Best Grants for Autism Programs in Rhode Island

Assistive Technology Grant -  Allison Keller Education Technology Program

Realizing the gains that many people with autism have achieved using the iPad, the Allison Keller Education Technology Program was created in honor of Flutie Foundation Board Member Kevin Lane Keller's daughter Allison. The goal of the program is to help fill the financial and technological gap for schools and 501(c)3 organizations that assist individuals with autism.Applications will be considered for any technology tools and/or training that improve learning outcomes or performance. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Tablets & Accessories
• Apps
• Smartboards
• Laptops
• Technology Training
• Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) educational activities & access to STEM studies

The Flutie Foundation is seeking innovative partners who are using technology to address real needs facing the autism community. One program per public school district is eligible to be awarded an Allison Keller Education Technology grant annually.

Nonprofit organizations running autism programs in Rhode Island can apply for the Autism Community Impact Grant, with awards up to US $15,000 for projects making an immediate community impact. The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism prioritizes work/school, active/social, and safety/support initiatives, especially for underserved and profoundly affected individuals and families.

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) organizations and public schools serving individuals with autism can seek funding for education technology and related training. With a mission to expand access to learning tools, the Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism provides up to US $7,500 for items like tablets, apps, smartboards, laptops, STEM activities, and technology training.

Dick & Judy Hoyt Inclusion Grant

The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism is excited to collaborate with the Hoyt Foundation for the Dick and Judy Hoyt Grant for Inclusion. Our joint effort is driven by a shared vision of fostering a society where individuals with autism and other disabilities are embraced and valued within their communities. In tribute to the pioneering spirit of Dick and Judy Hoyt, we will be distributing $50,000 through this community grant to support people with autism and other disabilities. Successful ways grant funds can be used: 

• Side-by-side participation with non-disabled peers in a swim program, the grant provides a private lifeguard to allow individualized support to ensure an inclusive experience.
• Grant provides the purchase of a racing chair to allow an individual with a disability to run in races with non-disabled peers.
• Competitive horseback riding supported by the grant to purchase specialized equipment to allow a rider to compete against non-disabled peers.
• Grant provides the purchase of an adaptive ski prosthetic to allow an individual to participate side by side with non-disabled peers on their high school ski teams.
• Participation in dance training and competitions to allow a student with a disability to compete in a dance competition with non-disabled peers, grant lessons, and staff to assist in dance training.
• Grant provides a mobile stand to allow a student with a disability to participate side by side with non-disabled peers in the college marching band. 

The Vineyard Family Foundation

The Vineyard Family Foundation is the product of decades of work across three generations and five states. Having enjoyed the benefits of our hard work and community patronage, the Vineyard family has chosen to provide to others what so many have graciously provided to us. 

What Sets Us Apart

The Vineyard family has always been committed to its communities. Whether supporting Boys & Girls Clubs, pediatric hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House, arts organizations, or youth recreation leagues, the family has taken a great interest in the care, health, and education of children and the families that nurture them. We take great pride in personally administering our Foundation’s charitable giving, resulting in fewer expenses and more funding for those organizations aligned with the Foundation’s purpose.

Grants

• Supporting Our Communities and Their Families
• Working Towards the Health, Education, and Overall Well-Being of Parents and Their Children

You are steps away from creating an opportunity to receive full or partial funding of your charitable organization. So that you use your time wisely, we offer the following advice for your efforts:

• As a family foundation, we are prohibited from funding individuals or any entity that is not an IRS-recognized Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity or a Section 509(a)(1), (2), or (3) support organization. Thus, while we cannot award a scholarship to an individual, we can fund a 501(c)(3) charity that provides such scholarships.

• If you qualify as a Section 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization or a support organization pursuant to Section 509(a)(1-3), we will need the IRS Determination Letter confirming as much, as well as a statement signed by your organization’s President or Chief Executive Officer verifying that your organization’s purposes, structure, and operations have not changed substantially since the date of the IRS’s Determination Letter.

• If you are a “supporting organization” under IRS Code section 509(a)(1-3), please provide a list of the public charities that you support. Please also advise whether you are a Type I, Type II, or Type III supporting organization. If you are a Type III supporting organization, please advise whether you are “functionally integrated” with your supported public charity and provide an explanation of that relationship.

Supported Charities

The Vineyard family has historically provided funding for family-related charities such as the Ronald McDonald House, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, pediatric hospitals, autism-related organizations, and youth recreational leagues. The Foundation looks forward to continuing this support and extending itself to educational, research, and cultural experiences that focus on the needs of children and their parents.

Rhode Island autism researchers and clinical teams can access funding through the US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command’s Autism Research Program Clinical Trial Award to implement autism treatment or management trials. Eligible projects include proof-of-concept through large-scale clinical trials and must incorporate community collaborations and, optionally, a partnering early-career investigator. Awards are up to US $1,500,000.

Researchers and research institutions conducting innovative autism studies, including those that could benefit Autistic individuals in Rhode Island, can apply for the DoW Autism Idea Development Award, offering up to US $750,000 for high-risk/high-reward projects. With a mission to advance autism research, US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command supports impactful data generation and new investigative avenues.

Early-career and transitioning autism researchers in Rhode Island and nationwide can seek up to US $750,000 to test innovative, high-impact ideas or early-phase proof-of-principle clinical trials. US DOD: U.S. Army Medical Command requires community collaboration with Autistic individuals, caregivers, or community organizations, which may benefit autism programs connected to Rhode Island communities.

Students with an Autism Spectrum Disorder diagnosis in Rhode Island seeking higher education or job training may be eligible for this scholarship supporting autism-related educational goals. With a mission to encourage and assist autistic students, Erie Community Foundation provides scholarship funding that gives preference to applicants with a current Autism Society Northwestern Pennsylvania membership.

