Search Through Foundation Grants for Nonprofits in Maine in the U.S.

About the Trust

For over 81 years, The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust has been providing financial assistance to nonprofit organizations that help those in need. The Trust's focus areas of giving include Health and Welfare, Dental/Oral Health, Recreational/Camperships (camp scholarships), Education and Homeless Shelters, our newest initiative. Our geographic giving areas include the states of Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Vermont.

Our Priorties

Health and Welfare

Impacting health and welfare organizations with grants that support capital projects for those with special needs, including the blind, deaf, learning disabled, elderly, youth and family service organizations, homeless shelters, and food banks to name a few.  

Dental Health

Expanding our reach to nonprofits that provide free dental clinics, and dental care to low income , needy populations to include children, families and the elderly through capital grants for dental equipment needs and program support.CampershipEnhancing children's lives through camp scholarships that provide a child with an opportunity for a summer camping experience/summer enrichment who would otherwise be unable to attend without this scholarship support.EducationAdvancing education through scholarship support to community colleges and preselected four-year colleges and universities to needy students from rural areas. Grants are awarded directly to the institutions who select recipients based on the Trust's criteria.  The Trust is not accepting any unsolicited requests from community colleges, 4-year colleges or universities at this time. Homeless SheltersResponding to the needs and demands placed on homeless shelters due to socioeconomic factors that impact individuals due to unemployment, addiction, behavioral disorders and other circumstances. We strive to work together to end homelessness. Capital and operating support grants are available.Food Banks/ Food PantryRecognizing the escalating need placed on food pantries and food banks due to inflation and the increased costs of food and basic necessities, we are committed to working with organizations to eliminate food insecurity and are dedicated to making a lasting impact by providing support through capital and operating grants.

How we decide who receives funds

To decide where funds should go, we consider the organization’s relevance to our Community Promise goals, how the service it offers impacts our community, other support the group receives in the private and public sector, and the community’s general need.

As many typical fundraising avenues disappeared during the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been especially proactive in reaching out to partners as vital societal needs have only increased across communities.

We receive so many requests, and every category offers invaluable services and activities. Here’s a quick sample of the kinds of organizations that receive assistance.

Five categories of organizations

Our dedicated Social Responsibility team considers requests from five categories of organizations. We award grants and sponsorships on a rolling, year-round basis in support of the following causes:

Health and Wellness

Community organizations and programs that promote mind, body, and financial wellness align very strongly with our corporate and community values. We sponsor races, sports teams, and other wellness programs and initiatives.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Hospitals and Community Health Centers
• Nutrition Programs
• United Ways
• Community Action Agencies

Community & Economic Advancement

Community spaces that create access to resources for community members of all walks of life get our attention. We want to empower everyone in the community who has ideas that can help make it better.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Libraries
• Chambers of Commerce
• Affordable Housing
• Public Transportation

Arts & Culture

A vibrant art scene in our communities drives tourism and commerce and serves a higher purpose – fostering understanding, creating empathy, and moving a community forward. We want to support the arts whenever we can.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Visual and performing arts programs
• Museums
• Historical Societies
• Theaters

Education & Innovation

Investments in education and youth programs create the future of the community. As parents ourselves, we support youth programs that address food insecurity, technology, wellness, and trauma prevention to help children succeed beyond their dreams.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Education Foundations
• Literacy Programs
• Leadership Development
• Social Entrepreneurship

Environment & Animal Welfare

We all deserve a healthy environment to live in and enjoy, our furry friends included. We work with land trusts, animal shelters, animal agencies and more to make that happen.

Examples of groups who have received support from us include:

• Land Trusts
• Marine Resource Conservation
• Animal Welfare and Rescue

Our community commitment

From our corporate headquarters in Indianapolis, we’ve grown into a national provider of insurance and financial services with offices in California, Maine and beyond. We’re committed to making a difference in people’s lives and the communities we serve.

Helping others is at our core. Making commitments that matter. Our vision to improve the quality of life in our communities, which are stronger because of our support and volunteer efforts. Here are some of the ways we are making an impact:

• Education & workforce development
  • Being there for our community means leading education efforts and workforce development for future success. OneAmerica Financial invests in both education and workforce development because we understand how critical it is to have both.
• Safety, wellness & success
  • Being there for you means working to keep our communities healthy and safe. We support our neighbors and those in need through disaster relief, feeding the hungry, the homeless and by providing essential needs and services through United Way agencies.
• Community vibrancy & civic causes
  • Being there for our vibrant communities can be seen through our efforts to support arts & culture, such as our long-standing involvement with the Broadripple Art Fair, 500 Festival Mini Marathon and the Indiana Repertory Theatre (IRT).

Community grants

The OneAmerica Financial Foundation is a nonprofit, private foundation dedicated to investing in the well-being of communities through strategic philanthropy. Rooted in a long-standing tradition of service, the Foundation’s charitable reach begins in the heart of Indianapolis and extends to communities across the country.

By investing in meaningful change, the Foundation aims to transform lives and create shared success—supporting those who build stronger, more resilient communities for generations to come.

• Education (primarily K-12, early childhood and at-risk populations)
• Workforce development efforts to increase employment and develop talent locally
• Community safety, wellness and success that provide support for basic community needs
• Arts and cultural experiences that add to the vibrancy of the community
• Civic initiatives that strengthen our communities

About us

Point32Health Foundation works with communities to support, advocate and advance healthier lives for everyone.

