Rhode Island schools, community groups and municipal departments have until Oct. 30 to apply for grants of up to $500 for volunteer cleanups and beautification projects.
The fall Litter-Free Rhode Island grant announcement says projects must be completed by Dec. 11. Applicants may request less than $500, and the program requires no matching contribution.
Eligible spending includes gloves, trash bags and litter pickers; signs and other promotion; food and water for volunteers; and disposal or hauling costs.
Applications go to the Department of Environmental Management, and awards are issued through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank. Awards are made on a rolling basis, with the event's size and scope considered.
The announcement says all applicants must provide proof of nonprofit status, while also listing schools and municipal divisions among those eligible. A prospective municipal applicant should check the application instructions for the documentation required for its organization.
After the cleanup, recipients must submit a report with photographs, the number of participants and the amount of material collected.
DEM says earlier rounds have awarded more than $166,000 to more than 100 community groups and municipalities since 2024. The current application link and requirements are available through the department's official announcement.