How and Where the Sam L. Cohen Foundation Gives in the Northeast

One of the best givers to know in Maine is the Sam L. Cohen Foundation, a funder with broad interests and a narrow geographic focus. This is a winning combination for nonprofits in the southern portion of the state, where the foundation’s grantmaking is centered.

Here’s an overview of the Sam L. Cohen Foundation and the best ways to approach this funder with a program idea.

All About Southern Maine

This foundation has very specific geographic interests in the Northeast—so specific it does not even fund the entire state of Maine. In fact, one of its eligibility requirements is that applicants must be located in and/or provide services that directly impact the people of Cumberland or York counties in Maine. The foundation is based in the city of Portland, Maine. Recent Cohen grantees are based in Portland, Scarborough, Biddeford, Waterville, Kennebunk and Springvale.

Program Areas of Interest

The Cohen Foundation has five well-defined focus areas for its giving. These are arts and culture, civic and community, education, health and human services, and Jewish culture and traditions. Lately, the largest number of grants have been going towards health and human services causes, followed by education. Organizations with Jewish backgrounds are particularly favored.

Across these funding areas, Cohen gives priority to projects and groups that support people who are disadvantaged and do not have resources to take advantage of opportunities. On rarer occasions, Cohen considers ideas that are not within its funding areas, as well as even larger amounts, on an invitation-only basis. Overall, it also likes to support organizations that are collaborative for the purpose of leveraging resources.

Grants Average Less than $15,000

Nonprofits in Southern Maine can submit grant requests for up to $50,000. However, most of the funder’s grants are more in the area of $15,000 or less. Support for both new and ongoing programs, general operating support and capital improvements are all fair game for requests to the Cohen Foundation. However, Cohen prefers to not fund the same organization two years in a row.

An Accessible Local Foundation

This is a very accessible foundation for Southern Maine nonprofits, with a strong online presence and straightforward application process. There are spring and fall grant cycle deadlines each year with initial inquiries due between December 1 and January 15 for the spring and between June 1 and July 15 for the fall. All applicants, even past grant recipients, are required to submit an initial grant inquiry via online form.

Upon review of those inquiries, Cohen invites selected nonprofits to submit full applications, which are due on March 1 and September 1 each year. The foundation makes grant decisions in June and November. Throughout the process, Cohen makes its executive director, program officer and grants and finance administrator available for questions by phone and email.

Learn how to get in touch with the staff and other details about this foundation in IP’s full profile of the Sam L. Cohen Foundation: Grants for Maine.