Point32Health Foundation builds on a tradition of service and giving at Harvard Pilgrim Health Care and Tufts Health Plan. Our heritage organizations together have invested more than $246 million to support community organizations in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.

Together with community, we will advance equity in aging.

We share an unwavering commitment to support communities grappling with growing inequities and changing demographics.

Point32Health Foundation’s equity in aging strategy is guided by the Foundation’s north star, our mission and the core principles of a trust-based approach to philanthropy. Grounded in and responsive to community conditions, we want to be relevant in today’s context, grow as we learn with and from community, and build on the legacy of our predecessor foundations.

Point32Health Foundation advances equity in aging – prioritizing efforts that address systemic inequities. This includes a deep commitment to social and racial justice. We collaborate with and learn from nonprofit organizations, honor those most affected by inequities and recognize their power and position in defining the problem, designing appropriate solutions and describing success.

Our grantmaking

Multi-year, general operating grants are made to nonprofits doing work in aging that addresses equity, especially in communities that have experienced disinvestment and are most affected by systemic barriers. The Foundation team has two grant cycles and brings recommendations to the board two times a year.

What we fund

Point32Health Foundation supports work to advance equity in aging—prioritizing efforts that address systemic inequities and advance social and racial justice.

In 2025, Equity in Aging becomes the lens through which we address the social determinants of health.

Our equity in aging focus recognizes that inequities can accumulate over time, exacerbating health outcomes as we age. We support community organizations working to improve conditions for people affected by disinvestments in their communities and inequitable systems. Equity in aging addresses a growing and unmet need.

We do not define older people. Community organizations define older people in the context of their work. As different lived experiences impact the way we age, the Foundation relies on the experiences of organizations which are more proximate and look to them to define the older population they serve.

Some community lessons and principles that inform our work.

• Systemic inequities cause health disparities
• Health happens in communities where people live, work, play and pray
• Those most affected by inequities are in the best position to define the problem, design appropriate solutions and describe success
• Older people and communities of color are disproportionately affected in a public health crisis
• Collaborations among nonprofit organizations, municipal agencies and others strengthen community response in a crisis

Categories

Within Equity in Aging, we invest in organizations aligned with two categories – social and racial justice and organizing, policy, advocacy and systems improvement.

Submissions

Submission can be made when it works best but please consider the decision timelines of the Foundation Board so that the team has the opportunity for timely conversations.

February 20, 2025 for organizations working in organizing, policy, advocacy and systems change to improve the conditions affecting older adults. Decisions will be announced in June.

September 19, 2025 for organizations working in social and racial justice. Decisions will be announced in December.

Donation Requests

Radio Flyer receives a high volume of requests for donations, special pricing, and sponsorship from around the world - from a wide variety of worthy organizations and causes.  

Our mission is to bring smiles and create warm memories by creating products that foster outdoor active play. As part of this mission we focus our social responsibility efforts on organizations that are dedicated to these same goals.

 Currently our main commitments are:

• Charitable giving to national organizations to better centralize our philanthropic efforts – such as The Starlight Children’s Foundation whose mission is to improve the life and health of kids and families around the world. And, the Toy Industry Foundation whose mission is to bring joy, comfort, and learning to children in need through play. 
• Annually sponsoring & building playgrounds in our community for underprivileged kids, through our partnership with KaBOOM! - a national non-profit dedicated to saving play for America's children. See the page for KaBOOM! grants here.
• We allocate the remainder of our giving to local non-profit entities in the Chicagoland area dedicated specifically to the education, health and well-being of children – age ranges from infants to 8 years old. See the page for Chicagoland grants here.

What We Support

The Rauch Foundation takes an entrepreneurial approach to promoting change by investing in areas where we can have a fundamental impact.

Our mission has two main priorities:

• To promote a healthy planet through research into global food systems.
• To promote the financial preparedness of rising generations of students by supporting schools in the delivery of financial literacy programs

Building on the Rauch Foundation’s long history of providing evidence-based research and data to inform policy, our work in food systems is centered on exploring the nexus between the food we consume and the systems involved in its financing, sourcing, production and delivery. Using the island of Poros, Greece and its efforts to stop the expansion of open net pen industrial fish farming as a case study, we have been laying out a case for how global, national, and regional actions can impact the health of a community, its economy, and the local environment.

Our school-based work in financial literacy acknowledges growing national support for a curriculum that helps young people develop the skills to navigate a successful future for themselves and their families.

Working for systemic change.

The Rauch Foundation invests in ideas and organizations that spark positive systemic change.

We are not afraid of controversial ideas, original approaches, or new ways to tackle old problems. However, we do look for sound data, leadership, other grant partners, strong management skills, and a focus on evidence-based outcomes. Once we invest in the work of an organization, our involvement may include a long-term partnership or assistance with capacity building and leadership.

We are committed to partnering with nonprofits and NGOs, the private sector, labor, research institutions, universities, the media, and other funders to help achieve shared goals and work through common issues.

About Us

The Skees Family Foundation, a 501(c)3 private charitable foundation, works with nonprofits (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) serving families in need around the world.

