Best Grants for Nonprofit Human Services in Maine

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine providing human and social services, health, education, workforce, or arts programs can apply for US $2,000 - US $25,000 to support program development, facilities, equipment, and some operations. Grants from Bangor Savings Bank Foundation prioritize initiatives that strengthen Northern New England communities and improve regional economic vitality.

The Ludcke Foundation

Guidelines

To identify and support charitable endeavors that provide needed resources and services to children and families, with an emphasis on emotional and physical health, education, and social development.

The Foundation devotes its grants to the fields of education, health, and human services. The trustees have a special interest in programs that focus across two or three of the foundation’s areas of interest and in partnering with other donors with similar objectives to enable more ambitious projects.

Current Grantmaking Preferences

Job training for systems involved young people, job training for adults facing significant barriers, and limited support for innovative approaches to helping children in underserved New England communities overcome significant and often overlapping barriers to educational success.

Access to health programs for all ages, and behavioral health services for children and teens in underserved communities or otherwise facing significant barriers.

Homelessness prevention, housing assistance, food security, legal assistance, holistic family support, support for young people at risk, and support for victims of domestic violence.

Nonprofit human and social service organizations in Maine, along with other eligible 501(c)(3)s and public entities, can apply for Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program, with awards up to US $10,000 for projects or general support. Funding can support new initiatives, programs, operations, and capital expenses that strengthen community resources and well-being.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine can seek project support for education, human and social services, community and civic initiatives, and arts and culture programs that enhance local quality of life. Peckham Family Foundation provides funding to community-based groups in New York and New England, including Maine, through its Basic Support Grants program.

Nonprofit human and social services organizations in Maine with 501(c)(3) status can seek funding for programs in areas such as health, human services, education, and public benefit. Grants from David, Helen, and Marian Woodward Fund also support arts, environment, religion, and related charitable work across New York and the New England states, with historical preference for Connecticut.

Nonprofit human and social services organizations in Maine addressing basic needs, health, education, or arts access for low-income youth, immigrants, refugees, Indigenous communities, or the elderly can apply for US $2,500 - US $10,000. With a mission to support community well-being, Adelard and Valeda Roy Foundation prioritizes land conservation, food security, housing, hospice, home health care, and related programs.

Nonprofit and educational organizations providing risk management education to agricultural producers in Maine can seek funding to address underutilization of Federal crop insurance. The University of Delaware’s Northeast Extension Risk Management Education Center offers up to US $100,000 for 18‑month projects focused on production, marketing, financial, legal, or human risk areas across the Northeast region.

Grants help Maine human and social service nonprofits with capital and operating needs, including health and welfare, homeless shelters, food banks, and youth and family services, with awards of US $1,000 - US $7,500. Agnes M. Lindsay Trust also supports dental health, summer camps, and related services across Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

Nonprofit and educational organizations supporting agricultural producers with risk management training in Maine can apply for University of Delaware’s Extension Risk Management Education projects, offering up to US $75,000. Programs must teach producers strategies in at least one of five risk areas: production, marketing, financial, legal, or human.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing human and social services in Maine can seek funding for community programs, medical needs, education, arts and culture, and environmental initiatives. The Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust awards US $1,000 - US $15,000 to Maine-based nonprofits located, operating, and serving within the state.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations running educational, human and social services, health, arts, or historic preservation programs may be eligible for funding that improves quality of life. Focused on societal betterment, Valley Foundation invites groups in Santa Clara County and beyond, which can include Maine-based human services nonprofits, to apply.

Nongovernmental U.S. human and social service charities, especially those serving children and people in need, can seek program funding, including for Maine communities. Nailba Charitable Foundation provides support for initiatives such as at-risk youth programs, emergency food or shelter, disability services, and mental health or substance abuse programs that are backed by a NAILBA member agency or corporate partner.

Focused on community safety and services, Enbridge invites Maine human and social service nonprofits near its operations to apply for Enbridge Community Grants. Awards range from US $1,000 - US $10,000 to support safe, vibrant, and sustainable communities, including emergency services, youth development, social services, environmental education, and Indigenous-focused initiatives.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations providing human and social services in Maine communities where Athene employees live and work can seek funding for programs. With a mission to create positive social impact, Athene Charitable Foundation provides support for initiatives in education, human services, health and well-being, and environmental sustainability that align with its values.

St. Mary's Bank Charitable Foundation Community Support Grants aim to enhance community welfare by providing financial support to nonprofit organizations. With a commitment to 'people helping people' since 1908, the foundation focuses on areas like youth programming, homelessness, and civic support. In 2023 alone, they donated over $200,000 to 190 organizations, reflecting their dedication to improving lives in New Hampshire. They prioritize funding for nonprofits within their service areas, ensuring impactful contributions to local communities.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) human and social service organizations, including those in Maine, can seek Strategic Impact Grants to support programs in international development, community development, education access, and LDS initiatives. The Bertin Family Foundation looks for strong governance, measurable outcomes, financial transparency, and alignment with its values, with applications accepted annually through its Foundant portal.

