$8.4 Million will Support More Coordinated Approach to Mental Health and Other Critical Community Needs

Cranston, RI – The Champlin Foundation announced today more than $8.4 million in capital funding grants to 85 nonprofit organizations based in Rhode Island. In all corners of the Ocean State, this funding will help grantees better serve Rhode Islanders in need across the Foundation’s nine areas of focus.

Ten of the organizations funded are first-time recipients of Champlin funding.

“At the same time that nonprofits navigate a rapidly declining funding landscape with the loss of Covid related funding, they are faced with tremendous needs from the community. The demand for services is greater than ever, yet our nonprofits are innovating and collaborating in exciting ways that advance and accelerate the work of the entire social impact sector,” said Nina Stack, executive director of The Champlin Foundation. “Many in the healthcare and social service sectors are expanding and doing vital work to address the state’s mental health crisis. Achieving this requires creating facilities and spaces where people can access affordable, coordinated, and inclusive mental health services. As a facilities and equipment funder, we are grateful to be able to support their work.”

Working closely together, three of the grantees in this funding cycle are the first organizations in Rhode Island to become federally Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics (CCBHC). To pursue the certification, Thrive Behavioral Health, Community Care Alliance, and Newport Mental Health have hired additional staff and reimagined or expanded their physical spaces to accommodate a standardized service model.

Newport Mental Health, which has played an integral role in getting these coordinated CCBHC programs off the ground in Rhode Island, provides trauma-informed, evidence-based services to children, adolescents, families, and adults who are experiencing mental health or substance use challenges. The organization plans to use its $200,000 grant to complete HVAC, fire protection, and electrical projects.

“Providing the highest quality, recovery-oriented, evidence-based and integrated mental health and substance use care to residents of Newport County is our mission–and that mission has never been more critical, as a record number of Rhode Islanders face mental health and substance use challenges,” said Dayna Gladstein, president and CEO of Newport Mental Health. “This funding ensures our ability to provide a welcoming, safe, and more sustainable environment for our clients and allows our dedicated staff to focus on what is most important: keeping Rhode Islanders healthy. We are so grateful for the support of our community.”

Beyond healthcare, Champlin’s nine areas of focus include arts and culture, conservation and parks, education, historic preservation and heritage, libraries, social services, welfare of animals, and youth services. Young Voices, a first-time grantee in the youth services category, provides leadership training for students, empowering them to become public advocates on issues like racial justice and educational equity. Participating students travel frequently to meet with lawmakers or testify on relevant bills, so Young Voices will use their $50,000 grant towards the purchase of a new vehicle.

“Our young people–those with the greatest stake in our state’s future prosperity–are too often left out of the discussion when it comes to important decisions that impact their education, health, safety, and economic inclusion,” said Peter Chung, executive director of Young Voices. “But when we invest in young people, they in turn invest in our state through their ideas, their advocacy, and their courage to create stronger, more inclusive communities.”

In the post-pandemic years, Champlin has seen a marked increase in funding requests in the social services sector. Request amounts in this sector more than doubled from $5.5 million in 2021 to $11.8 million in 2023.

Among the social service organizations receiving funding this cycle is New Beginnings Inc., based in Woonsocket. This first-time Champlin grantee is a community meal site serving nearly 150 people from greater Northern Rhode Island four days a week. A $25,000 grant will allow them to purchase a new boiler, providing a warm space for diners to gather and additionally supporting the efforts of partner food and clothing banks that share a space with New Beginnings.

“Our mission is to feed the body, mind, and spirit of each individual person. A hot meal in a warm space is the first step to a new beginning,” said Jeanne Michon, New Beginnings, Inc. executive director and chef. “We work hard to foster community among the people we serve and do so, in part, by creating a space that is welcoming, comfortable, and inclusive for guests from all walks of life.”

Applications for Champlin’s second round of 2024 grant funding will be open from June 1 through July 1, 2024. Awards will be announced in early December.

About The Champlin Foundation: Since 1932, The Champlin Foundation has awarded more than $696 million to fund capital projects for Rhode Island nonprofit organizations. Its nine areas of focus cover Arts & Culture, Conservation & Parks, Education, Healthcare, Historic Preservation & Heritage, Libraries, Social Services, Welfare of Animals, and Youth Services. For more information visit ChamplinFoundation.org.