Bangor Savings Bank Foundation

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OVERVIEW: 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.

IP TAKE: Bangor Savings Bank is a modest corporate funder that supports a wide range of issues in its giving areas. It primarily focuses on economic development and human services, but it also supports schools, the arts, and health care access in its community.

BSB is not the most transparent or accessible funder. It does not publish a comprehensive list of past grants on its website, and guidelines for application are minimal. However, it gives away a large number of grants each year in a range of sizes. There are opportunities for funding here with both the bank itself and its foundation.

PROFILE: Established in 1997, the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation (BSBF) is the grantmaking arm of Bangor Savings Bank in Bangor Maine. The foundation plays a larger part of the bank’s community investment efforts and contributions. It aims to “focus philanthropic efforts on initiatives that make our communities more prosperous, livable, and vibrant.” Its current priority Areas of Giving are economic development, workforce development, demographic and entrepreneurial health, education, social and civic services, culture and arts, and health and wellness.

In addition to its foundation, the bank conducts philanthropy through its Corporate Giving program, which awards smaller grants in the same issue areas.

Grants for Community Development

The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation’s priority grants go toward “improving the vitality of Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Vermont's regional and statewide economies, through economic and workforce development.” It supports organizations that aid with employment, vocational training or retraining, financial literacy, workforce development, and leadership development. It also supports social and civic services programs aimed at “improving quality of life in the communities we serve,” in terms of basic needs and human services, such as food banks, homeless shelters, domestic violence shelters, substance abuse services, and child welfare. Grantees include United Way of Southern Maine, Bangor Region YMCA, Good Shepherd Food Bank, Maine Community Foundation, Boots2Roots, and Safe Voices.

Grants for Education

BSB’s grantmaking for education supports programs that promote “student readiness, academic success, achievement, and aspirations at the primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.” It supports individual schools, school districts, and nonprofits working to improve youth outcomes. Grantees include University of Maine System, Ecology Education, John Bapst Memorial High School, Thomas College, Maine Appalachian Trail Club, and Junior Achievement of Maine.

Grants for Public Health and Diseases

BSB’s health grantmaking supports “programs essential to the underlying medical care of a community,” including “physical and mental health and wellness for people of all ages.” It primarily supports Maine hospitals and health care services, but also sometimes supports medical research institutions. Grantees include MaineHealth, LifeLight Foundation, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center, Jackson Laboratory, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Pir2Peer, and Hospice Help Foundation.

Grants for Arts and Culture

BSB’s grants for arts and culture go to support programs and institutions that “meet community needs, expand arts and cultural programming, or provide education.” It supports art museums, history museums, theater companies, music and dance, and arts outreach and education. Grantees include Penobscot Theater Company, Eastport Public Library, New Hampshire Theater Project, Honor Flight Maine, and LA Arts.

Important Grant Details:

Foundation grants range from $2,000 to $25,000. Corporate giving grants range from $100 to $2,000. BSB does not currently have a list of past grantees on its website, but grantseekers can review its tax filings for more information on its past granting habits.

  • Grantmaking is restricted to the market area served by Bangor Savings Bank. The bank prioritizes giving in Maine, but also funds work in New Hampshire, Vermont, and Massachusetts.

  • As a general rule, the foundation does not fund general operating support, festivals, conferences, scholarships, or endowments. It handles event sponsorships through its corporate giving program.

  • Requests for between $2,000 and $5,000 are reviewed twice a year on July 1 and January 1, and decisions are announced within 45 days.

  • Requests for between $5,000 and $25,000 are reviewed twice a year on April 1 and October 1, and decisions are announced within 75 days.

  • Requests for between $100 and $2,000 are accepted year round through the Corporate Giving program, and decisions are announced within 2 to 4 weeks.

  • Applications may be submitted through the bank’s online grant portal.

Grantseekers should direct general questions to the foundation at foundation@bangor.com or 877-226-4671.

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