MCF leads a statewide effort to reduce the impact of cancer in Maine. We invest in the most promising and effective programs that advance cancer prevention, increase screening, and improve access to care for all Maine people.
A defining feature of Maine Cancer Foundation’s recent grantmaking is its mix of prevention, screening, and patient support work across Maine, with large awards that also reach into systems change. The foundation funds cancer risk reduction, early detection, and practical help for people already in treatment, including transportation, lodging, and navigation services. In the recent grants list, MaineHealth - Maine Medical Center received $181,873 in 2024 and $180,500 in 2025 for a combined set of cancer risk, prevention, and care-network initiatives, showing continued support for connected cancer services. Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center was also a major recipient, with grants of $174,000 in 2025 and $120,000 in 2024 for access to cancer treatment and general support. Other grants point to a broad Maine cancer portfolio that includes breast, colorectal, lung, skin, and tobacco-related work, along with equity-centered efforts for Wabanaki communities, rural patients, and underserved residents.
In cancer screening, Maine Cancer Foundation backed several clinic and community-based projects. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center received $80,000 in 2025 for “Culture of Caring: Reducing Barriers to Breast Cancer Screenings - SDOH, Gender Identity and Trauma,” while St Joseph Hospital received $80,000 in 2024 for a colorectal screening project. For prevention, Impact Melanoma got $130,000 in 2025 for “Skin Cancer Partners in Prevention,” and Capital Kids dba Augusta Teen Center received $80,000 in 2024 for “Roads to Success - Tobacco.” The foundation also funds access-to-care work: Greater Portland Health received $80,000 in 2025 for “Improving Cancer Outcomes for the Underserved,” and Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness received $100,000 in 2024 to reduce barriers for Wabanaki cancer patients. Patient support appears as a separate lane, including lodging, transportation, and navigation services.
Typical awards cluster around the middle of the six-figure range, with a p25 of $22,000, a median of $49,998, and a p75 of $69,250. The recent grants list shows repeated support for several recipients across multiple years, including MaineHealth - Maine Medical Center, Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center, and Dempsey Center, which suggests ongoing relationship-based grantmaking rather than one-off awards. The foundation makes program grants, general operating support, direct patient support, and capacity-building awards. Its active grant programs include multiple requests for proposals, and several accept unsolicited applications, including the prevention, transportation and lodging, screening, patient navigation, and general grantmaking entries.
$2.6M
$7.2M
$3.8M
$3.7M
Most grants fall between $22K and $69K, with a median of $50K.
25th Percentile
$22K
Median
$50K
75th Percentile
$69K
Ray Ruby
Sign up for a free Kindora account to access AI-generated insights into this funder's giving patterns, decision-makers, and fit signals.
Get Started FreeFree Kindora accounts unlock side-by-side comparisons with foundations that share this funder's focus areas and giving profile.
Get Started FreeSign up free to see how well your nonprofit fits this funder, get an AI-generated pitch, and unlock similar foundations.
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly in-state: 91% of grants go to recipients in Maine. Recent awards cluster in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta, Ellsworth, and Norway, with additional grants in Farmington, South Portland, Presque Isle, and DoverFoxcroft. The top state by grant count is Massachusetts, driven by a smaller number of out-of-state recipients such as Impact Melanoma in Concord and the Joe Andruzzi Foundation in North Attleboro. Recipient-country data is entirely U.S.-based.
The foundation funds cancer prevention, cancer screening, access to care, patient navigation, transportation and lodging for patients, tobacco prevention and control, HPV vaccination, environmental factors related to cancer, advocacy, health equity, and survivorship. Recent grants also show support for breast, colorectal, lung, skin, and prostate-related work.
Yes. Its active grant programs include Transportation and Lodging Services for Cancer Patients, and recent awards include $112,500 to Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine for transportation and lodging access plus $75,000 to the Joe Andruzzi Foundation for transportation support for Maine cancer patients.
The grant-size distribution centers on $49,998, with a p25 of $22,000 and a p75 of $69,250. Recent awards also include larger multi-purpose grants such as $181,873 and $180,500 to MaineHealth - Maine Medical Center.
Yes for several programs, including Cancer Prevention Programs, Patient Navigation Grants, Transportation and Lodging Services for Cancer Patients, Improve Cancer Screening, and general grantmaking. The 2026 Cancer Prevention Grants RFP is listed as not accepting unsolicited applications.
