Best Grants for Seniors in Maine

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: Nursing Home Telehealth Program - Specialty Telehealth Service Provider

Telehealth Expansion: Bringing Care Directly to Patients

Project Details

The Maine Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is expanding access to geriatric specialty care and geriatric psychiatry services through a statewide telehealth initiative serving residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and long-term care settings. This telehealth model connects residents and care teams with specialty providers to address workforce shortages and limited access to geriatric expertise in rural communities, helping improve access to care and reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital transfers.

Who We're Serving

This project is intended to support:

• Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs),
• Long-term care facilities,
• Rural healthcare organizations serving older adults, and
• Residents requiring geriatric specialty care or geriatric psychiatry services.

The project ultimately benefits older adults living in rural Maine who may face barriers to specialty care due to workforce shortages, geographic distance, transportation challenges, and limited access to geriatric specialists. Emphasis is placed on individuals with chronic conditions, behavioral health needs, medication-management challenges, and other complex care needs that benefit from timely specialty consultation.

Objective

Provide scalable tele-geriatric and geriatric psychiatry consultation services that expand access to specialty expertise for residents of rural nursing facilities, improve clinical decision-making, strengthen care coordination and continuity of care, improve management of chronic medical and behavioral health conditions, and reduce avoidable emergency department utilization and hospital transfers.

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: Nursing Home Telehealth Program - Nursing Facilities

Telehealth Expansion: Bringing Care Directly to Patients

Project Details

The Maine Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) is expanding access to geriatric specialty care and geriatric psychiatry services through a statewide telehealth initiative serving residents of Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs) and long-term care settings. This telehealth model connects residents and care teams with specialty providers to address workforce shortages and limited access to geriatric expertise in rural communities, helping improve access to care and reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital transfers.

Who We're Serving

This project is intended to support:

• Skilled Nursing Facilities (SNFs),
• Long-term care facilities,
• Rural healthcare organizations serving older adults, and
• Residents requiring geriatric specialty care or geriatric psychiatry services.

The project ultimately benefits older adults living in rural Maine who may face barriers to specialty care due to workforce shortages, geographic distance, transportation challenges, and limited access to geriatric specialists. Emphasis is placed on individuals with chronic conditions, behavioral health needs, medication-management challenges, and other complex care needs that benefit from timely specialty consultation.

Objective

Enable participating nursing facilities to adopt standardized telehealth workflows that expand timely access to geriatric specialty and geriatric psychiatry services, strengthen care coordination and continuity of care, improve management of chronic conditions, behavioral health needs, and medication-related issues, reduce avoidable emergency department visits and hospital transfers, support aging in place through access to specialty expertise, and enable residents to receive appropriate specialty care within their local facility whenever possible.

Preference may be given to facilities serving rural, underserved, uninsured, and/or MaineCare populations.

Grants from Point32Health Foundation help Maine nonprofits serving older adults advance equity in aging through multi-year general operating support. Organizations focused on social and racial justice, policy, advocacy, and systems change around aging and social determinants of health may be eligible, with funding usable for operations, staff wellness, leadership coaching, and other capacity-building needs.

Nonprofits with 501(c)(3) status serving low-income, vulnerable residents in Maine can receive up to US $30,000 to address basic needs like hunger, housing, and crisis support. The John T Gorman Foundation funds existing programs, general operating support, and one-time, 12‑month projects, including services that help seniors age in place.

Nonprofits serving seniors and other vulnerable groups in Maine and Northern New England can seek support for senior services, basic human needs, home health, hospice care, arts access, education, and environmental education. With a mission to aid underserved communities, Adelard and Valeda Roy Foundation provides US $2,500 - US $10,000 for programs benefiting immigrants, refugees, Indigenous communities, low-income youth, and the elderly.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations in Maine and other Vermont Mutual Insurance Group territories can seek funding for education, youth development, community-based initiatives, and basic needs programs that strengthen community quality of life. Vermont Mutual Insurance Group provides support to help build healthy lives and vibrant communities, which may include services benefiting seniors and aging populations.

