Hearst Foundations' Mission

The Hearst Foundations identify and fund outstanding nonprofits to ensure that people of all backgrounds in the United States have the opportunity to build healthy, productive and inspiring lives.

Hearst Foundations' Goals

The Foundations seek to achieve their mission by funding approaches that result in:

• Improved health and quality of life
• Access to high quality educational options to promote increased academic achievement
• Arts and sciences serving as a cornerstone of society
• Sustainable employment and productive career paths for adults
• Stabilizing and supporting families

Funding Priorities

The Hearst Foundations support well-established nonprofit organizations that address significant issues within their major areas of interests – culture, education, health and social service – and that primarily serve large demographic and/or geographic constituencies. In each area of funding, the Foundations seek to identify those organizations achieving truly differentiated results relative to other organizations making similar efforts for similar populations. The Foundations also look for evidence of sustainability beyond their support.

Culture

The Hearst Foundations fund cultural institutions that offer meaningful programs in the arts and sciences, prioritizing those which enable engagement by young people and create a lasting and measurable impact. The Foundations also fund select programs nurturing and developing artistic talent.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Education

The Hearst Foundations fund educational institutions demonstrating uncommon success in preparing students to thrive in a global society. The Foundations’ focus is largely on higher education, but they also fund innovative models of early childhood and K-12 education, as well as professional development.

Types of Support: Program, scholarship, capital and, on a limited basis, general and endowment support

Health

The Hearst Foundations assist leading regional hospitals, medical centers and specialized medical institutions providing access to high-quality healthcare for low-income populations. In response to the shortage of healthcare professionals necessary to meet the country’s evolving needs, the Foundations also fund programs designed to enhance skills and increase the number of practitioners and educators across roles in healthcare. Because the Foundations seek to use their funds to create a broad and enduring impact on the nation’s health, support for medical research and the development of young investigators is also considered.

Types of Support: Program, capital and, on a limited basis, endowment support

Social Service

The Hearst Foundations fund direct-service organizations that tackle the roots of chronic poverty by applying effective solutions to the most challenging social and economic problems. The Foundations prioritize supporting programs that have proven successful in facilitating economic independence and in strengthening families. Preference is also given to programs with the potential to scale productive practices in order to reach more people in need.

Types of Support: Program, capital and general support

NOTE: Application for water access projects may submitted at any time so long as funding is available.

Welcome to the Maine DACF

Welcome to the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), the State of Maine's support center for our many land-based, natural resource interests. The Department balances for and develops the state's various land-based, natural-resources including Maine agriculture, forests, outdoor recreation and public-access.

The DACF helps guide Maine's 21st-century natural resource economy by supporting the creation of new jobs and businesses, improving and supporting existing land-based industries and streamlining regulations. We strive to provide excellent customer service and we facilitate a team approach to land-use planning, conservation efforts and economic activity. Our professionals work each day to strengthen the base of scientific research and information for effective decision-making.

Our agency has a wide range of duties from protecting the food we eat, stopping forest fires, mapping the ocean floor; keeping our parks and public lands pristine and accessible, planning wise land utilization, and helping beginning farmers.

We take a collective pride in providing excellent customer service through our hundreds of activities and programs.

Land for Maine's Future: Public Water Access to Maine Waters Fund

The Public Access to Maine Waters Fund is designed to 'get people to the water.' The board will accomplish this by acquiring fee simple of public access rights on small parcels of land to create or enhance access points to lakes, ponds, rivers, and coastal waters. Land for access could support a facility for trailered boats, or small, hand-launched craft (canoes, kayaks) and provide bank fishing, swimming, clamming, worming, or other water contact opportunities. Access is primarily intended for general public use.

An application to LMF requires sponsorship from a suitable state agency. An application must include full knowledge and agreement from the landowner that their project is up for consideration for LMF funding.

Funds often assist land trusts, municipal conservation commissions, local governments, private nonprofit charitable organizations, state agencies, and private foundations.

What does this program do?

This program is designed to provide technical assistance and training for small rural businesses. Small means that the business has fewer than 50 new workers and less than $1 million in gross revenue.

What is an eligible area?

Rural Business Development Grant money must be used for projects that benefit rural areas or towns outside the urbanized periphery of any city with a population of 50,000 or more. Check eligible areas.

What kind of funding is available?

