Recipients of the 2025 Rhode Island Historic Preservation Matching Grants, awarded by a partnership between Preserve Rhode Island and The 1772 Foundation, were announced in mid-May during National Preservation month. Across Rhode Island, $125,000 in one-to-one matching grants supporting restoration and rehabilitation efforts were awarded to 18 nonprofit organizations.
Preserve Rhode Island was founded in 1956 under state charter to “preserve the beautiful historic buildings, places and things in Rhode Island.” In addition, the organization maintains a number of historic sites throughout the state, including the Lippitt House Museum in Providence. The 1772 Foundation was established in 1984 and has granted more than $60 million for historic preservation work throughout the United States.
Launched in 2020, the matching grant program of Preserve Rhode Island/The 1772 Foundation has helped distribute more than $725,000 in preservation funding across our state. Projects have included structural foundation and sill repairs, exterior painting and surface restoration, chimney and masonry repointing, and fire detection and security system upgrades.
The 2025 grant recipients located in Providence are listed below along with some facts about Preserve RI:
$9,000 to Trinity Gateway Historic Improvement Association: Grace Church Cemetery Caretaker’s Cottage, 10 Elmwood Avenue. For chimney repairs and a new security system to help stabilize and protect the mid-19th century caretaker’s cottage, a rare architectural feature within one of Providence’s earliest public cemeteries.
$7,000 to Hamilton House: Adult Learning Exchange, 276 Angell Street. For roof and masonry repairs of the Portico on the 1896 Hamilton House, along with removing a non-historic flagpole causing damage. The site serves as an educational hub for older adults.
$4,700 to Rhode Island Historical Society: Aldrich House, 110 Benevolent Street. For select elevations of the 1822 National Historic Landmark house, including repair and repainting of exterior siding, window trim, soffits, and gutters.
$4,300 to Providence Art Club: Fleur de Lys Studios, 7 Thomas Street. For stucco repair and repainting on the iconic 1885 artist studio, preserving a nationally recognized example of Arts & Crafts architecture still used for creative work by the Providence Art Club.
$998,204 operating revenue in 2024
$918,022 operating expenses in 2024
$500,000+ raised to directly support special preservation projects across the state in 2024
$125,000 awarded to 17 organizations in 2024
Sources:
https://www.preserveri.org/1772-grants
https://www.1772foundation.org/
https://artsnowri.com/venue/grace-church-cemetery/
https://providenceartclub.org/our-buildings/the-fleur-de-lys-building/
https://www.rihs.org/locations/the-aldrich-house/
Nini Stoddard is a proud Providence resident. After living abroad as the child of a US diplomat, she returned to the United States to attend college. She lived in Connecticut and enjoyed working as a librarian, as a director of a regional non-profit, and as a prospect researcher. Nini moved to Providence in 2006 to work at Brown University as a senior prospect researcher. Now retired, she loves local history and volunteering.
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