Meet the Nominees
December Q4 2024 Nominees
College Visions
EIN: 27-2344723
WEBSITE: collegevisions.org
SOCIAL: INSTAGRAM /collegevisionspvd/
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Mission Statement
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College Visions empowers low-income and first-generation college students to achieve the promise of higher education, while leading the way for innovative college planning and advising. Founded in 2004, making it the oldest organization in the state of RI that guides students from the admission process all the way to college graduation.
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Who They Serve
College Visions works with approximately 500 low-income, first-generation students annually. More than 75% of CV students are Black or Latino, our students have a median family income of $39,000, and they live throughout urban RI. In 2023, we expanded to work in Woonsocket High School and we have piloted the Black and Latino Male Fellowship designed to specifically support the college pipeline for Black and Latino young men. Like many college access programs, CV has a much higher percentage of young women participating than young men, so the Fellowship is an attempt to reach a population we have struggled to recruit.
How Would Funds Be Used
The funds would be used to support the Student Emergency Fund. The emergency fund is a research-based intervention. Students in CV's College Success Program who have an unbudgeted expense can apply for a grant. This year, they have provided funds primarily for course materials but also funds for rent, bus passes, eyeglasses, uniforms (NEIT course). Grants have ranged from $40 to 500, with a median of $400. The goal of the grants is to keep students in college and on-track so they aren't missing assignments because they don't have the correct materials or missing class because they don't have bus fare. The fund serves approximately 90 students per year. While it may seem that these individual grants are for small amounts of money - that amount could make a huge difference for a student who is unable to purchase something as elementary and necessary as a pair of reading glasses, a textbook or bus fare.
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Annual Budget
Annual Operating Budget: $1,086,500
Annual Operating Costs: $1,047,038
Sources of Funding
Grant and Foundation: 60%, Individuals: 25%, Corporate: 25%,
Fee for Service: 10% (contractual work done for other organizations)
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Additional Information From Their Application
The goal of College Visions is for every participant in their program to earn a college degree. With their support 68% of College Visions students earn a degree within six years of college enrollment, which is more than three times the national average for low-income, first-generation students. College Visions uses evidence-based programming to support their College Access and College Success programs. Beginning with high school students, they help students and their families navigate the college application process, supporting them in finding "right fit" colleges, essay writing, and applying for financial aid. Once they are in college, the students matriculate into the success program which supports them with coaching, workshops, connecting to on-campus resources and financial-aid renewal. Attaining a college degree has proven to double a persons annual earnings and increase their long term economic outlook, lower chances of unemployment, and increase their civic engagement. Helping students through the confusing and difficult process of getting in to college, then supporting them through graduation, has a wide-reaching impact in helping to strengthen communities as well as provide increased opportunities for first-generation students and their unique challenges.
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From College Visions graduates:
"Being able to have access to these funds since I was a first year in college has helped me tremendously! It has given me the opportunity to receive the same level of education as my peers without the fear of outside expenses. I am truly grateful for all the donors that contribute to this fund and directly to my education!" Kafui, University of Rhode Island
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"I would like to thank CV supporters that made it possible for CV to distribute these funds. Times have been tough and it has taken a toll on me financially and mentally. This funding will be a huge help for me. Although it has been difficult, I am proud to be first-generation and breaking barriers for future generations in my family. Once again, I would like to thank CV and funders, because of you I am able to live my dream of being the first one in my family to attend college." Yalitsa, Roger Williams University
Spectrum Theatre Ensemble
EIN: 83-2563658
Social:
YOUTUBE /channel/UCwP7QAsGIo-U96zp6r0rU9g
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Mission Statement
Spectrum Theatre Ensemble is a Neurodiverse theatre company made up of Hybrid artists. Through participation in performing arts, STE helps neurologically disabled adults improve their social skills and share their talents with the world. STE then employs these artists, through our Neurodiverse Inclusive Certified Entertainment (NICE) program as advocates, consultants and trainers to help other Performing Arts organizations both locally and nationally to improve access for individuals with neurological disabilities as patrons, students and employees.
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Who They Serve
Founded by neurodivergent artists, Spectrum Theatre Ensemble evolves the awareness, resources, and professionals that empower our neurodiverse community in achieving their greatest potential and equal opportunity and full participation in society.
STE’s NICE (Neurodiverse Inclusive Certified Entertainment) Program seeks to standardize and codify institutional sensory friendly practices to better serve neurodiverse audiences throughout the entertainment industry. The program will educate, accredit, and support entertainment venues of all sizes.
