Search Through Grants for Charities in Maine in the U.S.

About Us

The Brutten Family Foundation funds groups and organizations that help expand access to the outdoors, high-quality education, and vital mental health services. We believe that our wellbeing exists at the intersection of these core pillars.

The Brutten Family Foundation, founded by Patricia and Marc Brutten in 1996, is a private U.S. foundation with a nearly 25-year record of philanthropy focused on benefiting San Diego County and global charities. 

Through our family business, Brutten Global, we have spent more than 40 years in the commercial real estate industry, working in the United States and Europe. Brutten Global emerged and flourished in San Diego, and we began the foundation to give back to local organizations and schools. Our work has expanded to nurture both local and global efforts. Now, our children are also involved in giving back to our communities, and as a family, we share a sense of responsibility to positively change people’s outcomes and give individuals the tools they need to create their own impact.

Inspiring a healthier planet and happier lives through environmental, educational, and mental health initiatives.

The Brutten Family Foundation supports organizations and projects that are making a positive difference for our planet, helping individuals find refuge in nature, and creating opportunities for learning and enlightenment. We're establishing equitable opportunities, nourishing minds, and futures, and helping inspire the next generation of our environment’s stewards. 

Our Core Focuses

We partner with driven groups and organizations committed to advancing our collective wellbeing through our core pillars:

Environment

Protecting our environment is the most critical issue we face as a human race, and investing in a sustainable planet is paramount to our future. We focus on efforts to revive ecosystems and expand access to the outdoors for all, especially underserved communities and those who face systemic barriers to spending time in nature.

Education

Through access to education and resources, underserved students have the chance to overcome obstacles and realize their goals. We support programs and institutions that equip and offer young people the resources, support, and financial aid necessary to succeed in and outside of classrooms.

Menatl Health

Millions of people worldwide suffer from mental health conditions, but many go untreated, partially due to stigmas, a lack of access to treatment, or a lack of awareness of solutions. We support projects relating to mental health resources and care to help individuals access what they need and build stronger, safer societies.

Who We Are

The Creag Foundation is a private grant making foundation established in 2009 in Woodinville, Washington.

The founders of the Creag Foundation believe that meaningful change can only be achieved through hard work, creativity and passion. They also understand the practical mechanisms that allow charitable organizations to succeed and grow. As a group, Creag Foundation principals are dedicated to helping today’s most innovative programs improve the human condition in a wide variety of ways.

Our Focus

The broad purpose of the Foundation is to support the efforts of nonprofit organizations who are innovators in the field of human services. Our particular focus is on smaller organizations that are starting out or established organizations that are looking for funding to take their organization in a new direction.

What We Fund

/ What We Fund

The Creag Foundation is focused on innovation in the industry. We will consider proposals from 501(c)(3) organizations that are finding new ways to address societal issues facing the nonprofit community. Applicants must have held 501(c)(3) status for one year before submitting. If your organization has held 501(c)(3) status for over a year, and your believe that your organization has a new approach to an existing social problem or is addressing a previously unaddressed social issue, you are welcome to contact us and request that we consider your organization for a funding opportunity.

What is ALIPH?

Based in Geneva, ALIPH is a non-profit foundation that has been granted the status of an international organization, with the purpose to contribute to the protection of cultural heritage in conflict areas. It is a unique global initiative gathering public and private funders created to financially support initiatives that concern the prevention, the protection and the rehabilitation of cultural heritage threatened or damaged by conflict. ALIPH will prioritize concrete projects with a direct impact on the ground. 

We will aim at selecting projects that reaffirm the founding principles of ALIPH, including the belief that protecting heritage in conflict areas should contribute to the development of values such as peace and reconciliation, international solidarity, social cohesion and living together, cultural diversity, education and capacity building, local and sustainable development, and gender equality.

Areas of intervention

ALIPH wishes to intervene worldwide, wherever applicants consider and can document the fact that heritage is at risk due to conflict. The notion of conflict is interpreted from a broad perspective to encompass interstate conflicts, civil wars, asymmetrical conflicts, terrorism, violent unrest and other sudden disruptions that lead to instability. Applicants must demonstrate that the heritage targeted was damaged because of conflict, is threatened by conflict or suffered collateral damage from conflict. In keeping with this conception, ALIPH is also willing to support a large notion of what represents cultural heritage, tangible but also intangible. The applicants will be asked to demonstrate the significance and value for local population or communities of the cultural heritage targeted by the grant.

