Best Grants for Charities in Maine

The AWG Geoscience Idea Scholarship supports women from under-served communities to pursue careers in Earth Sciences, a field known for its lack of diversity. It offers $2,500 to three upper-division and $500 to one lower-division undergraduate student, along with a one-year AWG membership. Recipients can also be matched with mentors, enhancing their educational journey and career prospects in geoscience disciplines. This initiative aims to promote inclusion and diversity in the geoscience workforce.

The TD Charitable Foundation has been dedicated to improving community quality of life since 2002, contributing over $254 million to non-profit organizations. They fund initiatives aligned with their corporate citizenship goals, focusing on Better Health, Connected Communities, Financial Security, and Vibrant Planet. Special consideration is given to programs that support inclusivity for diverse and historically underserved communities. Their commitment to enhancing lives through targeted grants reflects their core values and social responsibility.

The Libra Foundation Grant, established by Elizabeth Noyce in 1989, focuses on supporting charitable organizations in Maine. As of June 20, 2025, the foundation will pause new applications for one year while reassessing its funding priorities. It aims to provide small grants to diverse causes in areas such as arts, education, health, and more, thus empowering communities and enhancing the quality of life for all Maine citizens.

The Davis Conservation Foundation offers grants to support environmental protection, wildlife conservation, and outdoor recreation initiatives. They prioritize projects in Northern New England, particularly in the Gulf of Maine and the Northern Forest. Eligible organizations must be 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entities. The Foundation encourages community involvement and volunteerism, while avoiding funding for individuals, multiple-year gifts, or projects previously declined within a specified timeframe.

The Anonymous Was A Woman Environmental Art Grants offer up to $20,000 for environmental art projects led by women-identifying artists in the U.S. and territories. Focused on themes like regeneration and eco-social engagement, the grants encourage projects that address ecological issues through ethical engagement. For the 2025 cycle, over $520,000 will be distributed, doubling previous funding. Eligible applicants must be 18+, lead artists, and not enrolled in degree programs during the grant term.

Cell Signaling Technology’s Environmental Grants support initiatives aimed at ecosystem protection, wildlife research, and environmental education. Priority is given to action-oriented projects with at least 70% of funding allocated to those directly impacting the environment. Applications are accepted annually until May 1st, with a focus on organizations in Massachusetts, particularly the North Shore of Boston. Non-profit status is required, and discriminatory projects will not be funded.

The Biophilia Foundation Grants support biodiversity conservation on private lands, focusing on systemic change through community engagement. The foundation encourages organizations to submit letters of inquiry detailing their mission, tax status, funding requests, and intended outcomes. They prioritize private land conservation, ecosystem restoration, and innovative policy initiatives, especially in the arid Southwest and Chesapeake Bay regions. Grants typically range from $5,000 to $25,000, with larger amounts available for established partnerships.

Northern Border Regional Commission

The Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) is a partnership between the federal government and the states of Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont. The NBRC targets resources to promote economic growth strategies and projects in designated counties within its member states. The Commission was enacted by Congress through the 2008 Farm Bill which amended 40 US Code to include the creation of the NBRC as well as other similar Commissions nationwide.

The mission of the Northern Border Regional Commission is to catalyze community vitality and economic prosperity in the northern border region with flexible funding and strategic support. We envision a future where heritage industries are celebrated, preserved, and supported, vibrant local communities form a rich tapestry of culture, ideas, and experiences, and the seamless integration of emerging technologies fosters a new era of prosperity and economic resiliency.

Timber for Transit Program - Feasibility Award

The Timber for Transit Program advances the use of domestic forest products in transportation infrastructure projects across Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont to showcase the capabilities of wood in these applications. Highly competitive projects will demonstrate and widely promote the utility of high value forest products (e.g. glued laminated timber, cross laminated timber, composite materials, etc.) in transportation infrastructure and commit to enhancing climate resilience in rural communities. Transportation Infrastructure shall mean construction, alteration, or repair of physical transport facilities, systems and structures, including fixed installations and rights of way necessary for transporting from one point to another, that: are open to the general public for use, facilitate reliable movement of people and goods, and influence local and regional economies.  

Early-stage activities—such as planning, inventory assessments, engineering, design, cost benefit analysis, permitting, site assessments, and environmental assessments—that support future Timber for Transit implementation projects are eligible for up to $1,000,000.  

The Maine Sea Grant Biennial Request for Proposals aims to fund diverse research projects that connect Maine's scientific expertise with the needs of coastal communities. Approximately $600,000 is available over two years, with a maximum of $200,000 per project. Proposals supporting the 2024-2027 strategic plan, engaging diverse partners, and addressing climate action strategies are encouraged. This initiative is open to various institutions and aims to enhance the state's support for underserved coastal communities.

