The Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation concentrates on sizable, capital-focused gifts that strengthen healthcare infrastructure, public lands and park-related infrastructure in Maine, and distinctive higher-education cultural spaces. They favor a small set of repeat grantees and multi-grant commitments that fund tangible projects—medical equipment and campaigns, workforce housing for Acadia National Park, and renovation of a historic library reading room at Yale.
Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation Inc’s recent giving is defined by large, multi-year commitments that fund specific capital projects rather than broad program portfolios. One of the clearest examples is the three-year support for Yale University’s renovation of the Linonia & Brothers Reading Room in Sterling Memorial Library, with grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Another recurring pattern is infrastructure tied to Maine’s health and public-service systems: Lifeflight of Maine LLC received support for medical equipment and an aviation enhancement package, while Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems received funding for The Campaign for Acadia Hospital. The foundation also backs projects connected to public lands and the communities that support them. Friends of Acadia received consecutive grants for the Seasonal Workforce Housing Initiative to benefit Acadia National Park, and College of the Atlantic received two grants for the North Woods Ways project. Alongside those larger awards, the foundation makes repeated general-support grants to Maine-based organizations such as Maine Seacoast Mission, Island Institute, Friends of Katahdin Woods and Waters, North Haven Foundation, and Camp Sunshine at Sebago Lake. The overall pattern points to targeted, project-based funding with repeat relationships over multiple years.
Healthcare capital is a major thread in the foundation’s giving. Lifeflight of Maine LLC received $1,000,000 in 2023 for the Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation Medical Equipment Fund, and a separate $155,000 grant in 2025 supported the Aviation Enhancement Package. Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems also received $250,000 in both 2024 and 2025 for The Campaign for Acadia Hospital. The foundation also funds public-lands infrastructure. Friends of Acadia received $500,000 in 2024 and another $500,000 in 2025 for the Seasonal Workforce Housing Initiative to benefit Acadia National Park. In higher education, Yale University received three grants for planning and construction of the renovation of the Linonia & Brothers Reading Room in Sterling Memorial Library. Public health workforce training appears as well. The University of New England received $150,000 in 2023 and $150,000 in 2024 for needs-based scholarships in Graduate Programs in Public Health.
$1.6M
$1.5M
$575K
$1.7M
Most grants fall between $1K and $20K, with a median of $4K.
25th Percentile
$1K
Median
$4K
75th Percentile
$20K
About 0% of grants go to recipients in ME.
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Concentrated, large-dollar grants (six- and seven-figure) to a small number of repeat beneficiaries, oriented toward capital projects and campaign support rather than many small operating grants.
Notable grantees: LIFEFLIGHT OF MAINE LLC, Friends of Acadia, Yale University, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems (Northern Light Health Foundation)
Typical grants are relatively concentrated in the midrange, with a p25 of $1,000, a median of $4,000, and a p75 of $20,000. The recent-grants list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including Yale University, Friends of Acadia, Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems, and Camp Sunshine at Sebago Lake, which points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time gifts. The foundation also makes both general support and project-specific capital grants. It funds individuals, does not make program-related investments, and the public data shown here does not indicate an application process.
Grantmaking is national, but it is heavily weighted toward Maine, which is also the top state by grant count. Recent recipient cities in Maine include Camden, Bar Harbor, Brewer, Portland, Rockland, Northeast Harbor, Auburn, Casco, Augusta, and Riverside. Outside Maine, grants in the recent list went to New Haven and Greenwich in Connecticut and Missoula, Montana. All of the recipient-country data shown is in the United States.
The recent grants show support for medical equipment and hospital campaigns, seasonal workforce housing for Acadia National Park, higher-education library renovation, public-health scholarships, and general operating support for Maine-based civic and conservation organizations.
Yes. Yale University received grants in 2023, 2024, and 2025 for the Linonia & Brothers Reading Room renovation, and Friends of Acadia received grants in 2024 and 2025 for the Seasonal Workforce Housing Initiative. Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems also received two grants in consecutive years.
The typical grant-size distribution is p25 $1,000, median $4,000, and p75 $20,000. The recent grants list also includes much larger capital gifts, including $1,000,000 to Lifeflight of Maine LLC and $500,000 awards to Friends of Acadia.
Maine is the top state by grant count. Recent Maine recipients include organizations in Camden, Bar Harbor, Brewer, Portland, Rockland, Northeast Harbor, Auburn, Casco, Augusta, and Riverside.
