year