Brown and Providence
Source: https://www.brown.edu/about/brown-and-providence Parent: https://www.brown.edu/about/visit
At the core of the Brown story is the story of Providence and Rhode Island. Across education, research, service, community engagement and the economy, Brown is deeply intertwined with the city we call home.
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Brown and Providence
At the core of the Brown story is the story of Providence and Rhode Island. Across education, research, service, community engagement and the economy, Brown is deeply intertwined with the city we call home.
For more than two and a half centuries, Brown has been deeply connected to the diverse and vibrant City of Providence — as a neighbor, employer and institution dedicated to a mission of education, research and service.
At the heart of the relationship between the University and the people and organizations in the city and state is a commitment to productive engagement and partnership. In everything from improving medical care and public health, to community engagement activities, support for schools and our role in fueling the regional economy, we are deeply committed to investing in the success of our local community.
This commitment is brought to life each and every day by the work of faculty, staff, administrators, students and alumni across a wide range of Brown schools, departments, offices, centers, programs and initiatives. Brown is building innovative community partnerships and sustaining strong relationships with neighbors, nonprofit organizations, schools, civic organizations and businesses, dedicated to making a positive impact.
Brown Loves Providence
Brown Loves Providence is a month-long coordinated effort to turn appreciation into action for the city that gives so much to Brown.
Health and Medicinein Rhode Island
As a research university with the only schools of medicine and public health in the state, Brown contributes to world-class medical care, strong patient outcomes and innovative solutions for pressing health challenges facing communities across Rhode Island through its Warren Alpert Medical School, School of Public Health and affiliated programs.
Brown and Providence Public Schools
For decades, Brown has worked closely with school leaders in Providence to support K-12 education through teaching, training and mentoring, research, volunteer efforts and financial investments aligned with the schools’ priorities.
Economic Impact in Providence and Rhode Island
Brown is an anchor institution that plays a vital role in the economic well-being of the City of Providence, the state and its people. The University is a top employer of Rhode Island residents, with nearly 5,500 employees, and injects hundreds of millions of dollars into the local economy each year through research spending, visitors to campus, investments in new projects, entrepreneurial startups and spinoffs based on Brown scholarship and research.
Community Engagement for Local Impact
As a nonprofit academic institution driven by a mission of service, Brown students, faculty and staff regularly partner with local community organizations and groups to run after-school programs, address homelessness, assist refugees, provide health care, clean streets, curate museum exhibitions and much more.
Top 10 employer in Rhode Island with 1,700 Brown employees living in Providence
$249 M sponsored research spending annually
$341 M invested in Providence’s Jewelry District to date
$80 M direct payments to the City of Providence between 2012 and 2022
$7.4 M University scholarship support to Rhode Island high school graduates in 2022
$1 Million provided in support to the Providence Public School District every year
While Brown is a nonprofit educational institution, and tax exempt, the University makes voluntary payments to the City of Providence each year, as outlined in two documents: a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the City of Providence and four colleges and universities, including Brown, and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the City and Brown, both signed in 2023. Each year, Brown provides an annual data set outlining the University’s community contributions over the previous fiscal year.
- Read the MOU with Providence
- Read the MOA with Providence
- FY24 Community Contributions Report
- FY25 Community Contributions Report
Community Partnerships
The Office of Government Relations at Brown fosters collaborative partnerships by connecting the University with neighbors and neighborhood associations, local businesses, state legislators and government agencies. Through these connections, the office seeks to identify and help to advance opportunities that align with the University’s mission and effectively address shared challenges.
Brown Gives
The University's annual workplace fundraising campaign has raised millions of dollars over decades to support United Way of Rhode Island, which provides programming and resources to assist Rhode Islanders in need.
Nelson Center for Entrepreneurship
The Nelson Center’s mission is to empower the greater Brown community to create solutions that make a positive impact through a range of programs and collaborations, including an after-school innovation accelerator for Providence high school students.
Sustainability Strategic Plan
Developed in consultation with faculty experts, students, staff and other community members, Brown’s Sustainability Strategic Plan identifies five key commitments to action to mitigate Brown’s impact on climate and pollution, as well as biodiversity loss in Rhode Island and beyond.
Brown Arts Institute
Part of the BAI’s mission is to support the broader Rhode Island community through a number of initiatives, including grants for artists and a songwriting workshop, and hosts publicly accessible art exhibitions and theater, dance, music and film productions that showcase world-renowned artists each semester.
Swearer Center
Brown’s Swearer Center works to facilitate partnerships between the Providence and Rhode Island communities and the University. To foster collaborations focused on community development, the center partners with local nonprofit organizations, and community, government and educational leaders to create new programs and initiatives that reflect the Providence community’s interests and needs.