Foundations that fund arts and culture in Maine
These 25 foundations made grants to arts and culture in Maine in the most recent IRS filing I have for each. None of them ticked the box for giving only to preselected organizations, and each filing gives application instructions or a website. That doesn't prove a foundation takes applications, and some on this list may not. The text below is copied from the filings, most of them for tax year 2024, so check a foundation's website or call before you apply.
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Onion Foundation
- $42,500 to Space Gallery, Portland: To support a weekend-long gathering for the Maine dance community
- $25,000 to Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, Portland: To support the Katahdin Learning Project
- $20,000 to Indigo Arts Alliance, Portland: To provide general support
How to apply: To submit an application, applicants may go to the Foundation's online grant portal to set up an account: https://www.onionfoundation.org/for-grantees Onion Foundation offers grants through its Arts Program and its Environment Program. Please review the appropriate program page...
Deadlines: Application links are posted on the program pages when the application period is open.
Restrictions: To apply for and receive a grant, your organization must be a 501(c)3 public charity as designated by the IRS, operate under a fiscal sponsor that is a qualified 501(c)3 public charity, be a public education institution, or be a Maine...
Fisher Charitable Foundation
- $10,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: General operating support
- $6,000 to Owls Head Transportation Museum, Owls Head: Access to stem education
- $5,000 to Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust, Rangeley: William reich museum septic system upgrade
How to apply: Information and a grant application can be found on the foundation's website https://fishercharitablefoundation.org/application-procedures/
Deadlines: February 15, may 15, august 15, november 15
Restrictions: The foundation generally limits its grants to charitable organizations, activities, operations or purposes which take place within the state of maine.
Lunder Foundation C/O Kenilworth Inc
- $1,001,775 to Maine Public Broadcasting, Lewiston: Programming fund
- $25,525 to Indigo Arts Alliance, Portland: Project support
- $25,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: Jeremy frey exhibition
How to apply: 1. A brief (1-3 page) letter describing the project, drive or campaign. This should include a statement of need, number of people benefited, geographic area served, total fund raising goal, and amount requested from the foundation. 2. Capital campaigns and special projects...
Deadlines: None.
Restrictions: The foundation contributes to organizations in the fields of higher education, the arts and health care. The foundation also contributes to worthy charities within its principal area of geographic interest of maine and massachusetts. When...
Sam L Cohen Foundation
- $50,000 to Maine Jewish Museum, Portland: Delet program
- $20,000 to Maine Jewish Film Festival, Portland: Maine jewish film festival
- $20,000 to Portland Ovations, Portland: Operating support
How to apply: Refer to www.samlcohenfoundation.org for specific information
Deadlines: Refer to www.samlcohenfoundation.org for specific information
Restrictions: Refer to www.samlcohenfoundation.org for specific information
The Robert and Dorothy Goldberg Charitable Foundation
- $10,000 to Opera Maine, Portland: Programming support
- $8,000 to Sail Maine, Portland: Programming support
- $5,000 to Denmark Arts Center, Denmark: Programming support
How to apply: Grant application package will be provided upon request
Deadlines: March 30 and september 30
Restrictions: Applicants must be non-profit organizations recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) and as a public charity under section 509(a) of the internal revenue code in order to be considered for a grant.
Mildred H Mcevoy Foundation
- $40,000 to Maine Public Broadcasting Corp, Lewiston: Charitable
- $34,000 to Opera House at Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Harbor: Charitable
- $25,000 to Maine Maritime Museum, Bath: Charitable
How to apply: Proposal should be in a letter form outlining goals and objectives along with a project plan and budget. Include evidence of 501(c)(3) tax exempt status.
Deadlines: Requests should be received prior to june 1st of a given tax year.
Restrictions: Grants are provided to health, educational, cultural and human service organizations based in boothbay, me and worcester, ma.
Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation Inc
- $25,000 to Continuum Arts Collective, North Berwick: General operating support
- $15,000 to Brick Store Museum, Kennebunk: General operating support
- $10,000 to Tear Cap Workshops, Hiram: General operating support
How to apply: No specific format or content
Restrictions: Limited to charitable, religious, scientific, literary or educational purposes described in section 170(c) of the internal revenue code.
