Search Through Aging Grants in Maine in the U.S.

About

At the John T. Gorman Foundation, our work is not about doing good, it’s about improving people’s lives.

The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. We advance and invest in innovative ideas and opportunities that improve the lives of Maine’s most vulnerable people. Our mission stems directly from the life philosophy of our founder, John “Tom” Gorman, who believed that his personal success was largely derived from the support he received from his family and community.

At the John T. Gorman Foundation, we are focused on improving educational achievement for young children; promoting successful transitions to adulthood for vulnerable older youth; helping struggling parents support their families and enabling low-income seniors age in place. Outcomes matter more during these transitions. Research shows that successfully achieving these key objectives predicts future success. If they are not achieved, the consequences can be dire for current and subsequent generations.

To achieve the greatest impact, the Foundation has a special interest in strengthening families and communities; providing them with the supports and opportunities they need to thrive.

Our work comes at a challenging time. Across our state, residents are falling behind because of population changes, workforce readiness concerns and an exodus of young people searching for better opportunities. Too many people in Maine today experience poor educational outcomes, declining economic opportunity, and financial insecurity. Almost 40,000 children in our state are growing up in poverty, and less than a third of our fourth-graders read proficiently. More than a fifth of our young people drop out of school, and seniors in Maine live in poverty at higher rates than the national average.

While we continue to modestly support direct services that meet people’s immediate needs, most of our annual grant making aims to advance researched-based, prevention-focused ideas and initiatives that try to address the root causes of disadvantage among people in Maine. Our aspiration is to achieve lasting, measurably-improved results for the populations we care about most.

Foundation-Initiated Grants

The John T. Gorman Foundation invests in comprehensive strategies and initiatives that seek to improve the well-being and resiliency of Maine children by ensuring that they and their caregivers have the tools and supports needed to be successful.

The bulk of our investments are invitation-only to grantees that have demonstrated a capacity for whole-family or two-generation approaches to prevent Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and improve child and family wellbeing in five key areas: education, social capital, physical/mental health, wealth and assets, and employment navigation and supports. 

Global Impact Cash Grants

Identifying and incubating innovative early-stage solutions. We identify, incubate, and develop innovative early-stage solutions with the highest potential for impact. Global Impact Cash Grants go to nonprofit organizations (NPOs) and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) that address a significant social problem. We're looking for programs that fit within our investment sectors, focus on the underserved, and use technology to improve the reach and efficiency of services.

We accept applications year-round from eligible organizations. A brief Letter of Inquiry (LOI) is used to determine whether your organization will be invited to complete a full application. Please expand and carefully review each of the three sections below to learn more

Our priority social impact sectors

We focus on investing in innovative, tech-enabled solutions to the challenges and opportunities that matter most to communities in need, prioritizing four social impact sectors:

Cisco Crisis Response

Mobilizing to provide essentials to communities in need and those in crisis, including food, housing, secure connectivity, and disaster relief

By leveraging Cisco’s people, technology, financial resources, and strategic partnerships, we help strengthen community resilience and drive long-term recovery from crises.

Education

Supporting students, teachers, and schools by increasing engagement, building skills, promoting subject mastery, and expanding their capacity to thrive

Cisco is committed to inclusive access to digital skills training and supporting those who use technology to educate. Through programs like Cisco Networking Academy and social investments in education, we create new opportunities for individuals to thrive.

Economic Empowerment

Transforming communities through skill development, long-term career opportunities, entrepreneurship, and access to financial products and services

Strategic grants that unlock economic prosperity and growth for individuals and communities.

Climate Regeneration

Building an inclusive, regenerative, and resilient climate future through education, regenerative agriculture, conservation, protection, and clean energy solutions

Our efforts began in 2021, when the Cisco Foundation committed US$100 million over 10 years to fund nonprofit grants and impact investing in climate solutions. 

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.

The Sidney Stern Memorial Trust is devoted solely to the funding of charitable, scientific, medical and educational organizations.

The Board endeavors to support soundly-managed charitable organizations that give service with a broad scope, have a substantial effect on their target populations, and contribute materially to the general welfare. The Board does not discriminate on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation or religion.

Macular Degeneration Research Program

Macular Degeneration Research, a BrightFocus Foundation program, provides research funds for U.S. domestic and international researchers pursuing pioneering research leading to greater understanding, prevention, and treatment of age-related macular degeneration.

We are committed to supporting scientists from diverse backgrounds to foster creativity and innovation in addressing complex scientific challenges. We strongly encourage applications from individuals who are from groups underrepresented in the field of age-related macular degeneration research.

Macular Degeneration Research is currently supporting a global portfolio of 58 active scientific projects, a more than $17 million investment. Our grants are vetted through a rigorous evaluation process by the world’s top scientists and clinicians who serve on our scientific review committee.

The MDR program offers three types of awards: Postdoctoral Fellowship Program, New Investigator Grant Program, and Innovative Research Grants.

Postdoctoral Fellowship Program

Scope: This fellowship program is intended to support young postdoctoral researchers during their final stages of mentored training. The award provides salary support for a young scientist to conduct postdoctoral studies in an established laboratory focused on research contributing to understanding the biological causes and/or new clinical treatment of macular degeneration. The specific research proposed in the application should be focused on some aspect of research that will have an impact on understanding or treating macular degeneration and should also serve as the basis for the applicant's own independent research career.

• Proposal Length: Two-page description of the proposed research
• Award Amount: $100,000 per year (total value $200,000)
• Duration: 2 years

About Us

Bank and lending products and services are available to customers who live or work in Cumberland or York Counties, Maine, or Rockingham or Strafford Counties, New Hampshire.