It funds individuals. The structured data indicates that directly, alongside organizational grants to hospitals, universities, conservation groups, and community nonprofits.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $500,000 | 2026 | to provide funds for the Seasonal Workforce Housing Initiative to benefit acadia national park |
| CAMP SUNSHINE AT SEBAGO LAKE INC | CASCO, ME | $200,000 | 2026 | Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation Family Fund |
| NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $75,000 | 2026 | To support the Southern National Forest Recovery Fund |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $75,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| GREENWICH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE INCORPORATED | RIVERSIDE, CT | $56,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| COLLEGE OF THE ATLANTIC | BAR HARBOR, ME | $50,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF KATAHDIN WOODS AND WATERS | PORTLAND, ME | $50,000 | 2026 | To support the delivery of education programming |
| MAINE SEACOAST MISSION | NE HARBOR, ME | $50,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $35,000 | 2026 | Charitable Event |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $30,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ISLAND INSTITUTE | ROCKLAND, ME | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ISLAND HOUSING TRUST | MOUNT DESERT, ME | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FISHER HOUSE FOUNDATION INC | ROCKVILLE, MD | $25,000 | 2026 | to support the VMHLC |
| HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF GREENWICH INC | COS COB, CT | $25,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WATERMANS COMMUNITY CENTER | NORTH HAVEN, ME | $20,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ISLAND READERS AND WRITERS AN INITIATIVE FOR MAINE | MOUNT DESERT, ME | $20,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| A MAINEHEALTH HCSR | PORTLAND, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | Pen Bay and Waldo Hospitals Fund |
| MOUNT DESERT NURSING ASSOCIATION | NORTHEAST HARBOR, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL | BAR HARBOR, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| OLD TIMERS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OF GREENWICH CONNE | GREENWICH, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | College Scholarship Fund |
| BARNARD COLLEGE | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | Francine A. LeFrak Foundation Center for Well-Being |
| TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW | NEW YORK, NY | $10,000 | 2026 | Caroll Adams Scholarship fund for pre-med student |
| BRUCE MUSEUM INC | GREENWICH, CT | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| NORTH HAVEN FOUNDATION | ROCKLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION | MISSOULA, MT | $8,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| INTREPID FALLEN HEROES FUND | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| LEWA WILDLIFE CONSERVANCY USA | NEW YORK, NY | $7,500 | 2026 | to support Lewa's Conservation Education Program |
| BUCKLEY INSTITUTE INC | NEW HAVEN, CT | $7,500 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CAMP BEECH CLIFF | MOUNT DESERT, ME | $5,250 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| THE UCLA FOUNDATION | PASADENA, CA | $5,000 | 2026 | to support the Operation Mend program |
| GOOD SHEPHERD FOOD BANK | AUBURN, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| LIFEFLIGHT OF MAINE LLC | AUGUSTA, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FEEDING AMERICA | WASHINGTON, DC | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| YALE UNIVERSITY | NEW HAVEN, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | to support the Yale Library Associates |
| THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE TEXAS HILL COUNTRY | KERRVILLE, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| GARRETT B SMITH FOUNDATION | GREENWICH, CT | $5,000 | 2026 | childhood cancer research fund |
| DUCKS UNLIMITED | MEMPHIS, TN | $5,000 | 2026 | Advancing Coastal Marsh Restoration in Connecticut |
| NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE CLUB | NE HARBOR, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| STOP SOLDIER SUICIDE | DURHAM, NC | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| ADMIRAL NIMITZ FOUNDATION | FREDERICKSBRG, TX | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| FRIENDS OF ACADIA | BAR HARBOR, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| STEPHEN SILLER TUNNEL TO TOWERS FOUNDATION | STATEN ISLAND, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| HISTORY TRUST | MOUNT DESERT, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| C&O CANAL TRUST INC | WILLIAMSPORT, MD | $5,000 | 2026 | to support the Canal for All project |
| CANCER SUPPORT TEAM INC | PURCHASE, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | Cancer Support Team's Mental Health Program |
| MOUNT DESERT ISLAND SEARCH & RESCUE | BAR HARBOR, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| WILLOWIND THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC | BAR HARBOR, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| BOB WOODRUFF FAMILY FOUNDATION INC | LONG ISLAND CITY, NY | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| CHILDREN OF FALLEN PATRIOTS FOUNDATION | RESTON, VA | $5,000 | 2026 | General & Unrestricted |
| MOUNT DESERT ISLAND HOSPITAL | BAR HARBOR, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Building Our Future Campaign |
to provide funds for the Seasonal Workforce Housing Initiative to benefit acadia national park
To support the Southern National Forest Recovery Fund
GREENWICH EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICE INCORPORATED
$56,000General & Unrestricted
To support the delivery of education programming
MAINE SEACOAST MISSION
$50,000General & Unrestricted
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$30,000General & Unrestricted
HISTORIC PROPERTIES OF GREENWICH INC
$25,000General & Unrestricted
WATERMANS COMMUNITY CENTER
$20,000General & Unrestricted
ISLAND READERS AND WRITERS AN INITIATIVE FOR MAINE
$20,000General & Unrestricted
MOUNT DESERT NURSING ASSOCIATION
$15,000General & Unrestricted
OLD TIMERS ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION OF GREENWICH CONNE
$10,000College Scholarship Fund
TRUSTEES OF COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF NEW
$10,000Caroll Adams Scholarship fund for pre-med student
BRUCE MUSEUM INC
$10,000General & Unrestricted
NORTH HAVEN FOUNDATION
$10,000General & Unrestricted
CAMP BEECH CLIFF
$5,250General & Unrestricted
LIFEFLIGHT OF MAINE LLC
$5,000General & Unrestricted
GARRETT B SMITH FOUNDATION
$5,000childhood cancer research fund
DUCKS UNLIMITED
$5,000Advancing Coastal Marsh Restoration in Connecticut
NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE CLUB
$5,000General & Unrestricted
HISTORY TRUST
$5,000General & Unrestricted
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND SEARCH & RESCUE
$5,000General & Unrestricted
WILLOWIND THERAPEUTIC RIDING CENTER INC
$5,000General & Unrestricted