Emergency Relief Grants

This process is designed to make it possible to provide rapid support for measures aimed at protecting heritage that is under serious threat of destruction or deterioration.

In order to be eligible, projects must demonstrate the necessity of rapid action to cease or prevent the irremediable degradation of heritage.

Purpose

If the heritage targeted by your proposal is at high risk of damage or is deteriorating quickly, ALIPH can finance urgent actions such as stabilization or rehabilitation measures. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that the situation is critical, and that waiting until the next annual call for proposal would have dramatic effects on the concerned cultural heritage. These grants aim at supporting short term and quickly implemented urgent actions to respond to compelling needs on the ground. Applicants will be requested to submit a brief and precise proposal.

Apply for emergency relief only if you can demonstrate the urgent need and capacity to act promptly. Otherwise, please apply through the annual call.

Requirements

The main criteria listed below must be shortly be demonstrated.

• Urgency: We must understand why it is urgent to act. In your application, explain why the intervention must happen quickly. Pictures of the damages can be of great value to demonstrate the urgency.
• Capacity to implement: You must demonstrate that you have the capacity to implement the project promptly and that you have a clear understanding of the local situation.
• Suitability / feasibility: The solution you propose to protect heritage must be based on solid considerations. Your project should take into consideration technical and scientific aspects. A precise budget is mandatory. 

Amount

A maximum of USD 75,000. Budget needs to be submitted in USD.

Our Story

We believe entrepreneurs are uniquely placed to transform the world, today and in the future, by using their skills, networks, and resources to tackle huge, seemingly insurmountable problems. However, they often lack the time, tools, or knowledge to direct their charitable giving where it will do the most good.

Founders Pledge exists to bridge this gap. We advise on, facilitate, and maximize the impact of our members’ giving.

In our vision of the future, the value created by technology benefits those who need it most.

Funding Areas

We are particularly interested in work being done in four areas:

• Global health and development:
  • Especially programs that can, in expectation, save a life for under $4,000, avert a DALY for under $70, or double income for one person at a cost of less than $30.
  • Note that this includes interventions that affect economic growth.
  • We don’t necessarily require that grantees be able to point to an RCT in order to demonstrate cost effectiveness.
• Global catastrophic risk:
  • Especially programs that can affect the likelihood of war between great powers, reduce risks from advanced artificial intelligence, or mitigate the possibility that biomedical advances could be used to cause harm.
• Climate:
  • Especially programs that can make a compelling case for advancing an important solution neglected by the large existing climate philanthropy and action effort.
• Animal welfare
  • Mainly corporate campaigns, especially in geographies where other animal welfare charities aren’t working — as well as on novel bets on cellular agriculture and plant based meats, including those that are trying to increase public R&D funding.

How We Can Help

There are three ways we may be able to help:

• We typically make small grants of between $50,000 and $300,000 from our various Funds, though in special cases we would consider larger sums.
• We can recommend much larger one-time grants of up to $5m to large donors.
• We can recommend programs to members on an ongoing basis. Such recommended programs tend to draw in variously-sized donations from Founders Pledge members several times per year.

Helping Build Better Futures

Our mission is to deliver great value to our customers every day. For over four decades, our deep commitment to the principles of providing value and caring for others has helped define our culture. It extends beyond the walls of our stores, distribution centers, and offices, and into our local communities around the world. The intersection of these principles defines our global community mission:

Deliver great value to our communities by helping vulnerable families and children access the resources and opportunities they need to build a better future.

Our Social Impact Areas

We bring our community relations mission to life around the world by focusing our giving on four social impact areas where we believe we can have the most impact and are critical to helping families and children succeed and thrive.

Basic Needs

We are passionate about supporting nonprofit organizations that help fill critical basic needs such as a warm meal, clean clothing, and a safe place to sleep for vulnerable families.

Education & Training

Our efforts have focused on quality enrichment and extracurricular programs that provide skills, resources, and opportunities to support school and career success for children, teens, and young adults.