Huntington Common Charitable Fund

When the Huntington Common Retirement Living Community was sold in 2006, the proceeds were set aside under the auspices of the Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation and named the Huntington Common Charitable Fund. The money was entrusted to Kennebunk Savings because we have a proven reputation for serving the community. It is utilized to help older adults in York County lead complete and fulfilled lives. The administration of this fund is a parallel but separate focus for our Social Responsibility team.

It’s been our honor to lead the fund and focus distributions on programs that help older adults across all categories, including nutrition, dementia care, therapeutics, and access to the arts. We are always looking for ways to care for and brighten the days of our older citizens.

Nonprofits we’ve funded include:

• Southern Maine Agency on Aging
• Hospice of Southern Maine
• York County Community Action
• Good Shepherd Food Bank
• York Hospital
• Ogunquit Playhouse

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. 

H.S. Lopez Family Foundation Grant

Mission

The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation seeks and funds traditional and innovative projects and programs which exist to improve the quality of life. Our main areas of interest are health, education, and welfare programs.

Our Vision

The vision of The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation is to significantly change the lives of those in need. Our heart-filled desire is to help individuals who are in their most desperate hour with little or no resources to help themselves.

The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation provides grants in three main focus areas—education, health, and welfare—with the goal to significantly change and hopefully improve the lives of those in need. Grants are primarily intended to serve those in Arizona.

Areas of Focus

• Education -
• The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation believes that education is the key to individuals reaching their full potential. We support a variety of programs that provide educational opportunities for all ages, from infancy through adulthood, including pre-school, K-12, college, specialty trades, and community interest programs.
• Health -
• The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation recognizes that the state of one’s health impacts all aspects of life. We fund many different health related activities, including programs to assist individuals deal with illness, both physical and mental, and to learn healthy lifestyles.
• Welfare -
• The H.S. Lopez Family Foundation understands that there are times when extra help is needed to face life’s challenges. We support programs that offer assistance to tackle many issues, such as food insecurity, homelessness, and the lack of essential resources for daily life.

Grant approval is based on funding capacity and prioritization against our areas of focus, according to the criteria established by the Board of Directors of The H.S. Lopez Foundation.

About the Foundation

The mission of the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation is to improve the access to, and the quality of, oral health care and education for the public and the dental communities in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. This mission is in harmony with the mission of Northeast Delta Dental to increase access to oral health education and dental services.

Delta Dental Plans of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont jointly do business as Northeast Delta Dental. The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation is funded by each of these companies and many businesses and individuals who appreciate and support our oral health mission.

The Foundation holds a golf tournament annually to spotlight the Foundation’s oral health mission and raise funds. We appreciate sponsors and participants. Gifts to the Foundation are welcomed at any time.

Healthy Smiles

The Northeast Delta Dental Foundation is on a mission to improve the education, quality and access to oral health care throughout Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Foundation funds directly engage the people in our communities and create a powerful impact.

Award Objectives

Award objectives will concentrate on supporting the following types of oral health initiatives:

• Educational programs enhancing the awareness of good oral health, with particular focus on children, the elderly, the indigent, or other populations with identified oral health needs.
• Oral health care programs that are preventive in nature and are aimed at decreasing the incidence, prevalence, and severity of dental disease.
• Dental clinics or centers established as a 501(c)(3) or Federally Qualified Health Center working to make oral health care more accessible and affordable to people in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. Most typically, this takes the form of helping with the costs of equipment and dental supplies.
• The education of dental health professionals through scholarships and the continuing education of dental health professionals through financial support, particularly to enhance the availability and retention of such dental health professionals in the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.
• Research efforts that will improve oral health by enhancing the art and science of dentistry, address an oral health disease or issue impacting one or more of our states, or that will lay a sound groundwork for oral health initiatives.
• Improve dental health workforce through scholarship and loan repayment programs.

Award Frequency and Amount

Typically, grants are awarded for one year, and an organization receives no more than one grant a year. Applications for additional years must be submitted annually, accompanied with an annual outcomes report.

Grants of more than $5,000 are less typical than those most often awarded by the Northeast Delta Dental Foundation. Especially as the amount of the grant for which the applicant is applying increases, the expectation is that the information required during the application process will be well documented and detailed, with particular attention to how the Foundation will be recognized for its financial support.

Background

McGraw Foundation, headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois, makes annual grants to not-for-profit organizations.  The Foundation’s areas of interest involve the fields of conservation, educational programs at all levels, and human services. Occasionally, grants are made in other areas such as health, medical research and cultural.

Grant requests are suggested to be within a range of $2,000 to $10,000. Grant recipients and amounts will be determined by several criteria. Naturally, availability of funds is a key factor.

The Foundation will occasionally make large grants ($25,000 or more) to support unusually promising efforts in any of its areas of interest. Innovative research, special education, and/or other activities will be considered if the Foundation’s support would assist an effort or a project in making a significant impact.

Areas of Focus

Education: Higher

The Foundation has been a pioneer in support of environmental education at the highest level by establishing three chaired professorships. 

Education: Elementary & Special

McGraw Foundation supports a wide array of organizations that focus on assisting the education and advancement of children as well as adults. McGraw Foundation also makes grants to elementary schools and organizations involved in all areas of special needs education. Funding in this arena has encompassed many organizations that provide services such as after-school tutoring, special education, and adult literacy.

In addition to F.A.I.T.H., McGraw Foundation also makes grants to elementary schools and organizations involved in all areas of special needs education. Funding in this arena has encompassed many organizations that provide services such as after-school tutoring, special education, and adult literacy.

Human Services

Since 1949, McGraw Foundation has been concerned with helping people in need. While the emphasis is on organizations serving children, funding also extends to people of all ages.