The Skees Family Foundation — family helping families — extends self-help to youth and families to end poverty worldwide. We support organizations in the U.S., Africa, Asia, Central and South America, India, and the Pacific to promote job creation and economic development. We value love in action to create equal opportunity for all. And as a diverse multigenerational group with limited time and funds, we believe that we — and you — can change the world for good.

Mission

Skees Family Foundation works to end global poverty by partnering with community-based organizations to create fulfilling jobs and build job readiness through vocational or entrepreneurial training.

Vision

Skees Family Foundation envisions a world in which every person has the opportunity to lead a self-determined, prosperous life.

Values

Equality. Respect. Trust. Solidarity. Boldness. Innovation. Hope.

Motivation

We wish to reach out in love and respect, to share our time and resources and to learn from other families’ resilience in the face of poverty and adversity. We hope, in whatever small and large ways we can, to advance the freedom, safety, health, and happiness of other families.

Goal

Opportunity for all.

Mission-Aligned Grantmaking

Our mission-aligned grants are focused on organizations whose primary work is outside of the United States. We do this for two reasons:

• Given our relatively small grantmaking budget, funding international programs allows each dollar to go further than it would in the U.S, enabling our foundation to have greater impact with our limited resources.
• We support organizations without geographic limitations through our discretionary board and family grants, both in the U.S. and abroad, that our family members are connected to and passionate about.

These grants are typically distributed every three years, and go out at the start of the new year.

Seed Grants

Seed Grants are two- to three-year grants with increasing amounts each year: $2,500 year one, $5,000 year two, and $7,500 year three, if the organization’s self-determined benchmarks are met after year one and year two. These partners are in their “start-up” phase. Eligibility for this seed funding is generally available only to organizations with an annual budget of $250,000 or less, in order to ensure that the funds have a significant effect on the budgets of selected organizations.

We encourage our Seed Grantees to use these grants for internal capacity building, but we do not place formal restrictions on the funding. By fostering the growth of small organizations that align with our mission, Seed Grants enable our foundation to support and work with social entrepreneurs building early-stage ventures.

We must matter more in our communities.

We contribute to the strength and health of our communities through the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation and Corporate Giving. Together the Bank and its Foundation invested more than $2 million into the community in the form of nonprofit sponsorships, grants and partnership initiatives last year.

Making a significant and meaningful difference:

The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation's role is to focus philanthropic efforts on initiatives that will make our communities more prosperous, more livable, and more vibrant. With a growing endowment and strong support from the Bank, the Foundation is poised to truly impact its focus areas in workforce and economic development.

Grant Guidelines

The Foundation considers applications for grants ranging from $2,000 up to $25,000. For all proposals received, we have a preference to support projects and initiatives that do the following:

• Include a strategy for leveraging other resources and support.
• Produce cost-effective results which can be measured and evaluated.
• Provide incentive for the private and public sectors to work together in community problem solving.
• Encourage coordination with other efforts and do not duplicate programs in the community.
• Advance innovative and long-term strategies that will address recognized needs.
• Demonstrate an ability to obtain future funding if it will be needed.

Areas of Giving

Priority Giving

The Foundation focuses its philanthropic efforts on improving the vitality of Northern New England's regional and statewide economies through economic and workforce development in Maine, New Hampshire, and Massachusetts.

Additional Areas of Giving

While our primary outreach and resources will be dedicated to the priority areas listed above, in recognition of the many needs in our communities, the Foundation will continue to lend support to applications in the following areas:

• Education
• Initiatives that raise student readiness, academic success, achievement and aspirations at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels, including but not limited to STEM education initiatives.  
• Social and Civic Services
• Activities directed at improving quality of life in the communities we serve.
• Culture and Arts
• Initiatives supporting organizations that meet community needs, expand arts and cultural programming, or provide education.
• Health and Wellness
• Programs essential to the underlying medical care of a community, including initiatives focusing on physical and mental health and wellness for people of all ages. 

About MainStreet Foundation

The MainStreet Foundation awards grants for projects that impact the essentials like food, security, shelter and education for at-risk children.

Who We Are

The MainStreet Foundation’s board is comprised of Androscoggin Bank employees, members of the Bank’s Board of Directors, Bank Corporators and community members. The MainStreet Board is made up of individuals who care about our community and who understand the importance of creating a stable childhood in the development of Maine as a place to live and work.

History of Giving

The MainStreet Foundation was started by an investment from Androscoggin Bank in 1997, and issued its first grants in 1998. The Foundation works separately from Androscoggin Bank, but uses resources and in-kind support provided by the Bank.

MainStreet Foundation Quarterly Grant

Our mission is simple and focused: Provide the necessities to at-risk kids in Maine. The MainStreet Foundation awards grants for projects that impact the essentials, like food, security, shelter and education. We strive to positively impact the lives of the most vulnerable youth so they may have a supportive and safe environment.

Four times a year, these grants are awarded and vary based on the need in amounts up to $5,000.

Program Areas

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation is a private, grantmaking foundation based in South Portland, Maine.  The Foundation funds in five program areas:

Arts and Culture

Enriching community life with music, dance, theater, visual arts, and creative writing.