Patient Care & Research

We support organizations that deliver services to families and children facing health challenges and life-threatening illnesses.

Empowering Women

We support programs that provide services ranging from help for those fleeing domestic violence, to others that offer education, training, and job placement resources.

About UFAW

The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW) is an independent registered charity that works with the animal welfare science community worldwide to develop and promote improvements in the welfare of animals through scientific and educational activity.

UFAW has long promoted and supported a scientific approach aimed at finding ways to gain insight into what matters to animals, assessing their welfare and improving the quality of their lives through practical developments in all aspects of their care.

Purpose

UFAW’s purpose is to support science which is in the service of animal welfare. We fund research and other activities which help to understand and/or ameliorate challenges to the welfare of animals. We are interested in the welfare of all animal species where they are affected by humankind including farm, zoo, companion, laboratory and wild or feral animals.

UFAW is concerned with the welfare of animals when it is affected by humankind, so work which reduces animal suffering whilst also addressing conservation issues may be supported but a clear case for how the work benefits animal welfare must be made.  

Small Research Grants

UFAW is concerned with the welfare of farm, companion, laboratory, captive wild animals, and with free-living wild animals whose welfare is compromised by humans. 

Through our Small Research Grants, UFAW supports smaller research projects (up to £5,000) for the benefit of animal welfare.  Animal welfare must be the main focus.

Who We Are

World Land Trust (WLT) is an international conservation charity that protects the world’s most biologically significant and threatened habitats.

Working through a network of partner organisations around the world, WLT funds the creation of reserves and provides permanent protection for habitats and wildlife. Partnerships are developed with established and highly respected local organisations who engage support and commitment among the local community.

Mission

Helping people across the world protect and restore their land to safeguard biodiversity and the climate.

The Type of Projects Supported By WLT

WLT funding aims to create long-term and sustainable support for on-the-ground conservation activities, including land acquisition, protected area creation, reserve protection and ecosystem restoration. WLT prioritises supporting projects in countries with high levels of biodiversity and which have the fewest resources available for biodiversity protection – consequently we mainly support organisations based in the Global South.

The main project activities supported by WLT are the creation of protected areas and the protection and restoration of threatened habitats. Project activities may include land acquisition through a range of mechanisms including land purchases, leases, conservation easements, community reserves the legal declaration of protected areas (gazetting).

WLT’s core focus is on bringing new areas of land into conservation protection, but we also support activities that support this core objective including habitat protection (e.g. rangers and patrols), habitat restoration, community activities that are essential for the success of new areas, research and monitoring, and income generation activities that support the financial sustainability of newly created areas or organisations. These latter activities are unlikely to be funded on their own and would only be considered if they are part of a wider conservation project with the creation or expansion of reserves as the main objective.

All WLT funded projects need to have clear benefits, and no net negative impact to biodiversity, communities and the climate.

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.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

The Foundation will consider requests to support museums, cultural and performing arts programs; schools and hospitals; educational, skills-training and other programs for youth, seniors, and persons with disabilities; environmental and wildlife protection activities; and other community-based organizations and programs.

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

Elmina Brewster Sewall established the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation in 1982.

As a child, Elmina Brewster Sewall was given two piggy banks. Her weekly allowance was divided equally: half in a piggy bank designated for her own spending and half in a piggy bank marked "Charity". Thus began "Sis" Sewall's lifelong commitment to helping those in need. She long focused her volunteer and philanthropic efforts on animal welfare, land conservation, and issues affecting human well-being. Through her personal giving as well as that of the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Mrs. Sewall has had a profound impact on life in Kennebunk and the State of Maine. Since Mrs. Sewall's death in 2005, the Foundation's Board of Directors has sought to continue her philanthropic legacy. The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation makes grants in Maine in the following three areas of interest: Animal Welfare, Healthy People Healthy Places, and Legacy.

Wabanaki Grants

The Sewall Foundation seeks to be a good partner to Wabanaki Communities and Wabanaki-led organizations by supporting work on community priorities through grants, capacity building and technical assistance, convening, shared learning and impact investment. Our funding goals are to provide flexible, continued support for current Tribal initiatives and new projects for Wabanaki communities and Wabanaki serving organizations.