Children's issues such as these have been supported throughout the years:

• child welfare
• foster care and adoption
• family counseling
• enriching summer camps
• crisis intervention

Funding for quality-of-life issues for people of all ages has included:

• developmental disabilities
• health clinics
• domestic violence
• housing and homelessness
• job training and continued support
• seniors needs

Health & Medical 

Since its inception, McGraw Foundation has made grants in the health and medical fields.  Health and medical funding has included:

• specific medical research
• rehabilitation
• support programs for patients and their families
• medical attention for people without health insurance
• palliative care and hospice organizations

Civic & Cultural

Complimenting it's main focus on education and the environment, McGraw Foundation has supported some of Chicago's distinctive cultural and arts organizations.

Areas of interest include zoological societies' animal conservation, public communication, musical organizations, and civic organizations' promotion of science and the general welfare of society.

New England Funding Priorities

The Clowes Fund supports organizations and programs that focus primarily on socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals. New England funding is concentrated in four geographic regions, including parts of Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Maine, and the State of Vermont.

In New England, we accept Introductory Applications for first-time Immigrant Services and Workforce Development grants. All current and recent grantees, including those focused on K-12 Education and Arts Education, are welcome to submit a Continuation Grant Statement of Intent.

Maine

Geographic Priorities

The Fund supports immigrant services and workforce development and K-12 education requests serving southern and mid-coast parts of the state, which include Cumberland, Androscoggin and Knox counties.

Funding Priorities

• Immigrant Services – We are interested in supporting efforts to address the economic, linguistic, legal, and mental and emotional hurdles that immigrants, refugees and asylees and their children face during integration into the United States society and its economy.
• Workforce Development – We are interested in ensuring that all individuals have access to both jobs skills training and the support services necessary to enable them to participate fully in the economic life of their communities. In addition, we are interested in supporting youth development efforts that prevent students (ages 15 to 25) from dropping out of school and assist in their return to school or their pursuit of an alternate course to economic self-sufficiency.
• K-12 Education – We support primary and secondary education through efforts that emphasize classroom instruction, such as professional development for educators or programs that are fully integrated into the school day. We do not fund after-school or summer enrichment programs for elementary and middle school students. We consider such programs for teens as youth development within our workforce development interests.

Grant Application Process & Funding

There are two entry points to applying for a Clowes Fund grant, after you have reviewed Where and What We Fund and What We Do Not Fund. Your answer to the following question determines your application type (due November 1).

• Has your organization received a Clowes Fund competitive grant payment within the past five years?
  • If No - Apply for an Introductory Grant: $40K over 2 years ($20K/year) - For Immigrant Services or Workforce Development
    • Most Introductory Grants are awarded to organizations with operating budgets less than $2.5 million.
  • If Yes - Apply for a Continuation Grant - $60K, $90K or $150K over 3 years ($20K, $30K, $50K year, respectively) - For Immigrant Services, Workforce Development, Arts Education or K-12 Education

Transparency is core to strong relationships, so we are compelled to share that fewer than 10% of Introductory Applications will result in an Introductory Grant. The likelihood of funding is much higher for returning grantees seeking Continuation Grants.

Maine Youth Climate Corps Grants

Volunteer Maine is accepting proposals for Maine Youth Climate Corps grants of up to $10,000. Participants (aka members) are between 14 and 17 years of age. The funding may be used to support members or staff during the youth corps' operation between the specified timeframe.

Youth Corps service projects need to focus on the "land and freshwater preservation" goal of Maine Won't Wait, the state climate action plan.

High-quality Youth Corps:

• have the members carry out the service,
• provide the members with training and education that benefits their service and their future learning or career aspirations, and
• increase community resilience by engaging community volunteers in the service activities.

Volunteer Maine’s mission is to build capacity and sustainability in Maine's volunteer and service communities by funding programs, developing managers of volunteers, raising awareness of sector issues, and promoting service as a strategy to address community needs.

Program Design

• The Maine Climate Corps program funded by this grant will conduct evidence-based direct service projects developed through community collaboration, including collaboration with Indigenous communities. The problem to be addressed and the proposed solutions should be determined by the host community.
• The program will: 
  • focus on responses to climate change that are aligned with the sponsoring organization’s demonstrated area of expertise;
  • implement service activities based on current, generally accepted science;
  • be deliberate in its actions addressing equity, justice, and accessibility;
  • ensure that individuals in service positions represent the economic and demographic diversity of impacted communities, including persons who are historically marginalized;
• Training, hard or soft skill development, and/or a meaningful credential(s) will be provided to Corps members. The program will ensure the members have the appropriate skills to effectively serve the community. 

Funding

Grant funds may be used for program staff/leadership expenses including payroll, benefits, training, etc and/or member expenses including, stipends, insurance, travel, training, wrap-around supports, etc. Any expenses to support the member’s successful participation and overcome barriers such as work boots, bus passes to reach the service site, etc, are eligible. 

Grant Guidelines

For application-based grants, the Betterment fund’s minimum annual grant is $10,000. The maximum annual grant usually does not exceed $35,000. The average annual grant, whether for multiple years or a single year, is $15,000-$20,000. Three years is the maximum period of time the Betterment Fund will consider for a multi-year grant. The largest grants tend to be made to applicants with a successful history of grant management with the Betterment Fund

Current Grant Priorities

Education, health, conservation and community support are our primary grant categories. We also recognize that certain projects transcend these categories and have defined a number of “cross-sector” areas.

Community Support

We favor community-wide programs or regional systemic approaches to issues to improve well-being within the following current priority areas:

• Downtowns
• Basic Human Needs:
• Legal Protections

Proposals less likely to be funded include individual school programs, programming supplementary to the curricula of schools, and construction projects. Any funding of scholarships at Maine colleges and universities is done only at the initiative of the trustees rather than in response to grant requests.

