Urban League of Rhode Island

What Urban League of Rhode Island does

Urban League of Rhode Island (ULRI) is a community-based, tax-exempt nonprofit organization founded in 1939 and headquartered in Providence, Rhode Island. It is an official affiliate of the National Urban League, Inc. and operates with a small staff of 1-10 employees. ULRI's stated mission is to eliminate racial discrimination and segregation and to achieve social and economic parity for the Black community, other minorities, and the poor in Rhode Island.

The organization's service portfolio consists of six core programs: Student Scholars (post-secondary scholarship assistance for 21 awarded students), the H.O.P.E. Initiative (10-week courses in business development, professional development, and leadership training delivered with the Center for Woman & Enterprise and Influence Leadership Institute), the ULRI Donation Center (professional attire distribution in partnership with Men's Wearhouse, serving 600+ individuals/families annually), the Community Food Pantry (bi-weekly food distribution to 95+ low-income families, stocked via CAPP Agency), Advocacy & Public Policy Promotion (community-law enforcement forums reaching 100+ direct and 3,000 indirect beneficiaries), and Project Undercover. ULRI also operates a Jobs Network platform and a Publications Library. The technology stack is minimal: a static website on ColdFusion with no API, no mobile app, and no disclosed data or analytics infrastructure.

ULRI's revenue model is composed of membership dues ($50-$1,000 across seven annual tiers), tax-deductible individual and corporate donations processed via PayPal, AmazonSmile referral revenue (0.5% of eligible purchases), and institutional grants such as a 2023 Rhode Island Foundation award. Distribution is entirely community-led and domestic within Rhode Island, relying on direct program delivery, an online membership portal, a job board, and partnership-driven outreach. Marketing channels include the ulri.org website, press releases, community events and forums, AmazonSmile, and membership drives. No commercial customer segments, revenue figures, or growth metrics are disclosed.

Name

Urban League of Rhode Island

Legal name

Urban League of Rhode Island Inc

Website

https://ulri.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1939

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Urban League of Rhode Island is a community-based nonprofit founded in 1939 in Providence, RI, that delivers advocacy, economic empowerment, and social services including scholarships, workforce training, food assistance, and professional attire distribution for Black and underserved Rhode Island residents.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Social Services

NAICS

Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Human Rights Organizations (813311), Community Food Services (62421)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Local Public Health & Human Services Administration (BPAIACAK), Community & Adult Education (Municipal/Community Schools) (EDAAAEAB)

Keywords

• Community social services
• Workforce development
• Food assistance programs
• Scholarship financial aid
• Civic advocacy programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership fees ranging from $50-$1,000 across multiple tiers including general membership, Young Professionals, Guild, Individual Patron, Individual Benefactor, Corporate Patron, and Corporate Benefactor levels.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Tax-deductible donations accepted through website via PayPal processing, AmazonSmile program (0.5% of eligible purchases), and general public donations.
3. AmazonSmile Program: Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to Urban League of Rhode Island Inc when shoppers use smile.amazon.com.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Urban League of Rhode Island is a community-based nonprofit that delivers social service programs to the Black community and other underserved populations in Rhode Island. Its core offerings include a scholarship program (Student Scholars), an empowerment training program (H.O.P.E. Initiative), a professional attire donation center, a bi-weekly community food pantry, advocacy and public policy promotion, and a Project Undercover support program. It also runs a tiered membership program and a community Jobs Network connecting job seekers with employer postings.