Understanding that how we work is as important as what we work on, we are committed to ongoing organizational learning about the true history of what is now Maine from Indigenous perspectives, understanding that Tribes are sovereign entities. Beyond this focus area, Sewall invests and partners with Wabanaki-led efforts by integrating awareness and participation of Indigenous perspectives and organizations across all our work. Generally, we will support work that is focused on:

• Sovereignty, self-governance and self-determination
• Collective well-being
• Community culture and community building
• Indigenous leadership and resourcing across communities

The available funding for 2025 is $1,800,000 and generally, our grant funding levels in this focus area are:

• Individual organizations/efforts: $10,000 to $50,000 (per year). Increased funding amounts may be available to organizations that work on priority areas across all Tribes and/or communities.
• Collaborations/efforts involving multiple organizations/groups: up to $200,000 (per year). Occasionally, organizations may apply for both organizational and collaborative funds.
• Transformational opportunities: variable funding levels. The purpose and intended impact of transformational efforts is to address critical community priorities and create sustainable, systemic changes. Generally, funding is limited to one to two years.

Environment Program

The Onion Foundation Environment Program aims to enable all Maine residents, especially in rural areas, to enjoy the state's natural resources and to develop the knowledge, skills, and motivation to protect Maine's environment. Rather than supporting land acquisition and capital projects, the Environment Program focuses its resources on the people of Maine, whose lives and behaviors will shape environment and climate change outcomes.

Increase Equitable Outdoor Access

Our goal: 

Increase access to the outdoors so that Maine residents feel comfortable in and connected to the natural world and can develop a strong ethic of care for nature.

To achieve this goal, we uphold three core priorities:

Encourage Maine land trusts and watersheds to develop equitable organizations, inclusive programs, and easy access to the outdoors.

Eliminate barriers to accessing the outdoors and nature that underserved groups currently face.

Support catalytic statewide or regional networks, initiatives, and infrastructure resources to strengthen and connect the outdoor access sector.

About the Foundation

It was fitting — and only natural — that, upon her death in 1974, Marian Woodward Ottley would establish by Will, the David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund in loving memory of her parents, and in her words, “In order to carry out their wishes and mine in attempting to make this a better world for those who come after us.”Her Will created a distribution committee to direct the trustee to distribute income and principal exclusively to or for the benefit of non-profit institutions, corporations, and associations that are located in New York and in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont that are organized and operated exclusively for religious, educational, charitable, or scientific purposes. The Fund also awards grants to governmental agencies.

The distribution committee has attempted to carry out Mrs. Ottley’s wishes. It will continue to do so in an effort to make this a better world for those who come after her generous family.

David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund (Watertown) Grant

The David, Helen and Marian Woodward Fund (Watertown) makes grants to qualified 501(c)(3) organizations in New York and in the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

Mission

As stated in the Will of Marian Woodward Ottley, the fund’s mission is “to make this a better world for those who come after us.”

Program Areas

• Arts, culture, and humanities
• Education
• Environment, animals
• Health
• Human services
• Public/society benefit
• Religion

Mission

The mission of the Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation is to support charitable organizations that:

• Provide relief to people in need of basic provisions (including food, housing, shelter) 
• Promote the humane care of animals
• Provide health care services for the underserved
• Conduct Public radio or television

People in Need

Applicants in this area should demonstrate that the program or service they offer clearly meets a basic need of an underserved population, which may include low-income people, youth who are court-involved, homeless families, or homebound seniors. These examples are for illustration purposes only.  For organizations with annual (cash) revenues of $5 million or less, we encourage general operating support requests.

Humane Care of Animals

The Taylor Foundation has a partnership with the Maine Community Foundation’s Belvedere Fund in the area of animal welfare. Within the animal welfare priority, we will consider capital requests.

Health Care

Within the area of health care, the Foundation will entertain requests for oral health services, mental health services, or physical health care services. There is a priority for programs that can demonstrate they are effectively serving underserved populations. Small, one-time capital or equipment requests may be included within project budgets.

Public radio or television

There is a strong priority for larger public television or radio organizations. From time to time, the Foundation may make grants to smaller, community-based public access radio or television stations.

