The Algar Foundation concentrates large, targeted gifts to independent arts and progressive private education institutions in New England, frequently fulfilling pledged commitments. Their giving appears strategic and capacity-focused (e.g., pledge/capital support) rather than broadly distributed across many small grantees.
Algar Foundation C/o Gma Foundations’ largest recent grant was a $400,000 pledge payment to Maine College of Art and Design in Portland, a clear sign that it uses sizable, targeted commitments to support institutions over time. That pattern shows up across its recent giving: the foundation backs independent arts colleges, progressive private schools, youth-serving organizations, and civic groups with grants that are often unrestricted or tied to operating needs, annual funds, or pledge fulfillment. Its recent record also includes repeat support for organizations rather than one-off gifts. Cambridge School of Weston received $250,000 for general operating support in 2023, while Utec in Lowell, Massachusetts, appears more than once with grants for both general operating support and unrestricted support. The foundation’s education work is not limited to higher education; it also supports youth and adolescent programming, scholarship-related education access, and juvenile-justice-related education equity. Alongside those themes, it has made gifts to disaster recovery and civic engagement organizations, showing a mix of institutional support and issue-specific funding. The overall pattern is concentrated, strategic, and relationship-driven.
Arts and education anchor much of the foundation’s giving. In Maine, Maine College of Art and Design received $400,000 in 2025 for a 2024 pledge payment, and Maine College of Art received $25,000 in 2024 as an unrestricted grant after a $25,000 general operating grant in 2023. In Greater Boston, Cambridge School of Weston received $250,000 for general operating support, and Citizens Schools received $30,000 in both 2023 and 2024. The foundation also funds youth-serving and education-access organizations. Utec in Lowell received $40,000 in 2023 for general operating support and the same amount again in 2024 as unrestricted support. Breakwater Learning in Portland, Maine, received $52,750 unrestricted in 2025, plus earlier unrestricted and general operating grants. Civic engagement is another visible theme: Issue One received $30,000 in 2023, $30,000 in 2024, and $30,000 in 2025, all tied to general operating or unrestricted support.
Typical grant size is modest relative to the foundation’s larger commitments: the 25th percentile is $4,375, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. That distribution sits alongside a few much larger awards, including pledge and operating support gifts. The recent record shows repeat funding to the same organizations across multiple years, including Maine College of Art and Design, Utec, and Issue One. Support is often unrestricted, general operating, annual fund, or pledge-related rather than project-specific. The foundation also makes grants to individuals, and it does not make program-related investments.
$858K
$12.2M
$642K
$955K
Most grants fall between $4K and $10K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$4K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$10K
About 20% of grants go to recipients in ME.
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Very concentrated: few, large gifts (six-figure grants) primarily to regional educational institutions, likely fulfilling pledge obligations rather than one-off small grants.
Notable grantees: Maine College of Art and Design, Cambridge School of Weston
Grantmaking is regional, with the highest concentration in Maine. Portland appears repeatedly through Maine College of Art and Design, Maine College of Art, Breakwater Learning, and the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine. Lowell also appears more than once through Utec, while Boston shows up with Citizens Schools and the College for Social Innovation. The foundation gives 20% of its grants to recipients in Massachusetts, but its most frequent giving state is Maine. All recent grants in the data went to U.S. recipients.
Recent grants center on independent arts colleges, progressive private schools, youth-serving organizations, civic engagement groups, and education access efforts. The data also shows disaster recovery support and juvenile-justice-related education equity among the foundation’s stated topic areas.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years. Utec received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025; Issue One also appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and Maine College of Art and Design, Maine College of Art, Breakwater Learning, and Citizens Schools all received repeat support.
The foundation’s typical grant size is small relative to its larger awards: the 25th percentile is $4,375, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $10,000. Recent giving also includes larger strategic commitments such as $250,000 and $400,000 grants.
Maine is the top state by grant count. Portland, Maine appears repeatedly among recipients, including Maine College of Art and Design, Maine College of Art, Breakwater Learning, and the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine. Massachusetts is also significant, with 20% of grants going to recipients in that state.