Education

We believe that every Maine resident is entitled to an education which equips the individual to lead a satisfying, productive and economically independent life, and we are interested in funding broad-based educational policy initiatives to that end. Please see “Health” and the Cross-Sector areas of “Early Childhood” and “Economic Development” for initiatives related to education in those areas. More particularly we fund:

• Educational Quality
• Adult Education
• Arts Education
• Higher Education Aspirations

Proposals less likely to be funded include individual school programs, programming supplementary to the curricula of schools, and construction projects.

Conservation

Perpetuating a balanced, dynamic relationship between the natural and built environments in the three-million-acre corridor between the White Mountain National Forest and the Moosehead Lake region is of particular interest. To that end we sponsor the following initiatives within the extensive and varied landscape which covers most of Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties:

• Preservation of special places, particularly those identified by the local communities, along the spine of the Appalachian Trail and in the Maine West and High Peaks Regions.
• Support of the responsible development of working forests and agriculture.
• Preservation and restoration of threatened natural habitats.
• Opportunities for traditional Maine recreation in the target region.
• Support of water quality preservation of lakes, rivers and ponds.

Occasionally we may fund projects of land trusts and environmental organizations located in the other rim counties, but we focus primarily on the Western Maine counties listed above.

Health

We are currently focusing our Health grants in the following areas:

• Maine Public Health Policy
• Oral Health
• Increasing Educational Opportunities for Health Careers
• Community Health Projects
• Substance Use Disorder

Please note that projects focused primarily on physical activity and healthy eating should be submitted under our cross-sector “Moving Communities to Health.”

Proposals that are not as likely to be funded include medical research, projects relating to a single disease, actual delivery of medical treatment and capital construction or equipment purchases

Cross-Sector Areas

We have identified these areas as being particularly susceptible to consideration under more than one of our traditional priority categories.

Economic Development

We recognize that the expansion of Maine’s economy will advance other areas of Betterment Fund concern. We particularly support the following programs:

• Entrepreneurship
  • Programs that promote scalable entrepreneurship, particularly in rural areas.
  • Areas of particular interest include women- and minority-owned businesses and improved coordination of existing entrepreneurship and economic development efforts, including with educational initiatives.
  • The development of careers and businesses in the trades is also of interest.
• Agricultural Capacity
  • Improvements to the competitiveness and long-term viability of Maine farms and farmers by providing technical support and improving access to distribution and markets.
• Tourism
  • Promotion and development of quality tourism as an engine for economic opportunity in the mountain and forest regions, with particular preference for the Western Mountains region.
• Broadband
  • Support of planning and implementation projects to increase access to broadband in local communities of Oxford, Franklin, Somerset, and northern Cumberland Counties, conditioned upon local municipal and/or nonprofit community entities’ commitment of resources to such projects.

Creative Economy

The Betterment Fund is primarily interested in regional and statewide strategies promoting the economic enhancement of communities through arts and culture.

Early Childhood

The Betterment Fund has prioritized improvement of the education, health, and general well-being of Maine’s youngest children, from before birth through preschool age. Our focus in this area is funding the development of best practices for the physical, mental, and psychosocial health and development of young children. We support policy work that leads to the adoption of state or federal policies to achieve these outcomes and the establishment and maintenance of the broad infrastructure to carry out this work. We also are interested in the development of an economically viable and accessible system of childcare for working families. We are unlikely to make grants to individual school or childcare center programs.

Moving Communities to Health

Of interest are community-scale initiatives taking advantage of natural and other qualities inherent in the community’s locale and promoting the participation of its residents in active recreation and other activities (such as healthy eating) conducive to healthy lifestyles and prevention of illness. Essential elements of this priority include:

• A demonstrated connection to individuals’ physical and/or mental health; and
• Initiation by and for the residents of an identified geographic-based community (as opposed to individuals with common interests or attributes drawn from more disparate geographic areas).

Philanthropy

The Betterment Fund embraces opportunities to collaborate with other state-wide philanthropic organizations that seek to improve grant-making and support charitable activities in Maine. In addition to making grants, the Betterment Fund supports and participates in a number of funder groups around specific issues.

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

Our Mission

The John T. Gorman Foundation advances ideas and opportunities that can improve the lives of disadvantaged people in Maine.

To achieve the greatest impact, the Foundation has a special interest in strengthening families and helping communities provide them with the supports and opportunities they need to thrive.

This focus on strengthening families reflects our founder, Tom Gorman's recognition that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to provide those less fortunate with opportunities to succeed.

Our Priorities

The John T. Gorman Foundation is focused on improving educational achievement for young children; promoting successful transitions to adulthood for vulnerable older youth; helping struggling parents support their families and enabling low-income seniors to age in place. Research shows that successfully achieving these key objectives predicts future success. If they are not achieved, the consequences can be dire for current and subsequent generations.

Direct Services Grant Program

The Direct Service Grant Program supports organizations that are addressing the basic needs of vulnerable Mainers such as hunger, housing, and crisis support. 

The Direct Service Grant Program is meant to support organizations that are addressing the basic needs of vulnerable Mainers such as hunger, housing, and crisis support.

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 Philosophy

Growing Human Wholeness

Fostering stronger relationships between people and nature through movement and nourishment. We award grants to Maine-based nonprofits who are working to advance Human Wholeness.

We have two grant periods each year, one for each of our focus areas.

Focus Area: Nourishment

Empowering people to consistently choose regional and plant-based foods that restore human and environmental health.