Ameriprise Community Grants focus on supporting nonprofits that enhance community vitality and meet basic needs. With over 120 years of commitment to philanthropy, Ameriprise Financial engages employees in volunteerism and grantmaking. Key giving areas include hunger relief, housing stability, and community development. Priority is given to organizations with active volunteer engagement from Ameriprise advisors and employees, creating a meaningful impact on financial independence and community resilience.

The CDBG Housing Assistance Program, managed by the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development, offers funding for low- and moderate-income housing projects. Eligible applicants include local governments and counties in Maine, with a maximum grant amount of $1,000,000. A 20% cash match is required for applicants, and administrative costs cannot exceed 15% of the grant. This program aims to improve housing options through rehabilitation and conversion of properties.

The Elsie & William Viles Foundation Grant supports charitable organizations, prioritizing those in Maine's Capital Region. Established in 1990, the foundation continues the philanthropic legacy of William and Elsie Viles. Grants range from $5,000 to $25,000 and focus on preserving open spaces, protecting animals, supporting children's education, and promoting Maine's history and culture. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

The Elsie & William Viles Foundation, established in 1990, continues the philanthropic legacy of William and Elsie Viles in Augusta, Maine. It supports charitable organizations, primarily in the Capital Region, focusing on preserving open spaces, caring for animals, supporting education, and promoting Maine's history and culture. Organizations seeking funding must be tax-exempt under 501(c)(3) and based in Maine, with donations capped at $5,000 to ensure broad community support.

The Laird Norton Family Foundation, based in Seattle, prioritizes grants that reflect family values in arts education, climate change, human services, and watershed stewardship. Their approach emphasizes equitable educational opportunities, carbon sequestration, support for youth at risk of homelessness, and long-term ecological health. They focus on organizations that address social justice and community needs, particularly in King County, WA, and the West Coast. Note: No unsolicited applications are accepted.

The GSA Graduate Student Research Grants provide essential funding for master's and doctoral research in geological sciences for students in North America and Central America. In 2024, approximately $800,000 was awarded to 316 students, averaging around $2,500 each. The program aims to enhance the geoscience workforce, promote career development, and support diversity within the field. Applications require an appraisal from a primary advisor, and participation from underrepresented communities is encouraged.

The KeyBank Foundation offers Community Sponsorships to support local organizations in their fundraising efforts. These sponsorships range from $500 to $5,000 and can fund events or provide general operating support. Applications are accepted from January to October, with a decision made within 90 days. Eligible nonprofits must serve areas where KeyBank operates and adhere to strict ineligibility criteria, including no support for individuals or organizations that discriminate based on various identities.

The One Hive Foundation Grant focuses on promoting pollinator health and ecologically responsible agriculture through funding research and nonprofit initiatives. Launched in 2022, the grant supports diverse projects aimed at enhancing environmental data, public education, and scientific collaboration. Targeting verified 501c3 organizations, the foundation emphasizes ecological practices and community engagement in Vermont and beyond, with grants of up to $75,000 available to eligible applicants.

The Howard E. Stark Charitable Foundation, established in 2007, supports small, impactful organizations in the Northeast US. The foundation prioritizes projects that alleviate suffering for people or animals and considers applications from 501(c)(3) organizations outside its usual funding parameters. Key areas of support include education, after-school programs, rehabilitation, arts, nutrition, and emotional support initiatives. The foundation is committed to fostering local community development through thoughtful funding.

The Davis Family Foundation, established in Maine, focuses on granting support to educational, medical, and cultural/arts organizations. With over $63.5 million awarded since 1986, the foundation emphasizes innovative projects that make a significant impact on Maine communities. Eligible organizations must be tax-exempt and align with the foundation's priorities, ensuring projects enhance educational outcomes or address medical issues effectively. The foundation seeks unique projects that engage the community and preserve Maine's cultural heritage.

Rural Health Transformation Program

Strengthening Rural Health Care Across Maine

Maine’s Rural Health Transformation Program is a five-year federal grant program designed to improve health outcomes, expand patient access to care, strengthen the health care workforce, advance innovation, and support sustainable rural health systems.

Supported by an initial $190 million (Year 1) federal investment, the Program will help Maine’s rural communities, providers, and partners implement solutions that improve care today while building a stronger health system for the future.

Maine’s Five Strategic Initiatives

• Population Health

• Workforce

• Technology & Innovation

• Access

• Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems

Learn more on the Maine RHTP website.