We invest in organizations and programs that stimulate imagination, provide access to the arts and arts education, and foster community through the arts. We are especially interested in educational programming for low-income and underserved youth audiences that celebrates creativity and provides meaningful experiences with the arts. We support organizations that create and present performances and programs in southern Maine.

Civic and Community

Strengthening the social and economic fabric of underserved communities.

We are committed to supporting and improving the quality of life in southern Maine by ensuring individuals have access to opportunities to engage in civic life. To promote economic security and well-being, the Foundation invests in organizations that are working toward systemic change through public policy for social benefit. We are currently involved in and support the Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative.

Education

Because education is the single most important investment a community can make.

We believe that access to educational opportunities is the key to a successful life. Our grantmaking spans the entire continuum of pre-K through college and adulthood, as we focus on providing opportunities for underserved populations in the areas of youth development, leadership, and enrichment. We collaborate with other funders, advocates, and experts in efforts that address school readiness and attendance, grade-level proficiency, high school graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment and completion. We participate in or support several collaborative initiatives including: Portland ConnectED, The Campaign for Grade Level Reading, Count ME In, Maine Early Childhood Funders Group, Summer Learning Initiative, Right from the Start, and the Maine Resilience Building Network.Health and Human Services

Helping organizations expand access to help vulnerable and low-income people.

We believe providing support to historically and systemically disadvantaged individuals and communities is a compelling focus. Today’s social, economic, and political challenges require it. Our goal is to assist in increasing the number of people who are self-sufficient and lead healthy, productive lives. Our giving consistently targets access to healthcare, including prevention services, health support services, and ensuring food security. We currently are involved in and support the Maine Oral Health Funders Group.

Jewish Culture and Traditions

"Tzedekah"- the act of giving help to others

We participate in the Jewish community in southern Maine through support of institutions and programs that provide and preserve Jewish education, tradition, and culture. We partner with organizations that celebrate and promote Jewish art and creativity as well as agencies and synagogues who serve the vulnerable members of the Jewish community.

Funding

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation will consider responsive grant requests for amounts up to $50,000; however, the average grants size awarded is less than $15,000.

Amateur Radio Digital Communications (ARDC) is a California-based foundation with roots in amateur radio and the technology of internet communication. Our mission is to support, promote, and enhance digital communication and broader communication science and technology, to promote amateur radio, scientific research, experimentation, education, development, open access, and innovation in information and communication technology.

Grantmaking Categories

• Support and growth of amateur radio. Grants in this category are core to our mission. We make grants to clubs for all types of projects, including licensing classes, continuing education, repeater infrastructure, and certain emergency communications projects that expand interest and access to amateur radio.
  • Examples:  Make Operating Radio Easier (MORE), CVARC Serves Its Community and Promotes Amateur Radio, Bridgerland ARC: Engaging and Educating Youth in Amateur Radio
• Education. Grants in this category include scholarships, as well as projects that aim to educate or mentor individuals, such as K-12 school programs and programs aimed at under-served groups. We are primarily interested in STEAM programs that are linked to amateur radio, wireless technology, or digital communications.
  • Examples:  West Bend Public Library, Walters State Community College (WSCC), South Eugene High School
• Research and development.  Projects in this category are projects that are advancing the state of the art in amateur radio and communication science and technology.
  • Examples: Rhizomatica: Digital HF Telecommunications for Civil and Amateur Uses, Tangerine SDR

Grantmaking Goals

ARDC makes grants to programs and organizations that aim to advance our mission and vision to create:

A thriving global community of learners, experimenters, and contributors advancing freedom with open source communication and information technology.

ARDC’s strategic approach to achieving this vision involves three main goals:

• Promoting learning: getting more people learning about amateur radio (AR) and digital communications (DC).
• Promoting experimenting: getting more people experimenting, innovating, and developing technology (in the context of AR and DC).
• Promoting doing: getting more people using new technology productively on more (and newer) bands, modes, and technologies (and other dimensions) within the context of AR and DC.

As we evaluate opportunities for our grantmaking and other program activities, we will be reviewing them based on their ability to meet the above objectives and, overall, help to manifest our vision.

Please review our vision and strategy pages for more detailed information.

Open Access Requirement

Because ARDC works with and for the public, we require that the work of the projects we fund be freely available to everyone who can benefit and to everyone who can contribute. Thus, all technology, documentation, and other materials produced using ARDC funds must be made freely available to the public, ideally using one of the below open source licenses:

• Software: GPL licenses (esp. AGPLv3), MIT, BSD, LGPL
• Hardware: CERN Open Hardware License
• Media, writing, images etc.: Free Culture subset of the Creative Commons licenses, particularly CC-BY-SA, as well as CC-BY and CC0

Community Building Grant Program

Purpose

This grant program supports projects and organizations focused on making communities stronger.

Criteria

All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements. Please read our eligibility and grant guidelines before applying.

Your proposed project or organization must:

• Invest in people by increasing skills/abilities, knowledge, and/or well-being
• Engage the people you serve in the design, delivery, and/or evaluation of the work
• Strengthen community resources including organizations, partnerships, and built and natural environments.

Types of Funding

The Community Building Grant Program is one of the only grant programs in Maine that supports a broad range of projects and organizations across the entire state, including arts, education, environment, economic development, and human services. It is also MaineCF’s largest grant program and receives more than 600 applications annually. It provides project grants and general support grants.