Autism research institutions and investigators in Rhode Island can access funding for large, multi-site Autism Centers of Excellence (ACE) Network R01 projects. Grants from the National Institutes of Health help autism-focused researchers pursue cutting-edge, collaborative studies across U.S. states and territories, with awards up to US $10,000,000 for a single network application.

Autism research institutions and investigators in Rhode Island can access funding to develop multi-project Autism Centers of Excellence using the P50 research centers mechanism. Grants from US Dept. of Health & Human Services: National Institutes of Health support cutting-edge, collaborative autism research, with awards up to US $10,000,000 across eligible U.S. states and territories.

Autism researchers conducting SPARK Research Match studies that prioritize undersampled genetic ancestry groups can receive up to US $10,000 in participant incentive funding for online or remote projects across the U.S., including Rhode Island. Simons Foundation supports autism-focused clinical research by funding e-gift card incentives for participants recruited through SPARK Research Match.

K-12 schools, districts, libraries, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Rhode Island can use these grants to run autism peer education and awareness initiatives using Kit for Kids materials. Organization for Autism Research provides US $500 - US $10,000 to support projects, with strong encouragement for districts and groups serving low-income communities, including U.S. military installations overseas.

Community organizations and autism stakeholders in Rhode Island and across the U.S. can receive US $1,000 - US $15,000 to create practical, publicly accessible tools that improve autistic individuals’ physical health and quality of life. Organization for Autism Research supports non-commercial guides, curricula, toolkits, and multimedia resources led by community members rather than researchers.

Rhode Island 501(c)(3) organizations running autism-related programs can access funding through the Anderson Foundation for Autism to improve quality of life for people with autism. This U.S.-wide opportunity offers up to US $50,000 per organization, supporting services, supports, and initiatives that benefit individuals on the autism spectrum.

Focused on urgent autism support, Autism Care Today invites Rhode Island individuals and families facing immediate, safety-related needs to seek help for autism treatments and services. Applicants must have incomes under $45,000, need effective autism interventions (not living expenses or travel), and not have received Autism Care Today funding in the past 12 months.

Families of children with autism in Rhode Island and across the U.S. can apply for Autism Care Today’s quarterly grants to fund treatment products and services. Awards support safety equipment, assistive technologies, ABA therapy, social skills programs, special needs summer school, medical testing, and related autism interventions, with payments made directly to approved providers or vendors.

Students diagnosed with autism in Rhode Island seeking help for educational or recreational needs may be eligible for this U.S.-wide scholarship. With a mission to support autistic children’s growth, Varghese Summersett provides US $500 that can be used for camps, tutoring, education, or other tools that help the student progress and thrive.

Families of individuals with autism needing help covering medical, nutritional, personal, or enrichment expenses that are not reimbursed may benefit from this program in Rhode Island and nationwide. Focused on autism support, MyGOAL invites first-time applicants to seek need-based assistance for treatments, supplements, personal needs, and educational or socialization activities.

Young adults and adults (18+) with autism or other neurodiversity in the U.S. can apply for Music Movement’s Independent Living Initiatives, awarding US $1,500 - US $5,000 for independent living or housing programs, camps and retreats, and continued education or therapy. Rhode Island residents meeting these criteria may be eligible.

Parents or legal guardians of children and young adults with autism or other learning differences can apply for Music Movement’s instrument donations, providing US $500 - US $1,500 in in-kind support across the U.S. Grants from Music Movement help Rhode Island autism programs and families secure instruments that foster self-expression, growth, and confidence.

Nonprofit and community programs providing music therapy for children and young adults with autism in Rhode Island can receive US $1,500 - US $2,500 to support sessions. Music Movement funds music-centric therapy for youth with ASD and other developmental or learning differences across the U.S., including online or local services with qualified therapists.

Predoctoral researchers studying autism and cardiovascular or brain health in the U.S., including those based in Rhode Island, can seek funding through Autism Speaks and the American Heart Association. With a mission to advance autism-focused health research, this fellowship provides US $80,000 for projects using implementation science to improve real-world outcomes and health equity for autistic people.

NEXT for AUTISM's grants program empowers autistic adults by funding innovative initiatives across work, home, social engagement, and health & well-being. With over 380 funded projects nationwide, the program supports 501(c)(3) organizations in the U.S. First-time grantees can apply for up to $10,000, while returning grantees may request up to $25,000. The program emphasizes community-based solutions and aims to enhance the quality of life for autistic individuals.

The Gupta Family Foundation Grant aims to empower disadvantaged individuals by providing financial support to organizations that foster self-reliance. Headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, the foundation offers grants ranging from $5,000 to over $250,000, prioritizing smaller organizations with a strong commitment to their missions. Eligibility typically includes US-based IRS 501(c)(3) entities, with operations extending to countries like India and Kenya. The foundation emphasizes mission alignment and effective resource allocation to ensure maximum impact.

The Nordstrom Community Grant focuses on supporting youth and families by providing over $1 million in grants annually. It aims to assist grassroots organizations that address essential community needs such as food, shelter, and clothing, as well as creating opportunities for economic mobility through mentorship and workforce development. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) nonprofits located in areas where Nordstrom operates. Applications are encouraged for those meeting these criteria.

The Saw Island Foundation offers grants focusing on education, science, and health, primarily targeting nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. Their education grants support scholarships and program partnerships, while science and health grants aim to enhance life experiences through improved health outcomes. Eligible applicants must be 501(c)(3) organizations, and the foundation emphasizes innovative collaborations that demonstrate measurable impact in their communities.