Organizations in Maine working to improve health and access to care for older adults, rural residents, families, and others can apply for Maine Health Access Foundation’s Systems Improvement and Innovation Responsive Grants, with awards up to US $50,000. Funding supports systems-level innovations that advance health equity in rural health, aging, behavioral health, and maternal and child health.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations serving seniors and other vulnerable groups in Maine can apply for Agnes M. Lindsay Trust grants of US $1,000 - US $7,500 to support health and welfare, dental care, food security, shelters, and camperships. Grants from Agnes M. Lindsay Trust help Maine senior services and human services programs with both capital and operating needs.

Local governments in Maine can obtain funding for operating costs, equipment, and program materials that benefit low- and moderate-income residents, including seniors, through the CDBG Public Service Grant Program. Maine Department of Economic and Community Development supports services such as senior programs, health care, recreation, public safety, homelessness, and mental health, with awards up to US $50,000.

Nonprofit research institutions conducting applied studies on adults 60+ and their caregivers can seek support for aging-focused research, including interventional trials, translational work, and health services or policy studies. Grants from Retirement Research Foundation help Maine and other U.S. organizations when projects have national relevance or are specific to Illinois, with strong dissemination plans encouraged.

Health care leaders focused on senior services and age-friendly care in Maine and nationwide can receive scholarships covering US $13,995 in fees for the AHA Next Generation Leaders Fellowship. John A Hartford Foundation supports implementation of the Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms Framework through these competitive fellowships for rising hospital and health system change agents.

Maine research institutions and universities focused on senior health and aging can access funding through the National Institutes of Health to establish Claude D. Pepper Older Americans Independence Centers. These P30 center grants support geriatrics research and research education aimed at maintaining or restoring independence for older adults, and are available across the U.S. territories and states.

Nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations with programs serving Japanese American seniors, youth, and communities in Maine and nationwide can apply for project grants from the JA Community Foundation, ranging from US $2,500 - US $50,000. Focus areas include senior health and services, history, arts and culture, and youth; operating costs are not funded.

Nonprofits, government entities, and universities supporting marginalized older adults can seek funding for systems-level innovations that make aging more affordable, including in Maine. Next50 Foundation supports projects focused on ending ageism, advancing digital equity, or aging in place, especially those serving low-income and historically underserved seniors through collaborative, multi-year efforts.

Maine senior service nonprofits addressing the needs of older adults can access funding through Friends Foundation for the Aging for innovative, program-based work rather than capital projects. 501(c)(3) organizations, especially those serving underserved seniors or offering caregiver support, intergenerational programs, or leadership development in aging services, may be particularly competitive.

Maine nonprofits serving LGBTQ+ seniors and providing senior services or aging support can access funding through the Leonard Litz Foundation’s SilverConnect Initiative to strengthen programs for older adults. Grants support efforts that reduce isolation, improve quality of life, and expand affirming resources and care systems for LGBTQ+ elders within the foundation’s Eastern U.S. service area.

With a mission to support health and senior care, Albert G And Olive H Schlink Foundation provides Maine organizations serving older adults with funding for senior services, aging, and related patient care. Nonprofits focused on disability, mental health, hospice, home health, and residential care for seniors may be especially competitive, with preference for Ohio-based work but broader U.S. applicants considered.

About The John A. Hartford Foundation

The John A. Hartford Foundation, based in New York City, is a private, nonpartisan, national philanthropy dedicated to improving the care of older adults. The leader in the field of aging and health, the foundation has three priority areas: creating age-friendly health systems, supporting family caregivers, and improving serious illness and end-of-life care.

Since 1982, The John A. Hartford Foundation has awarded more than $758 million in grants to enhance the health and well-being of older people.