Project Grants are for new projects (defined as within the first two years), including capital expenses. Your project must meet the Community Building criteria listed above AND your organization must:

• Be located in Maine, defined as your organization has a Maine address
• Have had expenses AT or ABOVE $500,000 in the most recent completed fiscal or financial year
  • Municipalities, government agencies, public schools, or faith-based organizations may apply regardless of expenses for their most recent completed fiscal or financial year
• Total project budget does not exceed $100,000
• Project expenses DO NOT to include endowments, annual appeals, or scholarships.

General Support Grants are for flexible funding of any type such as new/expanding/ongoing programs and operational needs including capital expenses. Your organization’s primary work must meet the Community Building criteria listed above AND your organization must:

• Be located in Maine, defined as your organization has a Maine address
• Have had expenses BELOW $500,000 in the most recent completed fiscal or financial year
• NOT be a municipality, government agency, public school, or faith-based organization. (These organizations may be eligible for NEW project grants only.)

Amount

Max Award: $10,000

About the Island Foundation

The Island Foundation was founded in 1979 by W. Van Alan Clark, Jr. and Mary H. Clark. They envisioned a family foundation that was capable not only of reacting to the needs of the community, but also providing leadership grants and taking chances other foundations might be unwilling to consider. Van Clark believed in solutions. He believed that the world could be managed for the better. He believed that bright people, dedicated to a common goal would inevitably achieve that goal. He was an activist who was willing to, in his own words, “Step up to the plate and make a good cut at the ball.” A restless and imaginative man, he fought for better outcomes in all of his endeavors. Over the years, the Island Foundation has alternately talked and listened, but always with the goal of motivating action and creative solutions. There is a challenge embedded in every opportunity.

Grantmaking Priorities

The Foundation supports projects in coastal areas of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and selected international locations.

For the last two decades, the Foundation has focused a significant portion of its financial resources on Southeastern Massachusetts, where its office is located. Here the Board seeks to understand how communities grow sustainably and equitably, how to increase educational opportunities, how rural and urban economies are intertwined, and how to best protect working landscapes and the people who rely upon these areas for their livelihoods. In funding in a few specific areas, the Board believes it will have the most impact. 

Womxn and Girls Grant

The Island Foundation works with organizations addressing root causes of inequality for womxn and girls in the United States. The Foundation works to strengthen and support the work of womxn- and girls-led and focused organizations across sectors and funding interests, particularly for womxn and girls of color. The Foundation supports intergenerational collaborations and organizations at the forefront of innovation and systems change for gender equity and inclusion.

The Foundation supports projects in coastal areas of Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island and selected international locations.

For the last two decades, the Foundation has focused a significant portion of its financial resources on Southeastern Massachusetts, where its office is located. Here the Board seeks to understand how communities grow sustainably and equitably, how to increase educational opportunities, how rural and urban economies are intertwined, and how to best protect working landscapes and the people who rely upon these areas for their livelihoods. In funding in a few specific areas, the Board believes it will have the most impact.   

Environment

In Southeastern Massachusetts, Maine, and Rhode Island, the Island Foundation promotes the conservation of marine and coastal resources. For many years, the Foundation has given priority to North Atlantic right whale research, protection of coastal waterbird habitat, and preservation of coastal lands.

More recently, the Board has been interested in new initiatives that:

• link climate change, renewable energy, and regional planning and support those most impacted by climate change;
• support working landscapes (sustainable agriculture and community-based fisheries) and the people who rely on them for their livelihoods;
• help local conservation organizations strengthen their own capacity;
• connect community health, quality of life, and environmental conservation; and
• promote environmental justice and seek to include the voices of those most affected by environmental harms.

Arts Program Strategies

The Onion Foundation recognizes the arts’ important roles in creativity and sharing of culture and different perspectives. The arts are essential for the development of our intellect, our capacity for joy and compassion, and our feelings of connection to one another. We seek to connect Maine residents to arts experiences as audience members and as makers in order to offer opportunities for expression, learning, and inspiration.

Three strategies guide our arts program:

Strategy I: Increase Access To Arts Education In Maine

The Onion Foundation supports programs that incorporate learning goals and that are led by skilled staff and teachers working from detailed plans, rather than programs that only offer casual arts activities. We hope our grantees thoughtfully include a diverse set of students and incorporate equity-based, low-barrier participation opportunities rather than limited scholarship discounts. We encourage applicants to seek support for programs led by and serving historically under-resourced communities, and to offer curricula that are multicultural and do not engage in cultural appropriation.

Strategy II: Support Public Engagement In Maine Arts Programs

The Arts Program primarily supports arts-mission nonprofit organizations that offer ongoing events, in particular those that provide Maine residents free or low cost experiences. We give priority to programs with strong public engagement and that show meaningful consideration of the communities where they take place. When assessing proposals, we look for arts programming that includes underrepresented artists and stories, attention to marginalized audiences, and geographic diversity. We also look for concrete plans that are guided by a curatorial or programmatic vision and led by experienced staff who are, in turn, supported by their organizations through training and other resources.

Strategy III: Build The Capacity Of Maine’s Arts Sector (Invited Proposals Only)

The Arts Program recognizes that strong programs come from a healthy and connected sector engaged in intersectional practices and invested in its workers. The Arts Program will work closely with organizations to identify capacity needs and priorities, which include, but are not limited to, organizational development, financial stability, worker skills, governance, communications and marketing strategies, networking and collaboration, and advocacy.

