Books Are Wings and UWRI the Community Impact Fund

Books Are Wings is proud to announce that we have received a two-year operating grant from United Way of Rhode Island’s (UWRI) Community Impact Fund. This fund provides operational support and programmatic grants to Rhode Island nonprofits, now including BAW.

The 2021 Community Impact Fund grant program aligns with UWRI's LIVE UNITED 2025 strategic plan. This plan will require that United Way goes “deep, rather than wide,” with investments and partners, to target the root causes that have thwarted Rhode Island’s ability to thrive. While UWRI serves all Rhode Islanders in need, this plan and funding opportunities will tackle racial inequalities which have plagued Rhode Island’s Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities for generations. In order to “Live United,” UWRI is pledging to dismantle systemic, institutional, and historical barriers based on race, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities. They are committed to leveraging all of their assets (i.e., advocacy, convening, fundraising, strategic investments, awareness building) to creating a more equitable Rhode Island.

For the 2021-2023 Community Impact Fund grant opportunity, United Way of Rhode Island is committing $2 million per year to provide operational support and programmatic grants to Rhode Island nonprofits addressing the following focus areas and strategies:

• Achieve United (early childhood literacy; out of school time learning programs)

• Advocate United (state and municipal policy and advocacy; research)

• Lift United (housing; workforce development; adult education)

• Invest United (nonprofit capacity building; resilience; diversity)

The 2021 Community Impact Fund application process was a competitive process and we are deeply grateful for not only the other grantees, but for standing among all of the amazing nonprofits that applied.

The network of organizations that were selected as grantees are all working to ensure this funding will have deep community impact. We are excited to partner with the United Way of RI as they support incredible work in our communities. If any media outlet wants to speak with United Way driecly about the Community Impact Fund, contact Rob Hancock, senior director of marketing and communications, at robert.hancock@unitedwayri.org