Technology & Innovation

Summary: Modernize rural health care delivery through technology that improves access, coordination, and efficiency. This initiative supports telehealth, health information exchange, digital health tools, electronic medical record modernization, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Maine RHTP Technology and Innovation Strategies

A statewide initiative facilitated by MCD Global Health to bring digital health, augmented intelligence, and modern infrastructure to the rural communities that make Maine, Maine.

MCD Global Health is leading the Innovation and Technology pillar—bringing tested digital health tools, augmented intelligence (AI), and electronic health record modernization to clinicians, schools, skilled nursing facilities, and the people they serve.

Three Strategies One Goal

• Digital Health Projects
• Rural Health AI Hub
• EMR Modernization

Each initiative addresses a specific gap in rural Maine's healthcare ecosystem. From the technology that connects providers to patients to the data systems that keep records moving with people across settings of care.

Digital Health Projects

MCD Global Health (MCD) was selected as a subawardee to support the implementation of Maine’s technology and innovation initiatives in close collaboration with Maine DHHS and statewide partners. This includes supporting the implementation of a variety of digital health solutions and modalities, including telehealth, remote-patient monitoring, provider-to-provider consultations, and digital therapeutics deployed across partner sites, with a focus on reducing distance as a barrier to specialty care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.

Digital Health Projects: Adult Remote Patient Monitoring Program - RPM Provider

Telehealth Expansion: Bringing Care Directly to Patients

Project Details

The Maine Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) expands access to chronic disease management through an Adult Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) initiative serving individuals with conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. This telehealth model uses connected monitoring devices, remote clinical oversight, and care coordination to support earlier intervention and improve health outcomes for rural patients who may face barriers to ongoing care and monitoring.

Who We're Serving

This project is intended to support:

• Home health agencies,
• Primary care practices,
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs),
• Rural health clinics,
• Hospitals and health systems, and
• Adults living with chronic conditions in rural Maine.

The project ultimately benefits adults with hypertension, heart failure, and other chronic health conditions who may face challenges of accessing ongoing monitoring and support. Emphasis is placed on individuals at increased risk for avoidable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and complications related to chronic disease.

Objective

Provide a scalable statewide Remote Patient Monitoring service that supports adults with hypertension, heart failure, and other high-risk chronic conditions, as well as pregnant and postpartum individuals requiring maternal health monitoring. Services will improve chronic disease management and maternal health outcomes through ongoing monitoring, patient engagement, self-management support, timely intervention, care coordination, expanded access to home-based monitoring services, and delivery of a standardized statewide RPM model.

Funding Type: Partner Service Agreement (PSA)

Rural Health Transformation Program

Strengthening Rural Health Care Across Maine

Maine’s Rural Health Transformation Program is a five-year federal grant program designed to improve health outcomes, expand patient access to care, strengthen the health care workforce, advance innovation, and support sustainable rural health systems.

Supported by an initial $190 million (Year 1) federal investment, the Program will help Maine’s rural communities, providers, and partners implement solutions that improve care today while building a stronger health system for the future.

Maine’s Five Strategic Initiatives

• Population Health

• Workforce

• Technology & Innovation

• Access

• Sustainable Rural Health Ecosystems

Learn more on the Maine RHTP website.

Technology & Innovation

Summary: Modernize rural health care delivery through technology that improves access, coordination, and efficiency. This initiative supports telehealth, health information exchange, digital health tools, electronic medical record modernization, and the responsible adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence.

Maine RHTP Technology and Innovation Strategies

A statewide initiative facilitated by MCD Global Health to bring digital health, augmented intelligence, and modern infrastructure to the rural communities that make Maine, Maine.

MCD Global Health is leading the Innovation and Technology pillar—bringing tested digital health tools, augmented intelligence (AI), and electronic health record modernization to clinicians, schools, skilled nursing facilities, and the people they serve.

Three Strategies One Goal

• Digital Health Projects
• Rural Health AI Hub
• EMR Modernization

Each initiative addresses a specific gap in rural Maine's healthcare ecosystem. From the technology that connects providers to patients to the data systems that keep records moving with people across settings of care.

Digital Health Projects

MCD Global Health (MCD) was selected as a subawardee to support the implementation of Maine’s technology and innovation initiatives in close collaboration with Maine DHHS and statewide partners. This includes supporting the implementation of a variety of digital health solutions and modalities, including telehealth, remote-patient monitoring, provider-to-provider consultations, and digital therapeutics deployed across partner sites, with a focus on reducing distance as a barrier to specialty care, behavioral health, and chronic disease management.