There is no maximum grant amount; however, smaller requests are given higher priority. There is no cost sharing requirement. There are two types of RBDG projects, Opportunity grants and Enterprise grants.

• Opportunity type grants are limited to up to 10 percent of the total Rural Business Development Grant annual funding.
• Enterprise type grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application.

How may Enterprise type funds be used?

Enterprise grants must be used on projects to benefit small and emerging businesses in rural areas as specified in the grant application. Uses may include:

Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports or producer service improvements.

• Training and technical assistance, such as project planning, business counseling and training, market research, feasibility studies, professional or/technical reports, or producer service improvements.
• Acquisition or development of land, easements, or rights of way; construction, conversion, renovation of buildings; plants, machinery, equipment, access for streets and roads; parking areas and utilities.
• Pollution control and abatement.
• The capitalization of revolving loan funds, including funds that will make loans for start-ups and working capital.
• Rural distance learning for job training and advancement for adult students.
• Rural transportation improvement.
• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

How may Opportunity type funds be used?

• Community economic development.
• Technology-based economic development.
• Feasibility studies and business plans.
• Leadership and entrepreneur training.
• Rural business incubators.
• Long-term business strategic planning.

Max and Victoria Dreyfus Foundation Grant

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

Background

Through the generosity of year-round and summer residents, businesses, and friends, the Peaks Island Fund benefits the community of Peaks Island and its residents by supporting the work of local nonprofits and responding to the emerging needs of the island and its residents. Local residents evaluate grant requests to determine how the funds will be distributed. They also monitor the pulse of the island to determine other needs that should be addressed to better the future lives of island residents.

Priorities

The focus of the Peaks Island Fund is to help sustain and grow a diverse, year-round community on the island.

Priority will be given to projects that:

• Help to reduce economic barriers to living on the island
• Provide or increase access to educational and enrichment programs for youth
• Preserve and protect the built and natural environment, including projects that reduce energy consumption
• Increase year-round social and cultural resources for the community
• Enhance opportunities for physical accessibility on the island, or
• Collaborative projects that focus on efforts to bring Peaks Island residents together through common action and partnerships.

Types of Support

The Peaks Island Fund will award grants to support: 1) new or expanding projects; 2) capacity building; 3) general operations; 4) equipment or renovations; 5) rapid response.

Project support for new or expanding projects

• New projects are those being implemented for the first time. 
• Expanding projects are existing projects that will serve a different population or include new services or content other than what was previously implemented.

Capacity-building support is for activities designed to make an organization stronger, more successful, or more efficient. This includes:

• training board, staff, or volunteers
• improving financial management and development.

General operating support for organizations whose core mission is clearly and directly related to the fund’s priority areas (see above).

• Organizations may apply each year for operating support of $10,000 annually with a maximum of $20,000 over two consecutive years.
• Organizations that receive two consecutive years of general operating support must wait two years after the second grant is awarded before they can apply again for general operating support.

Equipment or renovation support needed to meet an organization’s mission.

 (New in 2018) Rapid Response Grants for new or unexpected needs that do not fit the timeline for the regular Peaks Island Fund grant program. The Rapid Response Grants will support small grants ($2,000 maximum) for: 

• software, equipment and/or fees that are needed for the organization to deliver services 
• special training and professional development such as attending conferences or workshops that will improve skills or future professional opportunities
• programming
• building repairs
• community events

NOTE: We will review your synopsis as soon as it is received. If it’s an idea we think might be right for us, we’ll be in touch within a week to solicit a full proposal. If an application is solicited, it will be due by Full Proposal deadline.

The Foundation for AIDS Research

amfAR’s mission is to end the global AIDS epidemic through innovative research

amfAR, The Foundation for AIDS Research, is one of the world’s leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to the support of AIDS research, HIV prevention, treatment education, and advocacy. Since 1985, amfAR has invested more than $635 million in its programs and has awarded more than 3,500 grants to research teams worldwide.

Target Grants

Background and Purpose

amfAR’s research initiatives are aimed at finding a cure for HIV that will be useful to the 38M people living with HIV. The urgency of our goal demands that we direct our funding to studies that uncover vital knowledge directly applicable to curing HIV.

