Fore River Foundation
/OVERVIEW: The Fore River Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, health, and human services.
IP TAKE: The Fore River Foundation does not maintain a website, which restricts transparency about grantmaking strategies and guidelines. This is a private funder that makes substantial grants to a select few organizations and modest grants to a broader range of recipients. While the majority of its funding goes to Maine-based organizations, it also funds some national organizations whose work aligns with its giving interest. This is not the most accessible funder, as it does not accept unsolicited requests.
PROFILE: Established in 1986, the Fore River Foundation is steered by businessman T. Ricardo Quesada, his brother Peter, and other family members. T. Ricardo and Peter run Fore River Company, a real estate company in Maine. The foundation does not maintain a website, which makes it difficult to locate further information on its grantmaking strategies. Tax filings suggest the Fore River Foundation primarily funds grantmaking related to education, environmental conservation, historic preservation, the arts, health, and human services.
Grants for Environment
According to tax files, the environment is one of Fore River’s largest grantmaking areas. It primarily funds efforts concerning coastal and marine conservation, land conservation, biodiversity, parks, preserves, and sustainability in Maine, but it has been known to fund broader initiatives by national organizations. Maine grantees include Mount Desert Land and Garden Preserve, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Friends of Acadia, Maine Audubon, and Island Institute. Other grantees include World Wildlife Fund, Earthjustice, Friends of Cedar Mesa, and the Everglades Foundation.
Grants for Education
Based on its tax filings, the Fore River Foundation’s education grantmaking focuses on higher educational and secondary schools with which the family has a personal connection, including University of Maine and its Climate Change Institute. Peter is involved with the institute. It has also made donations to Deerfield Academy, St. Timothy’s School, Holton Arms School, University of VA Law School, North Yarmouth Academy, and Smith College. Fore River also sometimes funds nonprofit organizations working in fields related to education and youth, especially literacy and outreach, including the News Literacy Project, Boys and Girls Club, Banner Lake Club, and Hobe Sound Early Learning Center.
Grants for Community Development
The Fore River Foundation broadly funds organizations related to health and human services in its giving area, in particular homelessness, food insecurity, reproductive health and rights, and healthcare access. Grantees include Center for Reproductive Rights, Guttmacher Institute, Mt. Desert Island Hospital, Island Housing Trust, Loaves and Fishes of Hobe Sound, and Jupiter Island Medical Clinic.
Important Grant Details:
Grants range from $500 to $100,000. The foundation does not have a website, but grantseekers may learn more about past giving by reviewing the funder’s recent tax filings.
The foundation’s giving focuses on Maine, with other grants going to states like Florida and Massachusetts.
The foundation keeps a low profile and does not accept unsolicited proposals.
Direct general questions to (207) 772-6404.
PEOPLE:
Search for staff contact info and bios in PeopleFinder (paid subscribers only).
CONTACT:
Fore River Foundation
PO Box 7525
Portland, ME 04112
