Yes, The Fund is a 501(c)(3). We were established in 1982. We operate under a Board of Directors and our financial information can be reviewed on line.
The Fund does not give grants, so we cannot help start up charities. We are a member-based federation and our member agencies receive portions of our annual revenue based on their service to the federation. We recommend that before you start a new group, you find out if an existing charity with similar goals to yours can work with you to create a new program instead of a new agency. Some places to start: Serve Rhode Island or call 211, the universal help line.
The Fund adds new agencies periodically. It’s Membership Committee evaluates potential members against various criteria. Some key requirements: The agency must have a mission that is compatible with The Fund’s mission. The agency must have its own 501(c)(3) and must have been operating for at least two years. The agency must involve the community in its governance. For more information on this, visit the membership section of this website.
The Fund for Community Progress and United Way of RI both do important work in the community, but they have different charitable models.
The Fund operates through its member agencies, all of which are located in RI. Many of these agencies are small, grass roots groups. All of them focus on creating positive change that will guarantee fairness and opportunity for all Rhode Islanders. The money The Fund gives its members is unrestricted, so the agencies use it where it’s needed most, giving them the flexibility to respond to changing needs.
United Way currently focuses on its community impact fund. UW provides grant support to organizations and initiatives whose objectives match their impact areas. (They no longer have member agencies.) For more information on United Way, visit the UW of RI website.
If your workplace has a United Way campaign, but not a Fund for Community Progress one, you can still donate to The Fund through the UW campaign. Simply write The Fund for Community Progress on the optional agency designation line on the bottom of the United Way form.
Yes, you can. The Fund passes on contributions to about 50 non-member agencies every year through quarterly payments. We retain 5% of directed gifts to cover unfulfilled pledges and a portion of the administrative expenses (less than the industry norm.) To direct your contribution to an agency, simply write their name in the space provided on The Fund’s pledge form, but the agency must be a 501(c)(3) charity. Remember that you can split your gift between The Fund and a specific agency. If your charity is a local branch of a national one, be sure to write in the full local name.
Thank you for wanting The Fund to be a recipient of your philanthropy! There are several ways you can give to The Fund.
- You can contribute directly using our on-line form.
- We can also charge a monthly amount to your credit card. (Best to call us to arrange that. 401-941-7100.)
- If you want to do payroll deduction, you can write “The Fund for Community Progress” as the receiving agency on the pledge form for your workplace campaign. The organization managing the campaign should then pass your donation on to The Fund (minus their fee.)
- If your workplace has a United Way campaign, just write The Fund for Community Progress on the optional agency line at the bottom of the form. You can also write in one of The Fund's member agencies.
If you would like to have The Fund participate in next year’s charitable campaign in your workplace, contact us.
So many ways, so little time! Here are a few suggestions to get started.
- Download the PDF that summarizes the volunteer needs of our member agencies and contact the one(s) that seem closest to your group’s interests.
- Read about the five key areas of focus of Fund members. Then contact the agencies whose work aligns with the area(s) that interest you most.
- Feeling creative? Like interacting with young people? Big on social networking? The Fund is always looking for new ideas on how to engage the community in our work. Let’s brainstorm together! Email us
- If you work together, have a “dress down” Friday with proceeds to The Fund.
- If you are interested in serving on The Fund’s Board of Directors, contact us. We meet just four times a year, but we encourage at-large members to also participate in committee work. Each committee is empowered by the Board of Directors to conduct specific work and provide status reports to the full Board. These are active, working groups, with clear goals that advance the mission of The Fund. Check out this year’s committees for an idea of what’s involved.
- The Fund now has a special GREETING CARDS program. In exchange for a donation, we send a special Fund card to the person you are honoring (or remembering.) Why not ask your friends to contribute to The Fund instead of bringing more "stuff" to your next birthday party? Save a tree and have us email the notification!
The Fund for Community Progress prides itself on running a lean operation. In 2008, less than 17% of The Fund’s revenue went to administration and fundraising. Each member agency volunteers at least 35 hours of support annually so that we keep our staff small (just 2 of us) and our expenses low. Since we closely monitor our costs, virtually all of any increase in giving goes toward program support.
Fortunately for The Fund and its members, our donors have been exceptionally loyal. The workplace campaigns that The Fund manages raised 6.4% more money in 2008 than in 2007, and our two fundraising events netted slightly more than the prior year. Our supporters recognize the important role that our agencies play in keeping their community together. The demand for their services is even greater in this tough economy. The flexibility our funding provides helps our agencies continue to meet their neighbors’ most urgent needs.