Persistent reservoirs of virus not cleared by antiretroviral therapy (ART) represent the main barrier to a cure. amfAR prioritizes the development of an eradicative cure over ART-free control of persistent virus. Eradication is preferred by PWH, should obviate the need for ongoing monitoring, may result in seroreversion with its attendant benefits, and is an unambiguous improvement over treatment, including with long-acting ART.

An eradicative cure requires the removal of HIV proviruses, or the cells that harbor them. Although not strictly necessary, an eradicative cure that also protects individuals from reinfection is of particularly high interest.

The development of a cure will require a series of well-planned research steps. The development pipeline is commonly thought to proceed from in vitro through ex vivo and preclinical animal testing stages before proceeding to clinical trial.

Applicants should be able to:

• describe the clinical intervention they are working towards;
• articulate the current stage of development of their product; and
• describe the steps needed to progress to clinical testing.

Applicants may propose laboratory, animal or clinical research. Applicants should articulate a series of milestones that culminate in a clinical trial of the cure concept under consideration. Applications must be interventional, not descriptive.

Funding Principles

A major priority of amfAR’s research program is discovering the scientific basis of a cure for HIV. The urgency of our goal demands that we direct our funding to studies that uncover vital knowledge that is directly applicable to curing HIV in people living with HIV/AIDS.

In determining research priorities, amfAR considers the availability of funding, the current scope of knowledge, and whether the research is necessary and sufficient to accomplish our goal.

Questions such as those below guide amfAR’s consideration of research proposals:

• Do we already have sufficient answers to this research question?
• Would it be possible to develop a cure for HIV without the knowledge the researcher is seeking to acquire?
• Is the proposed research addressing a fundamental question that would propel several cure-focused approaches forward with the answer?
• How strong is the evidence that the overall approach has the potential to cure HIV?
• Are personnel numbers and costs appropriate?

Funding

• Type 1: Up to $100,000 direct costs, plus up to 20% indirect costs. One-year duration.
• Type 2: Up to $400,000 direct costs, plus up to 20% indirect costs. Up to two years duration.

Moving Image Fund Grants

The goal of LEF New England is to fund the work of independent documentary film and video artists in the region, and to broaden recognition and support for their work, both locally and nationally. It also supports programs that highlight the rich history and ongoing legacy of innovation within New England’s independent film community.

LEF New England launched the Moving Image Fund (MIF) in 2002 to support new film and video work. The Moving Image Fund provides funding across all phases of production, supporting films from the early risk-taking stage, through a film’s completion. In this way, MIF offers a continuum of support for selected projects, while also identifying new talent. Through MIF, LEF New England champions work that is provocative, heartfelt, and challenging in style and substance. Since its inception, LEF’s Moving Image Fund has supported over 300 independent filmmaker projects with approximately $4 million in funding. The overarching goal of LEF New England’s philanthropic investment is to help build a sustainable and strong community of support for artists and their work.Pre-Production FundingLEF invests in documentary film and video projects that demonstrate excellence in technique, originality of vision and voice, and creativity in form. The strongest proposals will be those that clearly articulate the ways in which the proposed project aligns with the program’s funding criteria.Funding Criteria: 

• Quality of cinematic form and technique
• Originality of filmmaker’s voice, vision, and point of view
• Resonance and power of the film’s core idea or story
• Feasibility of production

A maximum of (4) to (6) grants of $5,000 will be awarded to projects in the pre-production phase of development at one June deadline each year.Appropriate Use of Funds: Pre-production funds may be used for research, travel, location scouting, script or storyboard development, experimentation with shooting picture and sound, distribution planning, fundraising, creating a trailer, and schedule and budget development.

What We Do

Founded in 1983, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. MaineCF’s investment expertise supports our donors’ effective and strategic giving. We offer a range of giving options tailored to fit each donor’s financial means and charitable objectives. Our staff provides personalized service, community leadership, and a deep understanding of local issues.

Background

Investing in Leaders of Color (ILOC) was piloted in 2019 with nine nonprofit leaders from across the state. ILOC is part of MaineCF’s racial equity strategic work, which is focused on building the field of people and organizations working to promote and increase racial equity in Maine.

Investing in Leaders of Color

Investing in Leaders of Color supports nonprofit leaders of color and their organizations. The program provides one-on-one coaching, a stipend for professional development and operating costs, and networking opportunities.

This program is designed for people of color in leadership positions in nonprofit organizations that serve communities of color and promote racial equity in the state of Maine. Grants will be made to the organizations.

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.