How Would Funds Be Used
For the past several months STE has been engaged with the Goldman Sachs 10k small business program at CCRI in order to assess and plan how to increase the capacity, revenue, and impact of the NICE through strategic planning and partnerships with local government programs and universities. The funds would be used to help implement this plan for sustainable growth and greater impact possible, increasing employment for adults with neurological disability while making the arts accessible both on and off the stage.
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Annual Budget
Annual operating budget: $409,131
Annual operating costs: $409,131
Sources of Funding
Grants and donations
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From the Nominating Member, Julie Owens
"When I joined Social Enterprise Greenhouse as Interim CEO in 2022, I met Clay Martin at my first Board meeting. His nonprofit—Spectrum Theatre Ensemble—was doing the "mission moment" to explain their organization's mission and the impact they were making. I was blown away. STE is a theater company with a two fold mission: creating professional opportunities for autistic actors and playwrights and upgrading entertainment venues so all people, including those with sensory concerns, can fully enjoy live entertainment. Their team in AMAZING and their creativity, perseverance, and entrepreneurial mindset are an inspiration. They were adversely impacted by the recent closure of the theatre in Warren RI, but they embody "the show must go on" mindset and are making progress towards a space in Providence. They are a wonderful community organization."​
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RI Coalition to End Homelessness
EIN: 22-2894547
Website: https://www.rihomeless.org/
SOCIAL
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ARTICLE, Nov. 20, 2024: "Homelessness in RI Increased 35% in 2023"
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Mission Statement
The Coalition was founded in 1988. The Rhode Island Coalition to End Homelessness works collaboratively with advocates, providers, and faith-based organizations to create and advance lasting solutions to prevent and end homelessness in Rhode Island. Notably, the Coalition, alongside advocates and constituents, lobbied and successfully passed the country’s first Homeless Bill of Rights in June of 2012. Day to day the Coalition managed the state’s Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) and housing placement services for the state's singular Coordinated Entry System (CES), which manages the inventory of beds and placement of people requiring housing through a single source. This is all done through a call center that is operated by the Coalition for the state (available 365 days). The Coalition also provides training and services for housing and homeless service providers in an effort to assist them in the front-line work that they do every day. This comes in the form of training sessions, legal clinics for constituents and advocacy training. One of our signature programs is the Voice of Homelessness which trains people with lived experience of homelessness to acts as advocates, given their unique and personal experience. They are then able to use those skills to testify at the state house, write letters and educate our fellow citizens about the experience of homelessness, as well as ways to that we can work for system change to the benefit of all Rhode Islanders.
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Who They Serve
The service provider community in Rhode Island and those people at risk or currently experiencing homelessness.
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How Would Funds Be Used
The funds will be used to support the Coalition's unique program—Voice of Homelessness.
Formerly known as StoryPower (and before that, the Speaker’s Bureau), Voices of Homelessness (VOH) is a team of Rhode Islanders who have each experienced homelessness and now share their respective stories to raise awareness and advocate for change. Speakers share their stories in many venues: in the classroom and legislative hearings, at rallies and panel discussions, at community events and more. Voices of Homelessness leaders raise awareness and build public understanding of the personal stories and circumstances contributing to their story. Through their experiences, we aim to educate and change the hearts and minds of policy makers and private citizens so that we can work towards the change that’s critical in building the political will we need to get things done. They are the leaders of our movement to end homelessness in RI: when they speak, people listen.
The donation will be used to support staff, external trainings on public speaking, professional development, and stipends to pay VOH leaders for their valuable contributions, that may not be otherwise compensated. This program currently has 20 - 30 members/speakers to represent the unhoused population, and we are constantly recruiting new members, but their services benefit many more Rhode Islanders, who are able to learn from their unique, personal and harrowing experiences.
Annual Budget
Annual operating budget: $3.7 M
Annual operating costs: $3.6 M
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Sources of Funding
Private donations, fundraisers, corporate funding, local, state and federal funding
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Additional Information From Their Application
This is a wonderful program that not only supports job training and devleopment for people with lived experience, but also serves the community who benefit from their lived experience.
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From the Nominating Member, Susan Gunter:
"I have been a board member for the RI Coalition to End Homelessness (RICEH) since October 2020. I am inspired to nominate RICEH due to my deep commitment to its mission and the people that they serve throughout Rhode Island."
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