Yes. The foundation funds individuals, alongside general nonprofit organizations, disaster-affected communities, youth and adolescents, college students or scholarship recipients, voters and communities targeted for civic engagement, and youth involved with the juvenile justice system.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAINE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN | PORTLAND, ME | $400,000 | 2025 | 2024 MECA PLEDGE PAYMENT |
| BREAKWATER LEARNING | PORTLAND, ME | $52,750 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GLOBAL IMPACT FBO FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE | ALEXANDRIA, VA | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GUNSDOWN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UTEC | LOWELL, MA | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ISSUE ONE | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAINE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN | PORTLAND, ME | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAKE A CHANGE WORLD INC | NEW YORK, NY | $16,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAINE DONOR ALLIANCE FUND | PORTLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLLEGE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION | BOSTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THEATRE OF MAINE | PORTLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WAYNFLETE SCHOOL | PORTLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| CARIDAD CENTER | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BROOKLINE ARTS CENTER | BROOKLINE, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SAIL MAINE INC | PORTLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TIDES FOUNDATION FBO MOVEMENT VOTER FUND | LOS ANGELES, CA | $10,000 | 2025 | MOVEMENT VOTER FUND |
| THE CHILDREN'S ROOM | ARLINGTON, MA | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MECHANICS' HALL | PORTLAND, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GUANACASTE DRY FOREST CONSERVATION FUND | HUNTINGTON, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PITZER COLLEGE | CLAREMONT, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | PITZER FUND |
| ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ST ANDREWS SCHOOL OF BOCA RATON | BOCA RATON, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | ANNUAL FUND |
| AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BLUE VENTURES | ARLINGTON, VA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SURFRIDER FOUNDATION | SAN CLEMENTE, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF MAINE | PORTLAND, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MARALLIANCE | SAN FRANCISCO, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PLACE OF HOPE INC | PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SPACE GALLERY | PORTLAND, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | YOUTH PROGRAMMING |
| PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND | COLCHESTER, VT | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE | BERKELEY, CA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CARIDAD CENTER | BOYNTON BEACH, FL | $5,000 | 2025 | COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM |
| SKIDMORE COLLEGE | SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAINE NEEDS | PORTLAND, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAINE PUBLIC | LEWISTON, ME | $2,000 | 2025 | MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK |
| NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY | NEW YORK, NY | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | WBUR |
| MAINE AUDOBON | FALMOUTH, ME | $2,000 | 2025 | GISLAND FARM |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | WGBH RADIO |
| WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION | BOSTON, MA | $2,000 | 2025 | WGBH TV |
| NEW VENTURE FUND FBO THE FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE | WASHINGTON, DC | $50,000 | 2024 | F/B/O THE FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE |
| UTEC | LOWELL, MA | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| GUNSDOWN INC | WASHINGTON, DC | $40,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| CITIZENS SCHOOLS | BOSTON, MA | $30,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| ISSUE ONE | WASHINGTON, DC | $30,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BREAKWATER LEARNING | PORTLAND, ME | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| MAINE COLLEGE OF ART | PORTLAND, ME | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER | DELRAY BEACH, FL | $25,000 | 2024 | UNRESTRICTED |
MAINE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
$400,0002024 MECA PLEDGE PAYMENT
BREAKWATER LEARNING
$52,750UNRESTRICTED
GLOBAL IMPACT FBO FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
GUNSDOWN INC
$50,000UNRESTRICTED
UTEC
$40,000UNRESTRICTED
ISSUE ONE
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
MAINE COLLEGE OF ART AND DESIGN
UNRESTRICTED
MAKE A CHANGE WORLD INC
$16,000UNRESTRICTED
MAINE DONOR ALLIANCE FUND
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
COLLEGE FOR SOCIAL INNOVATION
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
CHILDREN'S MUSEUM AND THEATRE OF MAINE
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
WAYNFLETE SCHOOL
$10,000ANNUAL FUND
CARIDAD CENTER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
BROOKLINE ARTS CENTER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
SAIL MAINE INC
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
TIDES FOUNDATION FBO MOVEMENT VOTER FUND
$10,000MOVEMENT VOTER FUND
THE CHILDREN'S ROOM
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
MECHANICS' HALL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
GUANACASTE DRY FOREST CONSERVATION FUND
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
PITZER COLLEGE
$5,000PITZER FUND
ACHIEVEMENT CENTERS FOR CHILDREN & FAMILIES
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
ST ANDREWS SCHOOL OF BOCA RATON
$5,000ANNUAL FUND
AMERICAN FRIENDS OF BLUE VENTURES
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
SURFRIDER FOUNDATION
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION OF MAINE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
MARALLIANCE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
PLACE OF HOPE INC
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
SPACE GALLERY
$5,000YOUTH PROGRAMMING
PLANNED PARENTHOOD OF NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
EARTH ISLAND INSTITUTE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
CARIDAD CENTER
$5,000COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
SKIDMORE COLLEGE
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
MAINE NEEDS
$2,500UNRESTRICTED
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
MAINE PUBLIC
$2,000MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
TRUSTEES OF BOSTON UNIVERSITY
$2,000WBUR
MAINE AUDOBON
$2,000GISLAND FARM
WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$2,000WGBH RADIO
WGBH EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
$2,000WGBH TV
NEW VENTURE FUND FBO THE FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE
$50,000F/B/O THE FUND FOR A SAFER FUTURE
UTEC
$40,000UNRESTRICTED
GUNSDOWN INC
$40,000UNRESTRICTED
CITIZENS SCHOOLS
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
ISSUE ONE
$30,000UNRESTRICTED
BREAKWATER LEARNING
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
MAINE COLLEGE OF ART
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
SANDOWAY DISCOVERY CENTER
$25,000UNRESTRICTED