We know that some arts organizations and programs offer both arts education and ongoing events, relating to both our Strategy I and our Strategy II. We therefore have not structured our grant cycles by strategy. Rather, the Arts Program arranges grant cycles by grant size.

Applicants may request either general operating or project grants:

General operating grants offer unrestricted funds for your organization. If all of your organization’s activities align with one or both of these strategies, you may request general operating support. General operating proposals may request multi-year grants of up to three years. We will consider awarding:

• up to $20,000 per year (up to $60,000 total over three years) for organizations with annual budgets over $50,000.
• up to $7,500 per year (up to $22,500 total over three years) for organizations with annual budgets under $50,000.

Project support grants offer funding for specific activities or programs, such as an ongoing concert series or an arts education department that’s part of a larger organization. If your organization’s work extends beyond our grantmaking strategies, you should request project support. All fiscally sponsored grants are project grants. Project proposals may request multi-year grants of up to three years. We will consider awarding:

• up to $20,000 per year (up to $60,000 total over three years) for projects with budgets over $50,000.
• up to $7,500 per year (up to $22,500 total over three years) for projects with budgets up to $50,000.

Requests should be aligned with the following Arts Program Strategies:

• Strategy One: Increase Access to Arts Education in Maine
• Strategy Two: Support Public Engagement in Maine Arts Program
• Strategy Three: Build the Capacity of Maine’s Arts Sector

Stone Foundation believes in providing flexible, patient, and trust-based philanthropic support. Our grantmaking is primarily focused on supporting work that serves the people of Monmouth County, New Jersey and Wabanakiq, Maine. We consider both general operating and project-specific grants, including both annual and multi-year commitments. 

Stone Foundation’s grantmaking incorporates two approaches: 

• An open application process that welcomes proposals from 501c3 nonprofit organizations, and community groups with a 501c3 fiscal sponsor. 
• Foundation-initiated investments that convene, build networks, amplify impact, and innovate solutions with and among community changemakers, connectors, and influencers.  

Unrestricted general operating grants range in size from $5,000 to $25,000. Organizations applying for the first time are typically considered for 1-year grants between $5,000 and $10,000.

As stated in its Articles of Incorporation and By-laws, the Foundation was organized and will be operated exclusively to further "religious, charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes," to "foster national or international amateur sports competition" and "for the prevention of cruelty to children or animals."

The Foundation Provides Funds For:

• Start-up expenses,
• New or special projects,
• Projects,
• General operating support.

Grantmaking Priority Areas

Although the Foundation accepts grant applications from any qualified organization, it is expected that over the next three to five years, the Foundation will make the majority of grants to public charities in the Town of Buxton, Maine and the surrounding areas including schools, fire departments, police departments, libraries, parks, recreational facilities, churches, religious groups, shelters for children, the homeless and abused persons, museums and shelters for animals. Once the immediate needs of this geographic area in southern Maine are addressed, it is likely that future grants will be made to charities throughout Maine and in other states.

Background

David and Frances Brain established the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation in 1993 as a tangible expression of their values. Through their foundation, they sought with their family to address their social concerns and encourage future generations of the family to contribute to the well-being of their communities in Maine, Georgia, and Kentucky. In 2017 they turned to the Maine Community Foundation to manage their grantmaking in Maine.

Purpose

The Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund supports nonprofit organizations and projects that serve disadvantaged, underserved, and/or vulnerable communities in Auburn, Bath, Biddeford, Brunswick, Greater Portland, Lewiston, Saco, and/or Sanford.

Issue Areas

Consideration will be given to organizations or projects that focus on one of the following:

• Education
• Early childhood care and education (defined as ages 0-8)
• Extended day learning (after-school and summer learning programs)
• Health care
• Community clinics and safety net providers
• Oral health initiatives
• Hunger prevention and food security
• Homelessness alleviation
• Legal services connected with the above areas

Grant Guidelines and Focus AreasMission StatementThe Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago seeks to expand and improve opportunities and choices in all aspects of Jewish women and girls' lives through strategic and effective grantmaking. The Jewish Women's Foundation endeavors to empower women as leaders, funders, and decision makers.Overall Considerations

• JWF Chicago funds with a "gender lens" and a "Jewish lens". We are interested in projects that recognize Jewish women and girls have unique needs both because of their gender, and their religious and cultural heritage.
• JWF Chicago is committed to improving the overall status of Jewish women and girls, and funds projects that promote social change by addressing at least one of the indicators described below:
• JWF Chicago considers an organization's holistic support of women and girls, as well as the specific project or program for which you are seeking a grant. This includes the extent to which Jewish women and girls are included among your leadership and in key staff positions.
• JWF Chicago supports organizations through general operating and project specific funding. General operating support will only be awarded to organizations focusing exclusively on promoting social change for Jewish women and girls.

Grantmaking Focus Areas

JWF Chicago funds in four main areas. Prospective grantees are invited to submit project and program proposals that relate to these targeted areas.

Annual Grants

One-year funding open to all applicants that meet JWF Chicago’s overall eligibility requirements as described below.