Environment

The Foundation’s priority is for programs that have both an environmental impact as well as a demonstrably positive impact in one of the Foundation’s other priority areas. For example, a river-bed restoration project that also preserves a species and/or improves the quality of water to a low-income area.

Colleges and universities

Support for colleges and universities will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but must include a focus on at least one of the Foundation’s other priority areas. Special consideration will also be granted to colleges or universities in the geographic priority areas. Colleges or universities interested in applying are strongly encouraged to contact the Foundation’s listed Bank contact before submitting an application.

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

Arts Education and Public Engagement 

We award Arts Program grants that align with either our arts education or public engagement strategies (Strategies I and II). The proposed work must be based in Maine and focused on benefiting Maine’s people.

Types of Grants

General operating grants offer unrestricted funds for your organization. If all of your organization’s activities align with Strategy I, Strategy II, or both, you may request general operating support.

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.

Arts Program

We recognize the important role the arts play in enabling people to express creativity, share their culture, perspectives and lived experiences, and learn about others’. 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 increase Maine residents’ access to arts experiences as audience members and as makers to expand opportunities for expression, learning, and inspiration. Our arts program supports our commitment to leveraging our resources to reduce systemic inequities so all people in Maine can fully realize their potential.

Three strategies guide our Arts Program:

We support programs that incorporate learning goals and are led by skilled staff and teachers working from detailed plans, rather than programs that only offer casual arts activities.

We primarily support arts-mission nonprofit organizations that offer ongoing events, particularly those that provide Maine residents free or low-cost experiences. We focus on programs with strong public engagement and that show meaningful consideration of the communities in which they take place.

Background

The Open Book Collective was developed as part of the COPIM project, which ran from 2020 to 2023. It is a UK charity, with a charitable object, as outlined in our Articles of Association, ‘to advance the education of the public in general […] by increasing access to research and academic materials through the support of open-access books and infrastructures’. The Open Book Collective is now playing a core role in the Copim community’s new Open Book Futures project, which is funded by Arcadia and the Research England Development Fund until 30th April 2026.

We have seven key values:

• care for and curation of high-quality open access (OA) academic books;
• a commitment to bibliodiversity
• collaboration and resource-sharing over competition;
• networked community-building over profit-driven centralization;
• horizontal working relationships over exclusive hierarchization;
• ‘scaling small’ and ‘smaller’ over ‘scaling up’; and
• growing and safeguarding access to academic books for global readers without barriers.

Call and Guidance for Applications to the OBC Collective Development Fund

One of the key aims of the Open Book Collective is to support publishers, infrastructure providers, and other organizations to build capacity to increase the quantity, quality, and diversity of Open Access books. One way it does this is by awarding grants from its Collective Development Fund.

The Collective Development Fund is funded from two sources: directly, from funders, as well as from our publisher and service provider members. The Open Book Collective allocates 5% of the Supporter Programme revenue received from subscribers to the Collective Development Fund.

With this call, we are pleased to announce the official launch of the fund, with applications for projects of no more than 12 months, with grants available of between £7,500 and £15,000. We expect Collective Development Fund calls to be repeated annually.

Purpose of Collective Development Fund grants

This fund is to support:

• Work towards the publication of Open Access scholarly books*
• Work on the creation and support of infrastructures for the distribution, cataloging, and preservation of Open Access scholarly books
• Building and sustaining networks and advocacy for the support of OA scholarly books and infrastructure
• Other projects building capacity for scholarly OA book publishing

The Animal Defence Trust

The Animal Defence Trust is a charity whose main aims are the welfare of animals and protection of them from cruelty and suffering, the promotion of research to discover ways of reducing the use of animals in scientific research, and the establishment of inspections of animal transportation to ensure proper and humane accommodation.

The charity works throughout England and Wales and from time to time may work worldwide.

The Animal Defence Trust makes grants to approved charities working in animal welfare in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. Grants are available to animal charities who care for animals which have undergone suffering and cruelty before rescue. Applications for grants are welcome from registered charities.