Strategies include (but are not limited to):

• Promoting participation in community gardens and farms
• Growing knowledge and skills for selecting and preparing healthy, natural, local foods
• Addressing community disparities to access affordable regional foods
• Educating Mainers on the human and environmental health benefits of a regional, plant-based diet
• Expanding gleaning, food waste reduction and composting programs
• Advocating for healthier menu options within institutions
• Building awareness and skills for regenerative, sustainable farming techniques
• Awakening pride and joy from growing food in a family or community setting
• Exploring ecological truths that link humans with nature through daily food choice 

Funding

The Quimby Family Foundation awards grants from $2,500 up to $25,000. We provide a very small number of larger investments on an invitation-only basis. 

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Funding Criteria

Smoking is the world’s leading preventable cause of death. Tobacco is known to cause 12 different cancers, including lung cancer at the forefront, and is responsible for 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the US. Maine’s lung cancer rates are consistently higher than the US average, and lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of any cancer in Maine.

In Maine, 17.6% of adults currently smoke cigarettes. According to the 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, 5.5% of Maine high school students smoked cigarettes in the last month, and 17.4% used an electronic vapor product in the last month.

With the goal of reducing tobacco use and ultimately decreasing the burden of lung and tobacco-related cancers in our state, Maine Cancer Foundation is accepting proposals for projects that seek to reduce the use of commercial tobacco in Maine.

Areas of Focus

• Tobacco Prevention for Youth and/or Adults;
• Tobacco Treatment for Adults;
• Advocacy or Policy Projects related to tobacco use and/or second- or third-hand smoke;
• Projects that address Maine populations disproportionately impacted by tobacco, including but not limited to rural populations, racial and ethnic minorities, and/or the LGBTQ+ community;
• A combination of the above.

Proposed projects must include clearly defined goals and measurable results and implement best practices related to reducing tobacco use.

E-cigarettes and Vaping

Maine Cancer Foundation understands the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, especially among Maine youth, remains a significant public health concern. According to the Maine Cancer Plan 2021-2025, researchers are still learning about how the use of e-cigarettes impact health long term. The aerosol from an e-cigarette contains some cancer-causing chemicals, although in significantly lower amounts than in cigarette smoke. Most e-cigarettes include nicotine, which is harmful to the developing brain, and youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use combustible cigarettes.

Beyond Pediatrics: Advancing Early Detection in Adult-Onset Type 1 Diabetes

Summary

• The main goal of this funding opportunity is to improve adult diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D), with special emphasis on the early stages of the disease.
• This request for application (RFA) will award grants to non-profit and for-profit entities such as academic institutions and industry partners of up to $900,000.00 each and up to 3 years.

Background

During a past Breakthrough T1D-hosted workshop, experts identified key knowledge gaps in adult-onset T1D 7, including the need to reduce ethnic disparities, extend longitudinal screening studies (of genetically high-risk and autoantibody-positive individuals) into adulthood, evaluate disease-modifying therapies given their greater efficacy in children, address challenges in misdiagnosis, assess the benefit and risks of adjunctive therapies, and strengthen post-diagnosis education, psychosocial support and long-term care. 

We encourage research proposals that address one or more of the following areas, including but not limited to:

• Immune Activation and Autoimmunity: The autoimmune process in adult-onset T1D appears to exhibit distinct patterns of immune activation compared to pediatric cases, including differences in immune cell subsets, cytokine profiles, and the timing and magnitude of the immune response. Proposed studies should aim to characterize these adult-specific immune signatures and investigate their relationship to clinical progression, treatment requirements, and therapeutic responsiveness. Research should leverage established datasets and biobanks with adult-onset T1D cohorts to validate findings across diverse populations. These efforts will be critical to informing the design and timing of disease-modifying therapies targeted at the early stages of T1D in adults.
• Islet Pathology and Beta Cell Function: Adults diagnosed with T1D often retain greater residual beta cell function at onset than children, suggesting slower disease progression and potential differences in islet pathology. Research should explore the mechanisms underlying these differences, including the pace of beta cell destruction and the regenerative capacity of the adult human pancreas, with implications for therapeutic timing and response.
• Autoantibodies and Biomarker Validation: In early-stage T1D, adults are more likely to test positive for GADA, while children more commonly exhibit IAA, IA-2A, or ZnT8A. We are seeking proposals that aim to better characterize and validate alternative autoantibodies and other established biomarkers of disease progression through Stages 1 to 3 in adults, with the goal of improving diagnostic accuracy and stratification of progression, including adults with slow disease progression.
• Accuracy in Misdiagnosis and Diagnostic Tools: We support proposals that aim to address the misdiagnosis of adult-onset T1D, including efforts to distinguish it from T2D through the integration of autoantibodies, C-peptide, and clinical features. Proposals may also include the analysis of existing electronic health record (EHR) data to identify diagnostic patterns and improve classification strategies.
• Epidemiology Studies: Evidence suggests that while a family history of T1D increases risk at all ages, the strength of this association appears to be greater in childhood-onset cases. This RFA welcomes studies that aim to advance our understanding of the epidemiology of adult-onset T1D using existing databases, as this area remains poorly defined. Projects examining incidence, prevalence, and age-related trends are encouraged to help clarify population-level risk factors

Levitt Music Series Grants - AMP

Levitt AMP is a multi-year matching grant opportunity bringing the joy of free, live music to small to mid-sized towns and cities.

Geared to towns and cities with populations under 250,000, Levitt AMP grantees reflect the three goals of the Levitt AMP program: Amplify community pride and a city’s unique character; enrich lives through the power of free, live Music; and illustrate the importance of inclusive and vibrant public Places. From rural Alaska to Appalachian Main Streets and Midwestern locales, the Levitt AMP Music Series is a catalytic opportunity engaging a wide range of towns and cities across America to realize a shared mission—building community through music to create a healthy and thriving future for all.

In addition to financial support, the Levitt Foundation provides grant recipients with valuable resources including best practices, program frameworks, toolkits, and trainings to deepen impact in their communities.

Launched in 2015, the Levitt Foundation has provided funding to more than 50 communities coast to coast through the Levitt AMP program, activating underused public spaces, ensuring access to the arts and strengthening the social fabric of communities through creative placemaking, bringing people together of all ages and backgrounds through free, outdoor concert series.

Special Music Series Grant - Tennessee-Based Nonprofits

The Levitt Foundation is thrilled to announce its partnership with the Tennessee Entertainment Commission to award up to six communities based in Tennessee with multi-year Levitt AMP matching grants, with support from the Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development and the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development. This project marks the Levitt Foundation’s first joint partnership with a specific state.

Through this partnership, the State and the Foundation together will be awarding matching grants of up to $40K per year to small to mid-sized cities throughout Tennessee in through the next 3 years. The funding will go toward presenting free outdoor concerts featuring high-caliber entertainment in a broad array of music genres, amplifying stages across the state with up to 180 free concerts for Tennesseans of all ages and backgrounds to enjoy.

This partnership applies to the Levitt AMP grant opportunity only. There is no separate application process to be considered and interested Tennessee-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits should proceed with completing their online application on the Levitt Foundation website. Levitt AMP grant applicants from Tennessee that advance to the public voting phase will be in the running with other Tennessee-based Levitt AMP grant applicants only. Nonprofits based in Tennessee that are interested in applying for the Levitt VIBE or Levitt BLOC grant opportunity may still submit an online application, though if advanced to the public voting phase will be in the running with applicants from across the country.

Funding

U.S.-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits are eligible to receive a three-year matching grant of up to $40K/year (up to $120K total) to bring 7-10 free concerts to your community each year!

Grant Philosophy

Growing Human Wholeness

Fostering stronger relationships between people and nature through movement and nourishment.  We award grants to Maine-based nonprofits who are working to advance Human Wholeness.

We have two grant periods each year, one for each of our focus areas.

Focus Area: Movement

Creating and supporting opportunities for people to consistently choose, and meaningfully experience, nearby nature and wilderness through movement and activity.

Strategies include (but are not limited to):

• Deepening the bonds between people, nature, and one another through immersive wilderness journeys
• Growing outdoor recreation events to discover nearby nature and commune with neighbors
• Reducing barriers (social, physical, logistical) for people to access nearby nature and open space
• Creating, promoting, or restoring parks, gardens, and green spaces
• Addressing community disparities to encourage safe, equitable outdoor access
• Promoting active transportation choices to benefit self and environment
• Marketing successful programs and under-utilized nearby nature spaces
• Building or improving trails for walking, hiking, biking, and winter travel
• Partnering with healthcare professionals to champion movement as a tool - and nature as an asset - to support public health
• Awakening instinctive bonds and exploring relationships that link humans with nature

Funding

The Quimby Family Foundation awards grants from $2,500 up to $25,000. We provide a very small number of larger investments on an invitation-only basis. 

Purpose

The Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund grant program supports early childhood and youth leadership programs in Greater Portland. The directors of the fund recognize the critical roles parents and early childhood education providers play to ensure a child’s readiness to enter school on a path to success and the importance of youth leadership programs that help develop aspirations and abilities of our youth.

To receive a grant, an organization or project must be based in the Greater Portland area and focus on one of the following:

• Young children aged birth to eight, their families and teachers
• Youth leadership for students through high school.

Types of funding

This program provides:

• General support grants for ongoing programming and operational needs (organization mission must be focused on one of the two areas above)
• Project grants for new or expanding early childhood or youth leadership-based projects or programs.

What is the Maine Trails Program?

The Maine Trails Program (MTP) is a statewide initiative to support the design and development of trails for outdoor recreation and active transportation. Created by the Maine Legislature in 2024, the program is administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL) within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. With $30 million in state funding available through 2034, the program supports motorized, nonmotorized, and multi-use trails across Maine. Up to $7.5 million per year may be awarded to trail projects to leverage at least $3 million in public and private matching contributions. To ensure transparency and community input, the Maine Trails Advisory Committee—made up of representatives from both motorized and nonmotorized trail interests—provides guidance to the program and helps evaluate and recommend eligible projects for funding.

Goals for Maine Trails Program

• Trails that provide linkages with existing or planned networks.
• Trails that serve a broad range of users.
• Proposals that address landowners' concerns.
• Trails that will be sustainable in relation to anticipated usage.
• Proposals that provide accessible trails, in terms of proximity and design.
• Proposals that enhance tourism and economic development.
• Proposals that facilitate trail use for all ages and abilities.
• Projects that are well planned.
• Trails that are destination oriented.
• Trails that further SCORP or other established planning goals.
• Multiple use trail projects that address conflicts between user groups.
• Proposals that have documented matching resources.
• Projects that rehabilitate existing, well-used trails.
• Trails that provide high levels of user safety.
• Proposals that plan for operation and maintenance needs.
• Projects that will last.

Background

The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust was established in 1988 by Joan Morton Kelly and her mother, Mildred Duncan Morton, to facilitate their philanthropic activities.

The overarching interest of the Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust is to connect people and place through the arts, culture and the natural environment in Maine. Program Areas reflect how communities, organizations and individuals can cultivate creative expression and a sense of responsibility towards one another and to the lands and waters around us. Proposals may be for operating support or specific projects and may be of local or statewide benefit. Across all programs, community connection is paramount.

Program Areas of interest to the Trust are Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation and Environmental Initiatives.

Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation

The Trust is interested in community arts and cultural programs, cultural facility improvements, historic preservation projects and celebration of the diverse cultural heritage of Maine.

Arts and culture programs and organizations help foster vibrant communities, creative expression, inspiration and build community connections. Community cultural centers and preservation of historic sites and resources can enhance downtown and community revitalization efforts and be a cornerstone of community arts and cultural life. The Trust is also interested in programs that expand cross-cultural understanding of the unique and layered histories of Maine and contemporary expressions of culture and heritage.

The Trust’s Arts and Culture Program Area welcomes operating support or project proposals that meet any of the following goals:

• Access to the arts, creative expression and community cultural programs
  • Priorities include:
    • Access to arts experiences of all kinds, arts education for all ages, and performances and programs that serve Maine communities and residents.
    • Visual and performing arts programs in Maine museums, public libraries, historical societies and other cultural organizations.
    • Both urban and rural programs that reflect local needs and bring community members together, including lectures, exhibits and special events.
    • Projects and programs that serve diverse populations and cultural experiences including Black, Indigenous and people of color in Maine.
• Facility improvements for community cultural centers and historic preservation projects that contribute to community vitality
  • Cultural facility improvement priorities include:
    • Structural, health, safety, public access or energy efficiency improvements.
    • Technology upgrades and other renovation needs.
    • Small venues in rural or underserved areas where few other resources are available, and which contribute to community revitalization.
• Historic preservation projects that contribute to community vitality
  • Priorities include:
    • The restoration and conservation of significant historic structures such as those listed on the National Register, or have documented importance through Tribal Historic Preservation Departments or are a known community landmark.
      • The Trust will support structural improvements and building systems (such as electrical service) rather than maintenance, painting or short-term repairs.
    • Preservation projects may also include restoration of significant material cultural resources.
    • Applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a letter indicating that the Maine Historic Preservation Commission or appropriate Tribal Historic Preservation Office is aware of the project, and that work is being conducted to appropriate preservation standards.
• Celebrate the diverse cultural heritage and multiple histories of Maine
  • Priorities include:
    • Programs that build community connection, celebrate the diverse cultural heritage of Maine communities and elevate the unique experiences of Black, Indigenous and other under-represented groups.
    • Efforts that build bridges within communities to elevate cultural histories of place, expand awareness, cultural connection and share learning.

Environmental Initiatives

The Trust is interested in environmental initiatives that protect ecological values, water quality and ecosystem health through land conservation, stewardship, education and research programs. The Trust is interested in supporting organizations that promote positive relationships with nature including scientific, ecological and cultural perspectives. The Trust is also interested in expanded efforts to conserve culturally significant lands for Wabanaki communities.

The Trust’s Environmental Initiatives Program Area welcomes proposals for operating support or projects that meet any of the following goals or related priorities:

• Provide equitable access to outdoor experiences and nature-based education
  •  Priorities include:
    • Programs that offer outdoor experiences and nature-based education for youth and community members to inspire care and responsibility for the environment.
    • Programs that provide safe, inclusive spaces for youth and others to develop appreciation for nature, science and the social and cultural dimensions of land and place.
    • Programs that benefit BIPOC and underserved communities.
• Enhance environmental stewardship.
  • Priorities include:
    • Support of the growing stewardship responsibilities of conservation groups in light of development pressures, climate change and greater public use of conserved lands and waters.
    • Support of staffing, programs and partnerships for stewardship, education and community engagement.
• Advance new approaches for land conservation
  • Priorities include:
    • Partnerships, tools and relationships for conservation that emphasize equity and inclusion.
    • Land conservation that protects biodiversity or provides access to lands and waters for recreation, education and restoration.
      • Organizations requesting funding for land acquisitions should include a funding plan for the project.
    • Building capacity for the protection, stewardship and management of culturally significant lands for Wabanaki lifeways and culture.
• Promote restoration and improvement of water quality in coastal and inlandwatersheds
  • Priorities include:
    • Applied science and research for the restoration and management of ecosystems, especially the coastal and inland waters of Maine.
    • Relevant research and education for water quality and habitat improvement.
    • Addressing climate change impacts on coastal and aquatic resources.
    • Initiatives that use science, policy and community engagement to improve and restore natural resources and ecosystems.

Funding

Up to $20,000 in grant funding may be requested.

Project Canopy

Project Canopy is about people. It educates people about the benefits trees provide, and how trees make people's lives better. It connects people who have a particular expertise to people who need that expertise. It helps build bridges with town and city governments, and it knows how to communicate in a local, political environment. And just as important, Project Canopy helps people talk about success stories, so that they can find the motivation --- and inspiration --- that is crucial for developing creative, long-term community forestry programs.

The Maine Forest Service has an incredible reservoir of knowledge and expertise. The challenge for us is to get that knowledge to the people who can use it. Any long-term community forestry program needs commitment and understanding from many different corners. Project Canopy's role is to get people in different corners talking to each other, so that awareness about trees can grow by leaps and bounds. We do that by using down-to-earth strategies, and deploying technical experts into the field to lend hands-on assistance.