• There is no predetermined number of Annual Grants.
• JWF Chicago considers organizations for funding on a year-to-year basis.
• Previous funding does not guarantee continued funding.
• The minimum Annual Grant award is $15,000. There is no maximum grant amount.
• The average Annual Grant ranges between $20,000-$25,000.

Grant Guidelines and Focus AreasMission StatementThe Jewish Women's Foundation of Metropolitan Chicago seeks to expand and improve opportunities and choices in all aspects of Jewish women and girls' lives through strategic and effective grantmaking. The Jewish Women's Foundation endeavors to empower women as leaders, funders, and decision makers.Overall Considerations

• JWF Chicago funds with a "gender lens" and a "Jewish lens". We are interested in projects that recognize Jewish women and girls have unique needs both because of their gender, and their religious and cultural heritage.
• JWF Chicago is committed to improving the overall status of Jewish women and girls, and funds projects that promote social change by addressing at least one of the indicators described below:
• JWF Chicago considers an organization's holistic support of women and girls, as well as the specific project or program for which you are seeking a grant. This includes the extent to which Jewish women and girls are included among your leadership and in key staff positions.
• JWF Chicago supports organizations through general operating and project specific funding. General operating support will only be awarded to organizations focusing exclusively on promoting social change for Jewish women and girls.

Grantmaking Focus Areas

JWF Chicago funds in four main areas. Prospective grantees are invited to submit project and program proposals that relate to these targeted areas.

Multiyear Grants

Three-year funding open to current JWF Chicago grantees and/or organizations previously funded by JWF Chicago in any of the past three grant cycles (since 2021).

JWF Chicago can award up to three new three-year grants per grant cycle.

JWF Chicago will award:

• up to $20,000 per grant in Year 1
• up to $20,000 per grant in Year 2
• and $15,000 per grant in Year 3

Funding in Year 2 and Year 3 will be contingent on applicant’s progress towards stated benchmarks.

Since 2011, the Eisner Foundation has awarded the Eisner Prize to honor people and organizations doing exceptional intergenerational work across the country. In this next phase in the evolution of the Eisner Prize, The Eisner Foundation is providing financial resources, networking opportunities, and the prestige of the Eisner Prize to leaders with new ideas and perspectives that will propel the field forward.

What kinds of project proposals might be successful? 

Proposals for new innovations in intergenerational connection will be the most successful. We are open to new programs, research, technology, or any other innovation that intentionally connects different generations in new ways. This is not intended to support existing programs, unless the proposal involves new aspects of those programs. Projects should have goals achievable within a year and with a $40,000 budget. An itemized budget is not necessary at the time of application, but the applicant should present a project scope that can be accomplished within a year and with this level of funding. The project should also be executable by the Fellow themselves – The Eisner Foundation can support the Fellows as thought partners and connectors, but the foundation’s ability to act as research partners or as external capacity for a project will be very limited. 

What does the funding cover? 

The fellowship includes a total award of $50,000: $10,000 to the Fellow, and $40,000 to use to execute their project. The $10,000 is a stipend and can be used by the Fellow in any way they wish. For those working with an organization, this stipend should be disbursed in addition to the Fellow’s salary, not in partial replacement of it. The $40,000 should be used for project execution of new, defined intergenerational projects, and should not include overhead costs. 

Mission

The Lloyd G. Balfour Foundation was established in 1973. The Foundation's 3 primary focus areas reflect Mr. Balfour's strong affinity for the employees of the Balfour Company, his commitment to the city of Attleboro, Massachusetts, and his lifelong interest in education. Specifically, the Balfour Foundation supports:

• Educational scholarships to employees of the Balfour Company, as well as to their children and grandchildren
• Organizations serving the people of Attleboro, with special consideration given to those organizations that provide educational, human services and health care programming for underserved populations
• Educational organizations that serve New England

Focus Area

Educational Organizations

The Foundation's educational funding is generally focused on organizations or programs that provide support for underserved or under-represented populations to prepare for, access and succeed in higher education, including 2-year and 4-year institutions.

It is clear that Mr. Balfour was interested in supporting students for successful completion of college. As such, the Foundation focuses its grantmaking in the New England area on programs that support college readiness, access, and success. The Foundation is most interested in programs that support students all the way into and through post-secondary credential attainment (2- or 4-year credentials). Programs within institutions of higher education aimed at attracting, supporting, and retaining (through successful completion) under-served and under-represented populations are also of interest. In this area, we will consider applications that request scholarship funds, if those scholarships are part of a broader set of services and supports.

About

MeHAF works with a wide variety of partners, nonprofits, advocacy organizations, health care organizations, and more to carry out our mission of promoting access to quality health care and improving the health of everyone in Maine.

We offer responsive grant opportunities, a Discretionary Grants program for small, discrete, projects, and Meeting Support grants for local and statewide meetings.

Annual Responsive Grant Programs

The Maine Health Access Foundation offers two responsive grant programs: Systems Improvement and Innovation Grants (SIIRG) and Community Responsive Grants (CRG). These programs are offered annually and provide project-based funding for initiatives that are responsive to needs identified by people in communities across the state.

