Horizon Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Horizon Foundation supports environment, service, arts and music, and historic preservation in select counties of Maine, Massachusetts, and other states.
FUNDING AREAS: Environment, service, arts and music, historic preservation
IP TAKE: The best opportunities with this funder are for environmental groups in Maine. Horizon is deeply interested in renewable energy, forest and farmland, and energy efficiency.
PROFILE: Established in 1997, the Horizon Foundation is a family foundation based in Portland, Maine. It supports nonprofits where the trustees live and work to build community-wide effectiveness and organizational capacity, develop opportunities, and make a positive impact. Horizon funds nonprofits that “aspire to create and maintain sustainable, vibrant and resilient communities.” Areas of grantmaking interest include the environment, service, arts and music, and historic preservation.
Horizon provides grants that enable children and adults to be creative, healthy, and thoughtful. It is also a significant environmental funder that supports programs that teach people to be good stewards of the environment, conserve natural resources, and preserve historic assets. Much of Horizon’s grantmaking is focused on Maine and helping the state adapt to climate change, energy use, and forest conservation. In Maine, the funder also focuses on water quality and wildlife habitats. Beyond Maine, a majority of funding supports educating and motivating people to become strong leaders. Horizon also supports groups that promote music and the visual arts, as well as organizations that promote being of service to others.
Horizon grants range from $5,000 to $20,000. The funder does not publish an online grants database and it restricts grantmaking to the Maine counties of Cumberland, Lincoln, Franklin, and York, as well as Barnstable County in Massachusetts. Horizon funds Fairfield County, Connecticut and Mercer County in the Tri-State Area. Other geographic areas of interest include Pitkin County in Colorado, Martin County in Florida, and Blaine County in Idaho. On occasion, the trustees may expand their geographic areas of interest. The majority of grants are for a single year; however, the foundation considers multi-year support as well. It awards matching and challenge grants and collaborative efforts. Organizations must wait two years before applying for another grant after receiving funding. Horizon does not support health programs, public or private schools, capital campaigns, emergency requests, or state agencies.
The Horizon Foundation accepts unsolicited grant applications through its online grants system. The fall deadline is in October, and the spring deadline is in April. Grantseekers can reach out to the foundation staff at info@horizonfoundation.org or 207-773-5101.
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