Project Canopy Planning and Education Grants

The goal of this grant program is to support community efforts to develop and maintain longterm community forestry programs. Planting trees and caring for existing trees is an integral part of sustainable community forestry management. These grants provide an excellent opportunity for communities to increase tree cover, tree health, engage citizen volunteers, and build support for their community forestry program. Applicants are encouraged to contact Project Canopy staff to discuss project ideas. Examples of eligible projects include, but are not limited to:

• Improved community health and quality of life – Plant trees in visible, contiguous locations where they make a direct, positive impact on the community. Tree planting projects improve air and water quality, reduce noise pollution, increase climate resilience, and beautify neighborhoods and travel corridors.
• Buffer plantings – Trees naturally filter air and water, limit storm runoff, and stabilize soil. Proper tree planting in urban areas can have a positive impact on water quality, climate resilience, aesthetics, and wildlife habitat.
• Business district enhancement – Trees planted in business districts can have a positive impact on the economy. Consumers are more willing to patronize business districts that have tree lined streets, shaded parking, and green spaces.
• Replacement tree programs – as existing street trees age and present risks or suffer from the ravages of invasive pests and diseases, trees can be replaced with grant program funding.
• Community tree nursery/gravel bed tree nursery - establishment of community tree nurseries allow for purchase and growth of seedlings before planting into streets and parks. Benefits include lower costs and greater diversity of planting stock, stronger and larger root systems, ease of transplanting bare-root trees and increased survivability of trees planted out in urban environments.
• Low Impact Development/green infrastructure - bioswales, raingardens and other forms of green infrastructure retain, reduce, and filter stormwater overflow resulting in reduced erosion, less flooding, and cleaner water. May reduce stormwater fees in certain where applicable.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the Housing Assistance Council (HAC), with To Be Done Studio, are excited to announce the Request for Applications to the Citizens' Institute on Rural Design (CIRD). Rural communities are invited to submit applications to receive design support and technical assistance to host a virtual and on-site local Design Workshop (if local public health guidelines allow) or participate in the Design Learning Cohort.

About CIRD

The Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) is a leadership initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts in partnership with the Housing Assistance Council. Focusing on communities with populations of 50,000 or less, CIRD’s goal is to enhance the quality of life and economic viability of rural America through planning, design, and creative placemaking.

CIRD is intended to empower local citizens to capitalize on unique local and regional assets in order to guide the civic development and future design of their own communities. The CIRD program goals include:

• Building design capacity in rural communities to plan comprehensive revitalization strategies;
• Introducing creative placemaking, arts, culture, and design strategies as drivers of economic development in rural America;
• Facilitating a network of rural communities for design idea exchanges and peer learning; and
• Preparing communities to be ready and competitive for arts- and design-related state and federal funding opportunities.

Since 1991, the Citizens’ Institute on Rural Design (CIRD) has provided design assistance to more than 100 rural communities in all regions of the United States, empowering residents to leverage local and regional assets in order to guide the civic development and future design of their own communities. 

The CIRD program consists of two different opportunities via a single application:

Opportunity 1) Local Design Workshops

Up to four (4) communities will be selected to participate in an on-site rural Design Workshop. (Based on timing and in accordance with local health guidance, this workshop may be a hybrid virtual and in-person program.) With support from a wide range of design, planning, and creative placemaking professionals, the workshops bring together local residents and local leaders from non-profits, community organizations, and government to develop actionable solutions to a specific design challenge. Examples of potential design challenges include but are not limited to:

• Historic preservation and adaptive reuse of community buildings
• Designing quality affordable housing that supports livable and equitable communities; including housing and other amenities that support young people, families, and/or the elderly and aging in place
• Creating public or civic spaces that support and integrate cultural expression and local identity and/or play and active recreation
• Developing recreational trails for mobility, active transportation, and economic development
• Redesigning Main Street as a local street versus state highway/thruway
• Designing spaces and places that improve access to healthy food and local food systems
• Leveraging Main Street or local businesses for economic development, including branding, wayfinding, façade improvements, and streetscape design
• Integrating cultural identity into the built environment to drive heritage tourism.

Selected communities will receive additional support including customized follow-up support leading up to and after the workshop as well as access to and web-based resources, webinars, and peer learning through the Design Learning Cohort.

Opportunity 2) Design Learning Cohort

Up to fifteen (15) rural communities will be selected to participate in a Design Learning Cohort. Rural community leaders from government, non-profits, local business, and civic organizations are invited to:

• Participate in virtual trainings and sessions on design, planning, community engagement, facilitation and fundraising techniques;
• Connect and exchange design ideas with peers from other rural communities in the cohort
• Receive technical assistance and coaching from experienced design professionals tailored to their particular community design challenge; and
• Receive support in navigating funding opportunities to make their community’s vision a reality;
• Applicant organizations can indicate on their application if they only want to participate in the Design Learning Cohort (and not be considered for the hybrid local Design Workshop opportunity).

Both opportunities within the CIRD program connect rural residents and community leaders with resources and ideas for developing locally driven solutions to community design challenges.

PARTICIPATION BENEFITS 

Local Design Workshop Communities

• Four(4) communities will be selected to do a deep dive into a pressing design challenge that is impacting their community. Each workshop includes:
  • $6,000 stipend to the host community for workshop staff time and related expenses
  • A tailored virtual design process working with a dedicated resource team, including goal setting, and online sessions with design experts to assist with project visioning and advancement toward implementation
  • Potential site visit from a local/regional designer, if local public health guidelines allow.
  • A Design Book and action plan following the workshop, with project-specific design and planning recommendations, created by the CIRD resource team
  • Ongoing technical assistance related to project 
  • Design Workshop communities will have access to all events and opportunities offered to the Design Learning Cohort.

Design Learning Cohort

Up to 15 communities from the applicant pool will be invited to participate in the Design Learning Cohort. The opportunity allows up to four (4) leaders from each selected community to participate in virtual training in design, planning, community engagement, and facilitation techniques; engage with peers from rural communities; and receive support in navigating funding opportunities to make their vision a reality. The Design Learning Cohort opportunity includes roughly a dozen engagements, specifically:

• A series of online learning sessions led by nationally recognized field experts, tailored to engage cohort members and activate peer learning
• A series of public webinars and private breakout sessions that connect cohort members to design experts
• Technical assistance through office hours, one-on-one coaching, optional in-person convenings, and online resources
• Additional opportunities to socialize and share best practices and experiences with rural peers from around the country.