Former U.S. Rep. Cicilline makes over $840k at non-profit Rhode Island Foundation

PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Former U.S. Congressman David Cicilline saw his total compensation at the Rhode Island Foundation rise to $840,042, according to the nonprofit’s newly filed 2024 IRS Form 990.

Cicilline, who stepped down from Congress in 2023 to become president and CEO of the Foundation, earned $650,000 in his first year on the job. In his second year, his base salary increased to $795,906, a roughly 22% jump, plus an additional $44,136 in other compensation.

By comparison, Cicilline earned $175,000 annually during his time in Congress. Overall, his compensation has increased by roughly 380% since leaving Capitol Hill.

The Rhode Island Foundation, the state’s largest charitable organization, reported managing approximately $1.34 billion in assets, which it says are invested to fund grants, scholarships, and community programs across Rhode Island.

When Cicilline left Congress in 2023, the sudden timing raised questions. With newly disclosed compensation figures now public, some are asking whether the financial picture helps explain that abrupt move and whether, in hindsight, the pieces are starting to add up.

Cicilline, who represented Rhode Island’s 1st Congressional District from 2011 until his resignation in 2023, previously served as Providence’s mayor and earlier as a state lawmaker. In Congress, he was a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee.