Best Child Welfare Grants in Maine

Grants help Maine child welfare and youth-serving 501(c)(3) nonprofits with capital and program support for children and families in need. The Agnes M. Lindsay Trust offers US $1,000 - US $7,500 for services such as child welfare, foster care and adoption support, summer camps, and related human and social services across Maine and neighboring states.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine and other Vermont Mutual Insurance Group territories can receive funding for education, youth development, community programs, and basic needs like housing, homelessness, and hunger. Vermont Mutual Insurance Group supports child- and family-serving initiatives that build healthy lives and strong, vibrant communities in its marketing areas.

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status serving low-income Maine residents can receive up to US $30,000 for basic needs such as hunger relief, housing, and crisis support. The John T Gorman Foundation funds existing programs and general operating support, and child welfare organizations, including those in foster care and family services, may be eligible.

Child-focused 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine, especially around the Capital Region, can seek up to US $5,000 to support child welfare and education programs. Grants from Elsie & William Viles Foundation also consider projects that preserve open space, protect animals, and promote Maine history and culture, but this donation track is for smaller requests.

Maine 501(c)(3) public charities working on child welfare, youth services, or related community programs can seek grants up to US $25,000 to support projects serving children and families. Libra Foundation funds a range of initiatives across Maine, so child welfare organizations may be eligible if their work fits its priorities.

Maine 501(c)(3) organizations supporting child welfare and education can apply for grants of US $5,000 - US $25,000 to strengthen services for children and families. Focused on preserving open space, caring for animals, supporting children, and promoting Maine history and culture, the Elsie & William Viles Foundation prioritizes applicants in the Capital Region.

Public child welfare agencies and research partners working on adoption for children with complex behavioral, medical, or emotional needs in Maine and other U.S. jurisdictions can apply for US $1,500,000 - US $2,150,000. Grants from US Dept. of Health & Human Services: Administration for Children & Families support collaborative, evidence-building approaches to recruiting, training, and sustaining specialized adoptive families.

Child welfare and family service nonprofits in Maine may be eligible for McGraw Foundation support for programs like child welfare services, foster care and adoption, crisis intervention, and related human services. McGraw Foundation provides U.S. 501(c)(3) organizations with US $2,000 - US $10,000 for general operating support, specific projects, or occasional capital needs, primarily in the greater Chicago area.

Child welfare and child welfare–adjacent organizations in Maine working with unaccompanied children can seek large-scale federal funding to provide home studies and post-release services. Grants from the US Dept. of Health & Human Services: Administration for Children & Families support safe placements, ongoing case management, and community connections for unaccompanied children across the U.S.

Nonprofit organizations working on child welfare, early childhood development, or preventing child abuse and neglect in Maine can seek support for community-led, prevention-focused projects that help families thrive. The Doris Duke Foundation’s Child Well-Being National Program accepts a limited number of unsolicited letters of inquiry to identify projects that fit its national child welfare strategies.

Joyful Heart Foundation

Since 2004, Joyful Heart has been a leading national organization with a mission to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse by building a world that prioritizes survivors’ healing.

Our Areas of Focus

We continue to carry out our mission through programming centered on survivors’ needs. We strive to fill gaps where those needs aren’t being met, without duplicating existing programs. In order to build a more compassionate, more informed culture rooted in the possibility and promise of healing, we focus on three key areas: Awareness and Community Building, Policy and Advocacy and Healing Programs.

• Healing Programs and Resources: Creating and fostering a culture of healing and nurturing for survivors and the professionals who support them.
• Policy and Advocacy: Advocating for policies and practices that forge a path to safety, justice and hope for survivors.

• Awareness and Community Building: Creating spaces and conversations that channel a drive for change into action and transformation.

Heal the Healers Grant 

Helping alleviate the effects of secondary trauma for the long-term wellbeing of professionals who support survivors

Building for a System of Care and Compassion

Heal the Healers Grantmaking Program provides critical support for professionals who help survivors heal and seek justice. People working on the frontlines of survivor-centered services are subject to the often overlooked effects of secondary trauma that can emerge as a result of continuous exposure to people who have recently experienced abuse and violence.

The Heal the Healers Grant Fund and Grantee Learning Cohorts provide resources to mitigate the effects of secondary trauma among the practitioners responsible for the earliest stages of survivors’ paths to justice and healing. Creating a safer, more compassionate world for the people who do this work helps lay a foundation for lasting change and a world where every survivor’s healing is prioritized.

The Heal the Healers Fund provides micro-grants of up to $5,000 to nonprofit, Tribal, or governmental organizations supporting survivors for training, small capital projects, or organizational activities.

Areas of Support

The Joyful Heart Foundation has established the following guidelines for its Heal the Healers Fund grants to support those working directly with survivors in the following areas.

• Training and/or program development on self-care practices such as training in trauma-informed yoga, breathwork, somatic therapy, etc.
• Small capital items and equipment that specifically allow staff and volunteers to address their self care needs such as daylight lamps for staff or new furniture for a break room.
• Staff activities to build and support connections between colleagues such as, trust building experiences, monthly pizza nights, or bagel Fridays.
• Or any combination of the above. 

In addition to the financial support, grantees will also be invited to join a peer learning community cohort that includes:

• Opportunities to amplify their fellowship/cohort experiences to inspire others in the field
• Virtual peer-to-peer networking opportunities
• Virtual training/presentations by leading healers, therapists and other professionals with expertise in cutting edge vicarious trauma, empowerment, leadership and therapeutic modalities

State, territorial, and CSBG-eligible entities working on child welfare and anti-poverty services in Maine and other U.S. jurisdictions can seek funding to strengthen Community Services Block Grant administration. Focused on improving program implementation and coordination of resources, the Administration for Children & Families invites applicants to build capacity around foster care, behavioral health, housing, and related supports, with awards up to US $600,000.

Youth who are or have been in Nevada foster care and pursuing college, trade, or vocational programs can apply for the Foster Children Education Scholarship, with awards of $1,000 - $5,000. Offered by the Community Foundation of Northern Nevada, this support may benefit child welfare and foster care–focused programs serving Maine youth with Nevada foster care histories.

Young people in North Carolina exiting foster care or living in poverty who have exceptional financial need and plan to attend an accredited college or career school can receive scholarship support through the Joyce Price Johnson’s Samaritan Fund. Administered by North Carolina Community Foundation, it primarily considers applicants from Wayne County and neighboring counties, including those with child welfare system experience in Maine-related contexts.

Child welfare and domestic violence 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine can seek support for U.S.-based programs serving children in foster care, abuse survivors, and families in crisis. Grants from When Georgia Smiled help fund shelter, counseling, education, infrastructure improvements, and related services that promote safety, healing, and long-term stability for vulnerable children and families.

Maine child welfare and youth-serving nonprofits working on foster care, adoption, homelessness, or related systems-change efforts may be eligible for support; funding is not available to individuals or for-profit entities. Laird Norton Family Foundation focuses its human services grants on youth and young adults involved with homelessness, child welfare, juvenile legal, or behavioral health systems.

Federally recognized Native American tribal governments and eligible tribal organizations in Maine working on child welfare and child abuse prevention can seek funding to coordinate Tribal TANF and child welfare services. The Administration for Children and Families offers US $225,000 demonstration grants to improve case management, prevention services, and supportive services for tribal children and families at risk.

Nonprofit organizations supporting child welfare, youth development, education, health, or hunger relief can apply for funding from Dale Jr Foundation, including those serving Maine. The foundation supports programs for underprivileged youth, focusing on safety, empowerment, literacy, technology access, wellness, and food security, and will only consider requests that fit its mission statement.

The ISF New Student Scholarship supports orphaned or former foster care students in their pursuit of higher education. By providing financial assistance and mentoring, ISF empowers these students to overcome obstacles and thrive academically. Recipients are selected based on their moral character, commitment to personal growth, and readiness to engage in leadership training. This initiative aims to transform lives and foster the next generation of leaders.

The Helen M. McLoraine Foster Care and Emancipated Youth Scholarship provides financial support for youth from the foster care system in Colorado. With a minimum award of $1,000, the scholarship is aimed at those pursuing post-secondary education, including trade schools and universities. Recipients are selected based on academic performance, resilience, and financial need, ensuring that deserving individuals receive the assistance they need to succeed in their educational goals.

The Dr. Gary King Sharp Memorial Scholarship, offered by the Central Kentucky Community Foundation, aims to support students with a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Priority is given to those connected with Hospice services or in the foster care system, and to first-generation college students. This scholarship serves as a vital resource to empower students in their educational pursuits and enhance community life.

The Stout Foundation Grant supports organizations aligned with the values of its founder, Mr. Stout. Grants are awarded exclusively to entities with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and focus on charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. Preference is given to organizations with low overhead costs and those located in areas frequented by Foundation members. The Foundation aims to promote effective use of funds while remaining flexible in its grant-making approach.

The Narragansett Foundation Grant aims to support charitable, educational, and scientific endeavors, focusing on public charities in Buxton, Maine. It funds start-up expenses, new projects, and general operating support. Eligible applicants include nonprofit organizations with 501(c)(3) status and government entities using funds for public purposes. The foundation prioritizes local needs but may extend support throughout Maine and beyond as necessary.

About Us

Marshfield Area Community Foundation, Inc. is a public, 501-C-3 charity. There are 30 community foundations in Wisconsin and more than 750 in the nation. The purpose of all community foundations is to accumulate charitable dollars that impact a specific geographic region in areas such as education, the arts, economic development, recreation, environmental protection, health care, and social services. They may be relatively small, as we are (assets of $14 million), or very large, as is the Greater Milwaukee Foundation (assets over $400 million).

Most people are familiar with private foundations, established by individuals, families, or corporations. Typically, in order to establish a private foundation, one has to have considerable wealth. You could say Community Foundations are much more democratic. We are, in a sense, an umbrella foundation containing many small foundations. We call those small foundations “funds.”

Marshfield Area Community Foundation Scholarships

The mission of the Marshfield Area Community Foundation is “Connecting people who care with causes that matter to enrich the quality of life in the Marshfield area”. Education is a valuable tool and a cause that matters to all of us. Through assisting students with financial support to receive an education, not only do students and the families of those students benefit, but also our community benefits, which further allows us to achieve our mission of enriching the quality of life in the Marshfield area.

Kenneth and Ardyce Heiting Scholarship (2025)

The Fingerprinting Infrastructure Modernization program aims to enhance child welfare systems by modernizing fingerprinting and background check processes. It supports state and tribal agencies in implementing mobile and office-based Live Scan stations to expedite caregiver approvals. Key outcomes include reduced turnaround times for background checks, increased accessibility to qualified caregivers, and improved placement of children in safe homes, aligning with the ACF's initiative to strengthen child welfare and expand family options.

The Pediatric Disaster Care Centers of Excellence Program aims to enhance the nation's readiness for pediatric care during disasters. It focuses on developing coordinated care capabilities, strengthening preparedness plans, and increasing statewide medical surge capacity for children. By funding four Centers of Excellence, the initiative seeks to improve healthcare professionals' competency through standardized training and enhance situational awareness regarding pediatric disaster care. This program addresses critical gaps in pediatric disaster management to ensure effective responses during high-consequence emergencies.

The Center for Family Engagement Healthy Minds Fellowship, organized by the National PTA, invites active PTA leaders to enhance their mental health expertise over a 12-month cohort starting January 2026. Participants will receive a $1,500 stipend and engage in developing actionable plans to improve mental health initiatives in schools. This fellowship aims to empower leaders through workshops and collaborative efforts, fostering a supportive environment for mental wellness in educational settings.