JAHF New Partners Program Call for Proposals:

National Initiatives Advancing Improvements in Care for Older Adults

The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) is entering a new chapter that builds on its work to improve care for older adults and support family caregivers while bringing new organizations, leaders and ideas into its community of grantees and partners.

Through this funding opportunity, JAHF is seeking proposals from organizations that have not previously received a major grant from the foundation.

Proposed initiatives must have a national or multi-site scope and align with at least one of the foundation's three priority areas:

• Age-Friendly Health Systems
• Family Caregiving
• Serious Illness and End-of-Life Care

Nonprofit organizations advancing advocacy for adults 60+ through U.S. or Illinois policy-change projects can seek funding to address seniors’ economic security, health care, housing, and related systemic issues. Retirement Research Foundation supports strategic, partnership-driven efforts that clearly separate advocacy from lobbying and can include Maine-focused work with broader regional or national impact, with awards from US $10,000 - US $160,000.

Maine senior services and aging-focused 501(c)(3) organizations can access funding through the Wallerstein Foundation for Geriatric Life Improvement to support programs for older adults. Grants back specific projects such as adult day care, dementia and stroke support, home health and wellness, nutrition and mobility services, and limited research on geriatric life improvement across the U.S.

This funding opportunity from the US HHS Administration for Community Living aims to support innovative community-based nutrition models that enhance health outcomes for older adults participating in Senior Nutrition Programs. Projects should focus on improving access to healthy foods, promoting healthy aging, and developing sustainable practices. By fostering community partnerships, the initiative seeks to replicate successful strategies across the Aging Network, ultimately improving the quality of life for seniors nationwide.

The Huntington Common Charitable Fund, managed by Kennebunk Savings Bank Foundation, supports programs improving the lives of older adults in York County, Maine. Established from the sale of the Huntington Common Retirement Living Community in 2006, it focuses on nutrition, dementia care, and therapeutic access. The fund proudly backs various nonprofits, including Southern Maine Agency on Aging and Good Shepherd Food Bank, ensuring essential services for the elderly are maintained and enhanced.

The AARP Community Challenge Grant supports innovative projects that enhance community livability for people aged 50 and older. Funded by the AARP Foundation, these demonstration grants range from $10,000 to $25,000 and aim to improve pedestrian safety, expand broadband access, and reconnect divided communities. Since 2017, AARP has awarded over $20 million in grants, fostering immediate improvements and long-term progress across the United States, including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The Sagol Network GerOmic Award for Junior Faculty supports early career investigators in aging research, focusing on -omics studies related to biological aging and age-related diseases. Research areas include genomics, proteomics, and interventions targeting aging. Eligible applicants are independent researchers at U.S. not-for-profit institutions, with 10 years or fewer since their postdoctoral training. The award may cover overhead costs, promoting innovative research in the vital field of gerontology.

This funding opportunity aims to enhance the participation of older adults in the Senior Nutrition Program by focusing on preventative health initiatives. The project seeks to build capacity through statewide efforts, develop shared resources for program sustainability, and foster collaboration among senior nutrition programs and key organizations. By achieving these goals, the initiative will improve health outcomes and strengthen community ties for older adults.

The McKnight Brain Research Foundation Innovator Awards aim to support innovative research in cognitive aging and memory loss, offering two 3-year grants of $750,000 each. Targeted at early-career investigators, the program encourages high-risk, high-gain proposals that explore clinical translational research and the biological mechanisms of cognitive aging. By fostering emerging scientific leaders, the initiative seeks to advance transformative discoveries in this critical area of aging research, enhancing understanding and treatment of age-related cognitive decline.

The JTMF Foundation Grant focuses on improving the lives of individuals in need, particularly in the Pacific Northwest. By partnering with organizations addressing immediate needs and long-term challenges, the foundation supports children, older adults, veterans, and individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Guided by Catholic values, JTMF aims to empower communities while seeking innovative solutions to societal issues. Organizations that align with these focus areas are encouraged to connect, fostering a collaborative effort towards meaningful impact.