Digital Health Projects: Adult Remote Patient Monitoring Program - Home Health Agencies and Healthcare Organizations

Telehealth Expansion: Bringing Care Directly to Patients

Project Details

The Maine Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) expands access to chronic disease management through an Adult Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) initiative serving individuals with conditions such as hypertension and heart failure. This telehealth model uses connected monitoring devices, remote clinical oversight, and care coordination to support earlier intervention and improve health outcomes for rural patients who may face barriers to ongoing care and monitoring.

Who We're Serving

This project is intended to support:

• Home health agencies,
• Primary care practices,
• Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs),
• Rural health clinics,
• Hospitals and health systems, and
• Adults living with chronic conditions in rural Maine.

The project ultimately benefits adults with hypertension, heart failure, and other chronic health conditions who may face challenges of accessing ongoing monitoring and support. Emphasis is placed on individuals at increased risk for avoidable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and complications related to chronic disease.

Objective

Enable participating clinical organizations to adopt standardized Remote Patient Monitoring workflows that support proactive management of hypertension, heart failure, other high-risk chronic conditions, and pregnancy-related hypertension. Participation will improve chronic disease management and maternal health outcomes, strengthen patient engagement and self-management, support early identification of clinical deterioration and pregnancy-related complications, improve continuity of care, strengthen care coordination, support early intervention, and reduce avoidable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and adverse maternal and chronic disease outcomes.

Project Type Funding Tracks

• Track A: Adult - Chronic Disease RPM Participation. Target Population - Adults with hypertension, heart failure, and other high-risk chronic conditions. Purpose - Support implementation of RPM services for adults with chronic conditions in rural Maine. Key Responsibilities - Patient identification, enrollment, education, engagement, care coordination, RPM workflow integration, reporting, sustainability planning.

• Track B: Perinatal - RPM Participation. Target Population - Pregnant and postpartum individuals with hypertension, gestational diabetes, or other high-risk conditions. Purpose - Support implementation of RPM services for pregnant and postpartum individuals in rural Maine. Key Responsibilities - Patient identification, enrollment, education, engagement, maternal care coordination, RPM workflow integration, reporting, sustainability planning.

• Track C: Adult & Perinatal RPM Participation. Target Population - Both populations. Purpose - Support the implementation of RPM services across both populations. Key Responsibilities - Integrated implementation of Adult and Perinatal RPM, including patient identification, enrollment, engagement, care coordination, workflow integration, reporting, and sustainability planning across both populations.

The William J. Murtagh Scholarship for Graduate Historic Preservation Studies, offered by the Maine Community Foundation, supports graduate students in historic preservation and related fields. This scholarship covers tuition, travel, and study-related expenses, fostering the growth of preservation professionals in the U.S. Eligible applicants include students from various disciplines, ensuring a diverse pool of candidates. Awards may be renewable, providing ongoing support for dedicated students in this vital area of study.

Amgen is a leading biotechnology company dedicated to advancing medicine through Independent Medical Education (IME). It funds accredited educational programs that empower healthcare providers to enhance patient care. IME funding supports critical areas such as oncology, bone health, cardiovascular education, and more. Amgen's commitment ensures that these educational activities remain unbiased and compliant with applicable guidelines, fostering innovation and improved health outcomes for patients worldwide.

The Hope Funds for Cancer Research offers a three-year Postdoctoral Fellowship for innovative research in understanding difficult-to-treat cancers. Candidates with MD, PhD, or equivalent degrees can apply, focusing on novel approaches to cancer mechanisms and treatments. The fellowship provides a stipend starting at $56,000, with annual increases, and a travel grant of $1,500 for conferences. This initiative aims to enhance life expectancy through groundbreaking research in cancer treatment and prevention.

The Appalachian Landscapes Project Capital Grant, offered by the Open Space Institute, supports vital conservation initiatives aimed at preserving biodiversity and enhancing landscape connectivity. Established in 1974, the OSI has protected over 2.5 million acres in the Eastern US and Canada, focusing on land that ensures clean drinking water and wildlife habitats. This grant is specifically for projects within the Appalachian Landscapes Project service area, promoting sustainable community benefits.

The Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program in Maine provides essential funding for the development and improvement of clean drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, solid waste management, and stormwater drainage in eligible rural areas. This program supports state and local governments, private nonprofits, and federally recognized tribes that lack access to reasonable commercial credit. Funds can also cover legal fees, land acquisition, and other necessary project costs, ensuring reliable water services for communities.

State Farm's Good Neighbor Citizenship Company Grants aim to enhance community safety, development, and education. Focused on long-term impact, they support initiatives in auto and home safety, disaster preparedness, affordable housing, and educational programs. Eligible recipients include nonprofits, educational institutions, and government entities. However, funding is not available for individuals, religious programs, or organizations outside the U.S. By addressing critical community needs, these grants foster safer and more resilient neighborhoods.