Community Responsive Grants Program

The Community Responsive Grants (CRG) program is based on the idea that those closest to a problem often have the best ideas about potential barriers and solutions. The purpose of this program is to use those community-led solutions to respond to community needs. These may be to address emerging opportunities, or to test new, or creative ideas. They may also be solutions that are based on the community’s experience and what it sees as the best ways to overcome the barriers to health equity it experiences.

CRG projects focus on changing policies, practices, and perceptions that create barriers to health care and good health and respond to community needs, address emerging opportunities, test innovative approaches or new ideas, or implement programs informed by the experiences of communities on how to address barriers to achieving health equity.

Projects funded through this program have leadership from the communities facing inequities in health access or outcomes and community members play a central role in developing and implementing the solutions proposed.

What is Zendesk Tech for Good?

At Zendesk, we believe that technology can change lives — especially for our most vulnerable populations. That’s why the Zendesk Tech for Good program partners with over 110 nonprofits across the globe to give them free Zendesk software, grants, and pro bono support, empowering more organizations to leverage technology and serve more people. 

Tech for Good has two main goals: 

• Provide nonprofits with Zendesk software and grants to help them serve more people and create more impact among vulnerable populations;
• Partner with nonprofits that provide workforce development training for careers in customer experience (CX) to historically marginalized and underrepresented groups

We’re looking for organizations or projects that seek to make a tangible difference in one of the Zendesk Foundation’s impact areas:

• Foster community - enable connections that offer support and allow people to thrive;
• Promote resilience in a time of crisis - safeguard against disaster and reduce human suffering;
• Create career pathways into tech - close the economic opportunity gap and reduce unemployment.

The Zendesk Impact Awards are open to nonprofit organizations that would like to use Zendesk software to directly serve beneficiary communities. 

Applicants may also provide workforce development programming and display an interest in Zendesk’s Career Pathways Program. Applicants are invited to describe how their organization or project fits into these areas within the application. 

Organizations should display some ability to adopt new technology in order to receive Zendesk software, meaning your organization previously has or is currently willing to invest in technology platform solutions to improve services to beneficiary communities. Most organizations will need to be prepared to self-install and configure their free software using our online help which typically requires a dedicated IT staff member. 

Please refer to how applications will be evaluated here.

Background

New Hampshire's nonprofit organizations help make New Hampshire a great place to live.

Through our competitive grant programs, we fund programs and operations of qualified nonprofits working in the areas of health and well-being, civic engagement, education, economic development, environmental protection and arts and culture. 

We also make grants to nonprofit partners working in specific areas of strategic Foundation priorities – like fighting substance use disorders and increasing youth opportunity.

Community Grants Program - Project Grants

This competitive grants program awards project support (a set of activities conducted during a specified period of time and with clearly stated deliverables that further the organization’s mission).

Strong applications should demonstrate the following:

• Clear community need for the project 
• Timeliness: Why is this a strategic time to invest in this project?
• A clear workplan
• A project budget that clearly corresponds with the work in the project description and work plan
• A strategy for how the work, if ongoing, will be sustained beyond the grant period

Grant amount

• $5,000 – $20,000 for organizations serving one region
• $5,000 – $25,000 for statewide organizations (serving more than two regions)

Rines Thompson Fund Grant

Background

The Rines Thompson Fund is a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation that provides funding primarily for the benefit of people of Greater Portland. Established in 1999 by the children and grandchildren of Henry P. and Adeline B. Rines, this fund is designed to give back to the community that has supported the businesses owned by the Rines/Thompson family including the Congress Square Hotel, the Eastland Hotel, WCSH Radio, and WCSH Television. Henry P. Rines' father, Joseph Rines, started Rines Brothers Store on Congress Street in 1883 and the family has conducted business in the area for more than 150 years.

The fund also acts as a memorial to the Henry and Adeline Rines’ two children, Mary Rines Thompson (1918-1992) and William Henry Rines (1917-1970). Their spouses and children contributed to this fund in their memory.

Purpose

The Rines Thompson Fund focuses its funding on community-based organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of Greater Portland.

Types of Support

Using the geographic and issue areas listed above, this program provides:

• Project Grants for new or expanding projects that focus on one of the required issue areas (Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture)
• General Support Grants for ongoing programs and operational needs. Your organization’s primary work must address one or more of the required issue areas (Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture) and your organization must:
  • Be located in and serving people in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Yarmouth, and/or Westbrook.

Find Your Light Foundation

The work of FYL centers around 4 main pillars:

• Support
  • We provide direct support to organizations that provide an arts education to kids in under served communities.
• Education
  • Find Your Light is consistently working to improve the way arts education is integrated in the classroom through the organizations we fund and the content we provide.
• Outreach
  • Through our website, events, social media, e-newsletter, and more, Find Your Light is continually reaching more kids in need and spreading the importance of our mission.
• Advocacy
  • Under the leadership of Josh Groban, Find Your Light uses all resources available to push the importance of an arts education for our next generation.

Grant Information

The Find Your Light Foundation is dedicated to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to experience a quality arts education. We believe that is best achieved through direct support of exceptional arts programs combined with education, advocacy and outreach. We focus support where the need is greatest to educate and inspire others to recognize arts education as a critical component of a young person’s development.

Find Your Light Foundation grants are awarded to arts education based programs in low-income areas across North America. Awards are issued in the Summer and Winter of each year, and generally range between $5,000 and $15,000.