| 1916... A group of eleven Rhode Island leaders had the vision to build a long-term solution to this state's growing challenges. In 1917, in conjunction with its trustee, Rhode Island Hospital Trust National Bank of Providence, the five-member Board of Directors of the newly formed Foundation held its first meeting. Beginning with a contribution of $10,000 from the textile expert and philanthropist Jesse H. Metcalf, The Rhode Island Foundation became the first statewide community foundation in America. 1932... The Foundation received the largest single donation up to that time: $100,000 from the estate of the Marquise d'Andigne, the former Madeline Ives Goddard. The gift established an endowment to relieve the suffering of people with terminal illnesses. In 1932 it was tuberculosis and polio. Today that same fund is worth a half million dollars and is helping people with AIDS and cancer. 1930 to 1940s... The Foundation was espousing a neighborhood approach to community problems, giving money toward projects aimed at sore spots in Rhode Island's communities, a progressive idea at that time. The Foundation funded programs designed to instill confidence and self-esteem in children from poor and troubled families; granted money for programs for children with disabilities and supported many educational institutions. 1970s... The Foundation experienced rapid growth in part due to the Tax Reform Act of 1969, which made it particularly financially advantageous for individuals to establish funds in community foundations. In 1977, the Foundation's grants first exceeded $1 million, reflecting the increasing significance of the Foundation as a force for philanthropy in Rhode Island. 1980s... The Foundation began aggressively funding small and grassroots community-based groups in addition to the well-known, well-established institutions. 1993... The Foundation introduces a new strategic grantmaking program, focusing on Children & Families, Economic/ Community Development, and Education. Arts is added seven years later. 1997... The Rhode Island Foundation celebrates its 80th anniversary by giving a gift to Rhode Island. The $6 million Teachers and Technology program trains approximately one third of the state’s teachers how to use computers. More than 2,000 teachers and principals ultimately received training and free computers, catapulting them into the technological age. 1999... The Foundation moves into its first permanent home – the former Providence train station, a building with its own century of history. The purchase is a bargain, but more importantly, the newly named One Union Station has plenty of room to offer nonprofits free and low-cost meeting space on a regular basis. With two restaurants as tenants, and Rhode Island Kids Count and National Public Radio WRNI as two more, the Foundation can operate less expensively than as a renter. Of most importance, though, is that the Foundation has insisted that philanthropy take its rightful place at the table by facing the business community in one direction, the federal courts in another, and Providence city government in another. 2000... The Rhode Island Foundation has become the 20th largest community foundation (of 600) in the country. But more importantly, thousands of groups and individuals in the state benefit from the Foundation's existence. 2004... In 2003, the Foundation introduces "A Vibrant Community," a vision for the Foundation’s work in cities and towns throughout Rhode Island. With it, we instituted a comprehensive set of guidelines for receiving support from the Foundation. The inaugural results of that effort – Strategic Grants – became evident in 2004.
2006... The Foundations's assets surpassed a significant milestone: 1/2 billion dollars. | 