Simmons Foundation - Perkinsthompson
- $2,500 to Kennebunkport Historical Society, Kennebunkport: HVAC Repairs inthe KHS Pasco Center
- $2,000 to Maine Jewish Film Festival, Portland: GeneralOrganizationalNeeds
- $2,000 to Maine Humanities Council, Portland: Department ofCorrections Program
How to apply: See attached schedule
Deadlines: There are no submission deadlines
Restrictions: See attached schedule
Arthur K Watson Trust Xxxxx5001
- $50,000 to Sail Maine, Portland: General
- $50,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: General
- $25,000 to Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport: El faro salute
How to apply: Www.jpmorgan.com/onlinegrants;no form
Deadlines: No deadlines
Restrictions: Grants are limited for the purposes of medical research or non- government provided education programs.
The Bob Crewe Foundation A/K/A Crewe Foundation
- $25,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: Operating support
- $18,000 to Palaver Strings, Portland: Operating support
- $5,000 to Opera Maine, Portland: Operating support
How to apply: See https://crewe.foundation/apply/ for application information.
Deadlines: See https://crewe.foundation/apply/ for submission deadlines.
Restrictions: See https://crewe.foundation/apply/ for award restrictions or limitations.
Narragansett Number One Foundation
- $10,000 to Buxton Hollis Historical Society, Hollis: Fund the abatement of lead paint fro
- $7,500 to Saco River Theatre, Bar Mills: General operating support for perfor
- $5,000 to Marine Mammals of Maine, Bath: Fund the operations of rehab facilit
How to apply: Written application is required
Deadlines: Applications are due between november 1 and april 1 of each year.
Restrictions: The foundation makes the majority of its grants to public charities in the town of buxton, maine and surrounding areas.
Terra Foundation for American Art
- $125,000 to William A Farnsworth Library and Art Museum Inc, Rockland: Art education
- $75,000 to Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor: Art education
- $75,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: Art education
How to apply: Please consult our website "www.terraamericanart.org" for grant application details.
Deadlines: Various
Restrictions: Please consult our website "www.terraamericanart.org" for grant application details.
Franklin P and Arthur W Perdue Foundation Inc
- $100,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: for Art for All and Free Fridays
- $75,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: Blueprint Campaign
- $5,000 to Opera Maine, Portland: Student Support fund
How to apply: Https://corporate.perduefarms.com/company/foundation/
Deadlines: Https://corporate.perduefarms.com/company/foundation/
Restrictions: Https://corporate.perduefarms.com/company/foundation/
Mattina R Proctor Foundation
- $10,000 to Opera Maine, Portland: Grant-aida & rappahannock county
- $5,000 to Friends of Strand Theatre, Rockland: Grant-support 2024-2025 school sessi
- $2,000 to Center for Maine Contemporary Art, Rockland: Grant-look inside sessions
How to apply: Applications accepted from public charities. Applications should be by letter, and contain a description of the applicant organization, purpose and budget of grant solicited, and proof of tax exempt status.
Restrictions: Preference is given to organizations located in the northeastern united states.
Francis T & Louis T Nichols Foundation
- $4,500 to Maine Maritime Museum, Bath: Donation
- $3,000 to Maine Maritime Museum, Bath: Donation
- $3,000 to Penobscot Marine Museum, Searsport: Donation
How to apply: Open application
Deadlines: December 1st.
Restrictions: Maine and vermont are priorities
Agnes M Lindsay Trust
- $3,000 to Sail Maine Inc, Portland: Campership
- $3,000 to Phoenix No Limits Karate Inc, Auburn: Campership
- $2,000 to Maine Academy of Modern Music, Portland: Campership
How to apply: In writing, resume of organization and program, use of funds, two years of audited financial statements and irs determination letter.
Restrictions: Limited to ma, me, nh, and vt. Must be 501 (c) (3) but not a private foundation.
Saco & Biddeford Savings Charitable Foundation
- $3,000 to Portland Ovations, Portland: General Operating Support
- $2,700 to Shutterbugs 4 Charity, Saco: General Operating Support
- $1,000 to Saco River Theatre, Bar Mills: General Operating Support
How to apply: Amount requested; proof of 501(c)(3) status; and statement of intended use.
Restrictions: Must be a 501(c)(3) organization and a qualifying public charity. Application must describe persons/communities served.
Maine Health Access Foundation Inc
- $50,000 to Maine Inside Out, Lewiston: Youth Leadership and Peer Support to Effect Transformative School and Systems Change
- $9,600 to Speak About It Inc, Portland: Speaking About It with Best Buddies of Maine
- $8,000 to United Youth Empowerment Services, Lewiston: UnitedYES Youth Empowerment and Gun Violence Prevention
How to apply: Grant applications are submitted via MeHAF's on-line grants management system, which can be accessed via the Grants Center on the MeHAF website: http://www.mehaf.org/grants- center/grantseekers/. Applications for several grant programs, including Discretionary Grants, Community...
Deadlines: Deadlines are outlined on the MeHAF website; open funding is available for select programs.
Restrictions: The foundation generally limits its grant awards offered through competitive RFPs to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organizations, educational institutions, governmental entities, tribal organizations, or other public, non-profit...
William Sloane Jelin Charitable Foundation C/O Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt Llp
- $5,000 to Maine Historical Society, Portland: General support
- $2,500 to Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting, Hallowell: general support
- $2,500 to Maine Jewish Museum, Portland: General support
How to apply: By letter with written documentation to support request
Deadlines: Annually prior to the first day of june
Restrictions: Restricted to 501(c)(3) organizations
Elsie & William Viles Foundation C/O Mark L Johnston Treasurer
- $2,000 to Maine State Music Theatre, Brunswick: Discounted student tickets
- $2,000 to Pineland Suzuki School, Manchester: General operating support
- $2,000 to Lincoln County Historical Association, Wiscasset: Install UV shades to protect collections /interior
How to apply: The application form, submission materials, and other application information can be found online at: https://www.elsieandwilliamvilesfoundation.org/Application/ To request funding, applicants should be prepared to submit a cover letter, proof of 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status, and...
Deadlines: Applications open April and are due by May. Recipients are notified in July.
Restrictions: The Foundation only provides funding for charitable, scientific, literary or educational purposes as are permitted to organizations exempt from federal income tax and described in section 501(c)(3) of the code, including without...
Rosamond Thaxter Foundation
- $2,500 to Ice Dance International, Kittery: General purposes
- $2,000 to The Dance Hall, Kittery: General support
- $1,000 to Kittery Art Association, Kittery: General purpose
How to apply: See sample application form attached
Deadlines: No later than november 15
Restrictions: Trustees requested by grantor to give primary consideration to section 501(c)(3) organizations that are located or perform their charitable acts within the area surrounding kittery,me & portsmouth,nh
Harold Alfond Foundation
- $1,600,000 to Waterville Creates, Waterville: Operating support
- $15,000 to Waterville Creates, Waterville: Waterville opera house season sponsorship
How to apply: Refer to grant guidelines at www.haroldalfondfoundation.org
Deadlines: Refer to grant guidelines at www.haroldalfondfoundation.org
Restrictions: Refer to grant guidelines at www.haroldalfondfoundation.org
The Shubert Foundation Inc
- $60,000 to Portland Stage Company, Portland: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
- $55,000 to Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor: General operating support for theatrical productions and activities
How to apply: All requests must be submitted on the foundation's application form and include a copy of the applicant's letter from the u.s. Treasury department granting federal tax exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the u.s. Internal revenue code. To be eligible for a grant and if audited...
Deadlines: See general explanation attachment
Restrictions: The shubert foundation exclusively provides funds for general operating support. Funds are not provided for project support, nor allocated for capital or endowment campaigns, nor to individuals or conduit organizations.
Td Charitable Foundation
- $50,000 to Portland Museum of Art, Portland: Art for all support
- $10,000 to Maine Inside Out, Lewiston: Workforce development for systems impacted artists
How to apply: Grant applications are accessible soley via the internet. The web address to access grant applications is: https://www.tdbank.com/corporate-responsibility/the-ready-commitment/funding -opportunities/
Restrictions: Organization must be a 501(c)(3) public charity. Organization must be located in a state with a td bank, na branch. The foundation will award only one grant to any program within one calendar year. Grants cannot be made to/for the...
Music Matters Fund Inc
- $35,000 to One Longfellow Square Inc, Portland: Project support
- $12,500 to Chocolate Church Arts Center, Bath: Project support
How to apply: Music matters fund inc. Expects that the majority of its disbursements will be through grants. The established grant procedures include the following steps: 1. Announcement of the grants. Working in conjunction with musicians, industry professionals, and industry organizations...
Deadlines: Music matters fund, inc. Announces the grant application timeframe, process, and online application
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