The Slomo and Cindy Silvian Foundation Grant supports a range of subjects including education, children's welfare, medical care, medical research, and Jewish philanthropic endeavors. Established in honor of Cindy Silvian, the foundation has awarded over $30 million since 2008. Applications are by invitation only, and organizations must meet specific eligibility criteria to be considered for funding. This year, the foundation allocated over $2.4 million to more than 110 organizations, highlighting its commitment to impactful philanthropy.

The Andrew Burgin Charitable Trust Grant supports organizations that are exempt under Section 501(c)(3) and focuses on charitable, educational, religious, and scientific purposes. With grant sizes ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 and an annual budget of approximately $55,000, the trust primarily serves Alabama organizations. Applications are accepted year-round, but must meet specific deadlines for review. This grant offers opportunities across diverse areas such as arts, education, health, and human services.

The James B and Lois R Archer Charitable Foundation offers Large Grants for requests exceeding $10,000. Focused on fostering positive change, the foundation supports initiatives in Arts and Culture, Civic Engagement, Education, Health, and Human Services. Eligibility includes 501(c)(3) organizations, while restrictions apply to consecutive grant cycles and non-qualifying purposes such as endowments and fundraising events. Organizations are encouraged to apply for various projects to enhance community well-being.

The James B and Lois R Archer Charitable Foundation offers Smaller Grants of $10,000 or less to support initiatives in Arts and Culture, Civic Engagement, Education, Health, and Human Services. Organizations must have 501(c)(3) status and comply with eligibility criteria, including a one-year waiting period for reapplications. The foundation aims to have a significant impact on communities, especially in West Texas, while avoiding funding for specific exclusions such as endowments and fundraising events.

Melton Foundation

The Melton Foundation is an international 501(c)(3) non-profit organization registered in the USA, and a leading proponent of Global Citizenship education and practice worldwide. Established nearly thirty years ago with the credence that collaborations across boundaries can forge sustainable solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges, today, our programs reach millions of young leaders, having crystallized into a network of over 750 life-long Melton Fellows spread across 40+ countries. Our primary operations are in Chile, China, Germany, Ghana, India, and the United States of America, with legal subsidiaries in Bangalore, India; Jena, Germany; Temuco, Chile; and Accra, Ghana. 

Through our fellowship and collaborative programs we promote and enable global citizenship as a way for individuals and organizations to work together across boundaries of place and identity to solve challenges in an interconnected world.

Melton Foundation Action Grants

The Melton Foundation offers grants year-round to support Melton Fellows in developing skills, perspective and wider networks to further their capacity as global citizens and contribute towards building an equitable, sustainable, and peaceful world.

In almost 10 years of granting, more than 100 Fellows’ initiatives have been awarded with a Melton Foundation grant to

• Build awareness and/or further awareness raising around global issues and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
• Develop individual and collective responsibility for sustained, collaborative action,
• Grow capacity to collaboratively drive and sustain social impact at the local and/or global level,
• Further the design, implementation and evaluation of collaborative actions that embody the spirit of global citizenship practice and further social impact, or
• Support coordinated social-impact efforts in a particular or across (emerging) Melton Foundation Hub regions to promote global citizenship practice (s) and the organization’s mission.

Registered Canadian or U.S. charities and nonprofit organizations with programs in Maine can apply for BMO Financial Group’s community impact funding to support human and social services, economic mobility, and sustainability initiatives. Eligible projects may include financial literacy, workforce readiness, community development, and other services that strengthen local communities in Canada and the U.S.

Nonprofit human and social service organizations aiding families and children affected by crises or natural disasters in Maine may be eligible for crisis support funding. CAPTRUST Community Foundation supports programs that enrich children’s lives and assist families severely impacted by disasters, with applications submitted by CAPTRUST employees on behalf of eligible charities.

Graduate and medical students, residents, and post-doctoral fellows conducting human sexuality or sexual wellness research in Maine can apply for $7,500 in resident/fellow support from the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Focused on sexual health, SMSNA invites projects based in the U.S. or Canada that may benefit human and social services organizations and underserved populations.

Graduate and medical students, residents, and postdoctoral fellows conducting human sexuality or sexual wellness research in the U.S. or Canada can receive US $5,000 for research-related expenses. Focused on sexual health and human services, the Sexual Medicine Society of North America invites projects, including those serving underserved populations, that may benefit communities in Maine and beyond.

The Ken W. Davis Foundation Grant provides essential funding to nonprofit organizations in the U.S. that align with the Foundation's mission of promoting basic human needs and education in line with Constitutional freedoms. With a minimum grant size of $2,500, the Foundation focuses on supporting human service organizations in Tarrant County, Texas, and the Permian Basin of West Texas and Southeast New Mexico, while also offering national support for grants related to Constitutional freedoms.

The Warren Alpert Foundation supports initiatives aimed at enhancing public health through grants exceeding $25,000 for medical research, education, and basic human services. Applications are reviewed quarterly, with deadlines preceding board meetings. The foundation's mission encompasses advancing medical treatments and cures through rigorous research and health education. This commitment empowers various projects that align with their vision of improving community health and fostering innovation in medical practices.