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Grants and Scholarships


RHODE ISLAND BAR FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS

Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Program 

The Rhode Island Bar Foundation’s Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1989 to support and foster high legal practice standards by assisting Rhode Island residents who show promise that they will become outstanding lawyers and who need financial assistance to study law. The Scholarship is in honor of the late Thomas F. Black, Jr., a person known for his impressive ability as a lawyer and banker, his deeply rooted legal scholarship and his notable participation in civic and charitable causes.

In January of 2023, the Rhode Island Bar Foundation will be accepting applications for the Thomas F. Black, Jr. Memorial Scholarship of the Rhode Island Bar Foundation for academic year 2023-2024. The scholarship is a one year, non-renewable award, for full-time students who are Rhode Island residents who will be entering their first year of law school in September 2023. For academic year 2023-2024, the Foundation intends to award two scholarship awards in the amount of $25,000 each. The deadline for submitting the application is March 24, 2023.

Papitto Opportunity Connection Scholarships

Thanks to the Papitto Opportunity Connection Foundation, two additional scholarships in the amount of $25,000 each will be awarded to candidates, criteria for which can be found in the scholarship guidelines and application below, who self-identify as black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC). Founded in December 2020, the Papitto Opportunity Connection was formed by Barbara Papitto as a continuation of the long-time commitment she and her late-husband Ralph have made to creating educational opportunities and supporting the BIPOC community in Rhode Island.
 
For more information, click below:

 

BAR FOUNDATION GRANTS

The Rhode Island Foundation IOLTA program makes significant grants in four main areas:

1. Providing legal services to the poor in Rhode Island;
2. Improving the delivery of legal services;
3. Promoting knowledge and awareness of the law;
4. Improving the administration of justice.
 
Since its inception, the IOLTA fund has allocated millions of dollars to RI organizations for legal services for the poor as well as help in the improvement of the administration of justice.
 
IOLTA grants currently range from $4,000.00 to $ 224,276.00. Click on IOLTA GRANTS for more information.