← Back to US Funders Directory

Carter Family Charitable Trust

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Decision Time
1mo

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2,349,852 (2023)
  • Founded: 1991
  • Grant Range: Not publicly specified
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Rhode Island, very limited grants to nearby states
  • Application Method: Rolling basis via online portal
  • Decision Time: 4 weeks

Contact Details

Address: PO Box 179, Little Compton, RI 02837

Phone: 401-434-1680 (also listed as 401-276-6582)

Website: https://cartertrustfunds.org

Application Portal: https://cartertrustfunds.org/apply/

Note: Information regarding organizations will not be considered if submitted by phone or mail - online applications only.

Overview

Founded in 1991, the Carter Family Charitable Trust is a private foundation that has distributed millions of dollars to Rhode Island nonprofit organizations over the past three decades. In 2023, the Trust gave $2,349,852 in grants, continuing its consistent pattern of substantial annual giving. The Trust focuses primarily on educational needs, while also supporting health and social organizations, the arts, community development, and human services. The Trustees are Richard Small, Letitia Carter, and John Carter III, who also serve as donor advisers for the related Carter Fund established in 2011 at the Rhode Island Foundation. Almost all grants are made to organizations operating within Rhode Island, with a very limited number extending to nearby states. The Trust emphasizes operational support over capital projects, with most grants funding operational requirements rather than building needs.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The Trust operates through a single rolling application process rather than separate grant programs. Applications are accepted year-round through their online portal, with requests processed within four weeks.

Priority Areas

  • Education: Primary focus area, covering educational institutions and programs
  • Health and Social Services: Supporting health organizations and human services programs
  • Arts and Culture: Funding for arts organizations and cultural programs
  • Community Development: Support for community development initiatives

Geographic Focus

Primarily serves organizations operating within Rhode Island. A very limited number of grants are made to organizations in nearby states.

What They Don't Fund

  • Building projects (rarely funded)
  • Organizations operating outside Rhode Island (with very few exceptions)
  • Organizations not registered as 501(c)(3) entities

Governance and Leadership

Trustees (serving since 1991):

  • Richard Small
  • Letitia Carter
  • John Carter III

The same three individuals also serve as donor advisers for the Carter Fund, which was established in 2011 at the Rhode Island Foundation and operates with similar priorities focused on educational needs and health and social organizations in Rhode Island.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online through the Trust's website at https://cartertrustfunds.org/apply/. The application form requires the following information:

Required Information:

  • Organization name, address, email, and phone number
  • Grant amount requested
  • Purpose of grant (approximately 500 words)
  • Last year's budget (text entry or file upload)
  • Current year's budget (text entry or file upload)
  • Balance sheets for the past two fiscal years

Important Application Notes:

  • Must be a registered 501(c)(3) organization
  • Only online submissions are accepted
  • Information submitted by phone or mail will not be considered
  • File uploads must be under 10 MB
  • Accepted file formats: PDF, DOC, DOCX, RTF, TXT, XLSX, XLS
  • A copy of the application will be emailed to the applicant upon submission

Decision Timeline

The Trust will process requests and respond within four weeks of submission. This relatively quick turnaround time makes the Carter Family Charitable Trust an efficient funder for Rhode Island nonprofits with operational funding needs.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, grant activity records indicate:

  • 2023: 1 award made
  • 2022: 1 award made
  • 2021: 2 awards made
  • 2020: 3 awards made

These numbers suggest the Trust makes a small number of substantial grants rather than many small grants, given total annual giving of approximately $2.3 million.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is published. Applicants should contact the Trust directly if they have questions about reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and funding patterns, successful applications likely:

  • Focus on operational support: The Trust explicitly states that "most grants are for operational requirements, and rarely for building needs." Organizations seeking capital or building funds should look elsewhere.

  • Serve Rhode Island: With "almost all grants made to organizations operating within the state of Rhode Island," applicants should clearly demonstrate their Rhode Island presence and impact.

  • Emphasize educational outcomes: Education is the Trust's primary focus area. Even if applying for health, social service, arts, or community development programs, connecting the work to educational outcomes may strengthen an application.

  • Provide clear financial documentation: The application requires detailed financial information including two years of balance sheets and both past and current year budgets. Organizations should ensure this information is well-organized and clearly demonstrates financial stability.

  • Write a compelling, concise purpose statement: With only 500 words to describe the grant purpose, applications must be focused and compelling. Clearly articulate the need, the proposed solution, and the expected impact.

  • Demonstrate 501(c)(3) status: This is a strict requirement - organizations must be registered as 501(c)(3) entities.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Online applications only - The Trust will not consider information submitted by phone or mail, so applicants must use the online portal at cartertrustfunds.org/apply/
  • Fast decisions - With a four-week response time, this funder offers quicker feedback than many foundations
  • Operational funding emphasis - Strong choice for organizations seeking operational support rather than capital/building funds
  • Rhode Island focus - Organizations must demonstrate clear Rhode Island presence and impact
  • Education first - Educational programs and outcomes should be emphasized when possible
  • Financial readiness required - Have two years of balance sheets and budget documents prepared before starting the application
  • Limited number of large grants - Given high annual giving but few awards, the Trust appears to make substantial investments in a small number of organizations each year

References

← Back to US Funders Directory