Product overview

The Urban League of Rhode Island operates as a community-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of social service programs and membership offerings. The core programs include Student Scholars (scholarship assistance), the H.O.P.E Initiative (empowerment through business and leadership training), the ULRI Donation Center (professional attire distribution), Community Food Pantry (food security), Advocacy & Public Policy Promotion (community engagement), and Project Undercover. Supporting services include a Publications Library with research reports and a Membership Program with three tiers. The Jobs Network provides employment placement assistance. All programs are designed to eliminate racial discrimination and achieve economic empowerment for the black community and underserved populations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Student Scholars Scholarship program providing supplementary financial assistance to students seeking post-secondary education to cover educational expenses.
• The H.O.P.E. Initiative (Helping Others Prosper thru Empowerment) Empowerment program for the Black community, delivered with the Center for Woman & Enterprise and the Influence Leadership Institute, providing 10-week courses on business development, professional development, and leadership training.
• The ULRI Donation Center Program coordinating with Men's Wearhouse for the National Suit Drive to distribute free professional attire and other donated clothing to men and community members in need.
• Community Food Pantry Bi-weekly food distribution program serving low-income families, stocked and administered by ULRI staff and volunteers with food provided by the local CAPP agency.
• Advocacy & Public Policy Promotion Initiative supporting economic and social stability, empowerment, and cohesive neighborhoods through community-law enforcement relations forums, trainings, and community dialogues.
• Project Undercover Program providing support services to community members in need.
• Membership Programs Tiered annual membership offering event invitations, newsletters, volunteer opportunities, professional development, networking, and advocacy participation at multiple price points from $50 to $1,000.
• Jobs Network Online job posting platform connecting job seekers in the community with employment opportunities posted by partner employers such as Family Service of Rhode Island.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95 families served annually through Food Pantry program
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• National Urban League (Census Solutions Workshop)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 13 April 2018National Urban League brought together community service providers, advocates, and organizers for a daylong Census Solutions Workshop at ULRI offices to identify hard-to-count populations and develop solutions for engaging communities ahead of the 2020 Census.
• AmazonSmileminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 13 June 2016AmazonSmile donation program where Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to Urban League of Rhode Island when customers shop at smile.amazon.com. Same products, same prices, same service as regular Amazon.
• National Urban LeaguecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Urban League of Rhode Island is an official affiliate of the National Urban League, Inc. The organization implements its mission in alignment with National Urban League initiatives including advocacy for economic empowerment and social justice, participation in national programs like the 2020 Census workshop, and adherence to the National Urban League's policy positions.
• The Men's WearhousecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership through which Men's Wearhouse conducts an annual in-store suit drive and donates all suits collected in Rhode Island-based stores exclusively to the ULRI Donation Center for distribution to men in need of professional attire. This supports the 'Give a Suit. Change a Life.' National Suit Drive initiative.
• Center for Woman & EnterprisecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the H.O.P.E. (Helping Others Prosper thru Empowerment) Initiative providing a series of 10-week courses on Developing a Business Plan for black community members.
• Influence Leadership InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the H.O.P.E. Initiative providing 10-week courses on Leadership Training/Personal Growth & Self-Empowerment for black community members seeking to become self-reliant.
• Men's Wearhouse National Suit DrivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual National Suit Drive benefiting at-risk men transitioning into the workforce. Donations of gently worn professional attire are distributed to local nonprofit organizations including Urban League of Rhode Island.
• CAPP AgencyminorOthersLocal agency providing food for the Community Food Pantry program which is then stocked, distributed and administered by ULRI staff and volunteers.
• Community & Law Enforcement Relations CommitteecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerULRI is an active and founding member of this committee, birthed from the Providence Police Advisory Board, which meets to discuss, plan and organize forums, trainings and community dialogues to prevent violence and promote positive community/police relations.
• Family Service of Rhode IslandminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartner organization that posts job openings on the ULRI Jobs Network platform, enabling FSRI to reach ULRI's job-seeking community members. ULRI serves as a job board host for FSRI's employment opportunities.
• NAACP Providence BranchminorOthersListed as a useful resource link on ULRI website, indicating collaborative relationship between civil rights organizations in Rhode Island.
• Rhode Island Legal ServicesminorOthersListed as a useful resource link providing legal services information for community members.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence: A Providence-based youth services nonprofit operating programs in education, leadership, and basic-needs support; comparable target population (underserved youth and families) and overlapping program types (scholarships, leadership development).
• Connecticut Urban League: Another New England Urban League affiliate running parallel economic empowerment, education, and civil rights programs; directly comparable in mission, program mix, and affiliation structure to ULRI.
• Massachusetts Urban League: A sister Urban League affiliate operating a comparable portfolio of workforce development, education, and community empowerment programs in a neighboring New England state; same brand, similar mission and operating model.
• NAACP Providence Branch: Listed as a resource partner on ULRI's website, NAACP Providence pursues overlapping civil rights, advocacy, and community empowerment objectives in the same Rhode Island geography with comparable program and membership models.
• Rhode Island Foundation: Documented funder of ULRI and the state's largest community foundation; comparable as a Rhode Island-based grantmaker supporting the same nonprofit ecosystem in which ULRI operates.
• United Way of Rhode Island: Rhode Island's primary community-impact fund that channels donations to local social service programs. Overlaps with ULRI in Rhode Island geography, donor base, and funded social-service outcomes (food security, education, workforce).

Broad incumbents

• National Urban League: The national parent network of which ULRI is an affiliate. Directly comparable as the umbrella civil rights and economic empowerment organization running the same advocacy, education, and workforce programs at national scale.

Emerging players

• Crossroads Rhode Island: Rhode Island's largest homeless services and housing nonprofit. Partial overlap with ULRI in serving low-income families in Providence via basic-needs and advocacy services, though focused on housing rather than racial equity specifically.
• Rhode Island Legal Services: Listed as a resource partner on ULRI's website, RILS provides civil legal aid to low-income Rhode Islanders — adjacent to ULRI's advocacy and community-empowerment mission for overlapping constituents.

Regional players

• Federal Hill House Association: A Providence-based community center providing social services, education, and youth programs to a similar low-income urban population. Comparable operating model (community-led service delivery) and beneficiary base, though not race-mission-driven.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban League of Rhode Island