Learn about grants to nonprofits in Maine by browsing our curated list of top funders below. Members can also research funding opportunities in Maine using the search tool for GrantFinder. Become a member.
Giving Trends in Maine
Giving by Maine foundations and from donor-advised funds is increasing. In 2019, about 2,400 grantmakers collectively gave more than $450 million in grants for Maine, according to Candid. Individuals account for more than half of charitable giving in Maine, according to the Maine Philanthropy Center.
Knowledge about grants for Maine is produced by the Maine Philanthropy Center. As of 2019, the total assets of all 535 private and community foundations in Maine amounted to $3.47 billion. Education, human services, and health are top funding priorities of leading Maine grantmakers, the Center reports. The environment is a top priority of the majority of donors involved with the Maine Community Foundation, which together with the Maine Philanthropy Center established a Climate and Environmental Funders Network that brings together more than 100 environmentally concerned Maine funders.
Grants for Maine come from a mix of private foundations, family foundations, public foundations, and corporate foundations. Top funders include the Harold Alfond Foundation, Maine Community Foundation, TD Charitable Foundation, Lunder Foundation, Libra Foundation, Maine Children’s Trust, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, John T. Gorman Foundation, United Way of Southern Maine, Maine Health Access Foundation, Davis Educational Foundation, Davis Family Foundation, Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation, Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation, Sam L. Cohen Foundation, Falcon Charitable Foundation, Betterment Fund, Maine Justice Foundation, and Onion Foundation.
Foundations for Maine Nonprofits
BANGOR SAVINGS BANK FOUNDATION
The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation is the grantmaking arm of the Maine bank and supports economic development, workforce development, demographic and entrepreneurial health, education, social and civic services, culture and arts, and health and wellness.
BECTON FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Becton Family Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, the arts, the environment, health, and human services.
CAMDEN NATIONAL BANK
Camden National Bank funds nonprofits as part of its commitment to New England communities for economic development, education and youth, arts and culture, and health and services.
CASCADE FOUNDATION
The Cascade Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, arts and culture, human services, and the environment.
SAM L. COHEN FOUNDATION
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation prioritizes Southern Maine through arts and culture, civic and community, education, health and human services, and Jewish culture and traditions.
DAVIS FAMILY FOUNDATION
The Davis Family Foundation supports education, arts and culture, and medicine with a geographic focus on the state of Maine.
FORE RIVER FOUNDATION
The Fore River Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, health, and human services.
FSB COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
The FSB Community Development Foundation serves Western and Central Maine in the areas of economic development, housing, job training, and other local needs.
STEPHEN AND TABITHA KING FOUNDATION
The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation supports environment, literacy, community services, and the arts in the state of Maine.
MACHIAS SAVINGS BANK
Machias Savings Bank supports Maine communities with grants in the areas of education, economic development, housing, arts and culture, health and wellness/human services, and environmental and preservation.
MAINE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The community funder for the state of Maine supports early childhood education, access to education, racial equity, seniors, and entrepreneurship. Numerous funds here accept unsolicited funding requests.
MAINE HEALTH ACCESS FOUNDATION
The Maine Health Access Foundation is a health legacy funder that supports access to healthcare, quality healthcare, and improved overall health in the state of Maine.
MAINE INITIATIVES
Maine Initiatives supports social change, economic justice, racial justice environmental justice in Maine.
MAINE JUSTICE FOUNDATION
The Maine Justice Foundation provides support for civil legal aid, LGBT justice, and equal justice for all people in the state of Maine.
MAINSTREET FOUNDATION
The MainStreet Foundation is the charitable arm of Androscoggin Bank and supports organizations that assist at-risk youth in the state of Maine.
MAINE WOMEN'S FUND
The Maine Women’s Fund supports women and girls, economic security, and social change in Maine by funding grants in these focus areas: education, financial skills and literacy, leadership, personal safety, healthcare, and public policy.
MORTON-KELLY CHARITABLE TRUST
The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust supports conservation, preservation, culture, and education in Maine.
SACO & BIDDEFORD SAVINGS INSTITUTION
The Saco & Biddeford Savings Institution is a mutual savings bank that gives back to the local communities in Maine in the areas of hunger, education, youth, sports teams, the arts, the elderly, and social services.
JOHN SAGE FOUNDATION
The John Sage Foundation supports environmental conservation, protection, and education within the state of Maine.
DOREE TAYLOR CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
The Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation supports animal welfare, arts, culture, humanities, health, and human services in Maine.
UNITY FOUNDATION
The Unity Foundation supports capacity building and leadership development support for local groups in the region of Unity, Maine.
WIND POINT FOUNDATION
The Wind Point Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to health, human services, education, youth, and the environment.