Policies and Objectives

The objects of the charity are:

• To protect animals from cruelty and suffering and to promote humane behaviour to animals so as to reduce the sum total of pain and fear inflicted upon animals by mankind.
• To promote and publish the results of research undertaken with a view to discovering means, whereby as far as possible, medical biological pharmaceutical and other research may be carried out without the use of animals and whereby as far as possible any pain and fear suffered by animals used in connection therewith may be eliminated or reduced.
• To assist in the establishment and maintenance of a body of inspectors to ensure that animals transported to docks, airports, markets, auction sales, exhibitions, circus shows and other places, events and meetings, are transported in proper and humane conditions and that animals are accommodated properly and humanely wherever they may be.

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.

True Inspiration Awards

The True Inspiration Awards® program was created in 2015 to honor the legacy of Chick-fil-A® founder S. Truett Cathy. Through these annual grants, it is our pleasure to celebrate and support nonprofit organizations making an impact in their local communities.

S. Truett Cathy Honoree

One organization will be selected as the S. Truett Cathy Honoree. The S. Truett Cathy Honoree embodies the generous, innovative spirit of Chick-fil-A’s late founder — pioneering new ways to solve problems and serve others.

Category winners

In 2025 we will continue to support nonprofits with a total commitment of $6 million in grants ranging from $30,000-$350,000.

Sixteen organizations will be awarded for their work in these areas.

Caring for People (four winners): Programs or projects supporting educational initiatives, including fostering character and leadership development, academic excellence and community involvement in underserved youth.

Caring through Food (four winners): Programs or projects focused on addressing hunger and food insecurity facing children and their families.

Community (four winners): Programs or projects focused on providing housing and other direct services to support young people and their families.

Caring for our Planet (four winners): Programs or projects that show care for our environment and our planet, or that demonstrate environmental stewardship through initiatives directly related to our other True Inspiration Awards categories of food, community and people (i.e., community beautification, education opportunities, community gardens, outdoor classrooms, etc.) 

Harry S. Moss was a Dallas, Texas, resident and civic leader for 45 years. He served as President of Moss Petroleum Company and held leadership positions on the boards of numerous business and civic institutions. 

After suffering and recovering from a heart attack in the 1960s, he became convinced of the importance of private philanthropic support of medical research.

Mr. Moss died in 1970, and the terms of the Harry S. Moss Heart Trust established under his will state that the income is to be paid to organizations whose “main purpose and object is the prevention and cure of diseases of the heart.” His wife, Florence, died in 1978 adding a substantial portion of her estate to the trust.

Grants are awarded to 501(c)(3) charitable organizations for medical or scientific research for the cause, treatment, prevention, alleviation or cure of diseases of the heart.

Calling to Serve

Since its inception in 2016, the Robinson Foundation has sought to demonstrate God’s love through sharing the gifts we have received. We understand the often unspoken hardships and struggles that people in and outside of our community face everyday. As such, our contributions are focused on relieving these hardships for the betterment of our world.

As a family-operated foundation, we pray that our small efforts will not only create immediate change in the lives of our neighbors, but will help set those lives on a course for success in the future. We are thankful for each and every day we have on this earth to use what God has granted us to make a difference.

Areas of Interest

• Animal Welfare
• Children & Families
• Disaster Relief
• Education
• Medical Assistance
• Nature & Wildlife Conservation
• Poverty Relief
• Religious & Spiritual Endeavors
• Veterans' Issues

Grant Considerations

We take many different aspects of applications into account when making grant issuing decisions, however these are some of the high-level questions we ask ourselves during the process:

• How does the organization serve their key audience goals?
• Is the organization fiscally responsible?
• Will a grant have a tangible, meaningful impact?
• Will we see direct results from this grant?
• Does the organization have other financial contributors?

Environment Program

The Onion Foundation Environment Program aims to enable all Maine residents — especially those in rural areas — to enjoy the state’s natural resources and develop the knowledge, skills, and motivation to protect Maine’s environment. Rather than supporting land acquisition and capital projects, we focus our resources on the people of Maine, whose lives and behaviors will continue to shape environment and climate change outcomes.

Strategy II- Expand Nature Learning

Our goal: 

Provide high-quality, science-based nature learning opportunities that help Maine youth understand the role that robust natural systems can play in a healthy and vibrant life.

To achieve this goal, we uphold two core priorities:

• Develop and grow high-quality, standards-aligned nature learning programs for youth in specific underserved parts of the state.
• Support intensive and high-quality programs that provide youth with transformative, multi-day trips outdoors.

Our work under this strategy primarily supports nonprofit organizations that offer robust environment-focused educational programs to young people that center natural systems, science, and experiential elements.

According to the Census for Community-Based Environmental Learning, students in many of Maine’s rural and remote areas receive less environmental education than their peers in urban areas, and educators have fewer local, environmental, and community-based organizations with which to partner. Under this strategy, we aim to increase the number of high-quality nature learning opportunities available to Maine’s young people in rural areas to ensure all children and youth understand the role nature can play in a healthy and vibrant life.

Our Priorities

Characteristics of high-quality programs:

• Include high-quality curricula, pedagogy, and learning experiences, preferably linked to the Common Core State Standards and the Next Generation Science Standards, which aim for transformative learning
• Offer place-based, experiential learning elements
• Result in students gaining an understanding of natural systems
• Led by qualified educators
• Thoughtfully partner with schools and other networks to ensure continuous and complementary opportunities for learning, experience, and exploration
• Focus on one or more group(s) and engage in durable and relevant partnerships to drive and support the participation of the targeted group(s)
• Demonstrate a commitment to equity and accessibility

Maine is home to a network of best-in-class overnight environmental learning centers. These programs bring youth from across the state to their sites for longer, deeper experiences in Maine’s natural landscapes. They also provide statewide leadership in the nature-learning field by showcasing model programs, sharing emerging best practices, and advocating for their support. These programs complement the place-based experiential learning programs of Priority 1.

The Heising-Simons Foundation’s Science program solicits proposals for support of meetings, workshops, conferences, summer schools, research collaboration gatherings, and other events related to astronomy, cosmology, fundamental physics, and climate change science.

Through its funding, the Science program has three main goals:

• Enable basic scientific research,
• Connect key stakeholders, and
• Communicate scientific results.

Events facilitate connections between attendees; allow for the communication of progress and findings; and push science forward through discussion, collaboration, and shared learning. Communities are built through interaction, and events can provide a vital space to network and encounter diverse perspectives. For those early in their careers or that have identities that are underrepresented in their field, certain events can offer the opportunity to find a mentor or a sense of belonging and scientific identity. 

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.

About Alpha

Since its formation in 1997, the Alpha Foundation has been dedicated to improving the human condition. To this end, Alpha will select organizations to which grants will be made that further this objective. An emphasis will be placed on grants to educational, scientific, and charitable organizations. A major focus of Alpha's support is biotechnology to aid in the discovery and cure of diseases.

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in March 2015 and based in Rye Brook, New York.

Elizabeth M. Pfriem was the daughter of a Polish immigrant coal miner moves with her family at the end of World War II from the dying coal mines of Scranton, Pa., to the prospect of a better life in the prosperous city of Bridgeport. When you talk about business impact and philanthropic influence in Bridgeport, Mrs. Pfriem’s legacy is to be admired with the likes of P.T. Barnum and industrialist Frank D’Addario. She went about her business quietly yet her impact was wide and loud that benefited school kids, neighborhoods, social service organizations, medical facilities and the Barnum Festival for which she served as ringmaster, the only woman to occupy that role in its 70-year history. 

The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation is dedicated to improving the human condition by supporting public charities that provide education, health services, food security, and safe, affordable housing, primarily focusing on the greater Bridgeport, Connecticut area. The foundation's mission centers on facilitating provisions that help vulnerable populations, especially children and families in need. It supports organizations that align with its goals of enhancing education, healthcare, food access, and housing safety. The foundation is committed to sustainable, high-impact programs that address community needs, particularly in Bridgeport.

Foundation Grants

Grants are made by invitation only to 501(c)(3) public charities that demonstrate fiscal responsibility, strong leadership, and innovative programs poised for growth. The Elizabeth M. Pfriem Foundation considers organizations that fit our funding criteria and align with our mission statement. The Foundation reviews Letters of Inquiry on an ongoing basis. Applications received after the deadline date will be considered for the following year.