Its giving is local and heavily concentrated in Maine, with 91% of grants to recipients in the state. Recent recipients include organizations in Portland, Bangor, Lewiston, Augusta, Ellsworth, Norway, and South Portland, while Massachusetts appears as the top state by grant count outside Maine.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MaineHealth - Maine Medical Center | Portland, ME | $180,000 | 2026 | Phychosocial Care for Cancer Survivors Training, Clinical Interventions to Promote Lifestyle and Behavior Change for Cancer Prevention, Expanded Enhancement of Melanoma Screening Using Dermoscopy in Rural Primary Care |
| St Croix Regional Family Health Center (Princeton) | Princeton, ME | $133,250 | 2026 | Rural Cancer Patient Navigator Project |
| Maine General Medical Center | Augusta, ME | $100,000 | 2026 | Preventing Secondary Cancers Related to Tobacco Use and Transportation and Lodging Assistance for Patients of the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care |
| Aroostook County Action Program | Presque Isle, ME | $90,000 | 2026 | Food is Medicine and Maine Cancer Patient Support |
| Harrington Family Health Center | Harrington, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | Patient Navigation Cancer Prevention Program |
| Bucksport Regional Health Center | Bucksport, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | Improving Awareness and Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening for Younger Adults |
| Maine Family Planning | Augusta, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | Cervical Cancer Screening for Underserved Rural Populations in Maine |
| Healthy Communities of the Capital Area | Gardiner, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | It's Worth the Try: A Pilot of the LGBTQ+ Youth Tobacco Quit Curriculum |
| Western Maine Community Action Inc | East Wilton, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | Homes Against Harm: Cancer Risk Reduction |
| Maine Community Integration | Lewiston, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | OWN IT: Reclaiming Health Through Culture, Nutrition, and Movement |
| Hand in Hand Mano en Mano | Milbridge, ME | $80,000 | 2026 | Mano en Mano Community Health Advocate |
| New England Arab American Organization (NEAAO) | Portland, ME | $76,538 | 2026 | Multi-prong Approaches to Address Cancer for Maine's Most Vulnerable Community Members |
| Dempsey Center | Lewiston, ME | $71,845 | 2026 | Program Grant |
| Martha B WebberMaine Health-Franklin Hospital | Farmington, ME | $71,845 | 2026 | Program Grant |
| Maine Public Health Association | Augusta, ME | $70,000 | 2026 | Advancing Policies to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use and Nicotine Addiction and General Support |
| Northern Light - AR GouldAroostook Medical Center | Presque Isle, ME | $70,000 | 2026 | Road to Radiation and RideLink |
| Dean Snell Cancer Foundation | Brunswick, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | Patient Transportation & Lodging Program |
| Waldo Community Action Partners | Belfast, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | MidCoast Cancer Care Transportation Network |
| The Boston House | Brookline, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | Free Housing for Children from Maine with Cancer |
| Christine B Foundation | Bangor, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | General Operating Grant and Patient Support Grant |
| YMCA Alliance of Northern New England | Boothbay Harbor, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Program Delivery |
| Penquis CAP Inc | Bangor, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | Accessing Cancer Care |
| ITNAmerica | Westbrook, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | Sponsored Rides for Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Screening |
| Sarah's House of Maine | Holden, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| York Hospital | York, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | York Hospital Patient Transportation: Expanding Capacity for Cancer Care |
| Hospitality Homes | Boston, MA | $60,000 | 2026 | Medical Lodging and Transportation for Maine Cancer Patients Receiving Care in Boston |
| Brians Ride Cancer Fund | Caribou, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | Brian's Ride Cancer Fund- Ride to Treatment |
| Empowered Immigrant Women Unite | Lewiston, ME | $60,000 | 2026 | Bridging the Gap: Early Detection and Awareness for Breast Cancer in Underserved Communities |
| Bath Area Family YMCA | Bath, ME | $54,940 | 2026 | Tobacco-Free Teens: Empowering Youth for a Healthier Future |
| Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness | Bangor, ME | $40,000 | 2026 | Woli bamowusuwakon (To walk in a good way) |
| HEADstrong Foundation | Boston, MA | $30,000 | 2026 | Nick's House, Boston: Easing the Emotional and Financial Burden of For Maine Cancer Patients |
| Mount Desert Island Hospital | Bar Harbor, ME | $16,049 | 2026 | Refining and Improving the Tobacco Treatment and Prevention Program at Mount Desert Island Hospital |
| Joe Andruzzi Foundation | North Attleboro, MA | $15,000 | 2026 | Joe Andruzzi Foundation's Assistance Programs for Cancer Patients |
| Sebasticook Valley Health dba Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital | Brewer, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | Stereotactic Breast Biopsy: Improving timelines to diagnosis and saving lives in Central Maine |
| Indian Township Child & Family Services | Princeton, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | Motankomiquk Family Cancer Support Project |
| Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area | Waterville, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County | Ellsworth, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers | Rockland, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Hospice, Bereavement and Community Support Programs |
| United Community Living Center | Augusta, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Preventing Skin Cancer in the Unhoused Population |
| Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County | Belfast, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Pine Tree Hospice | DoverFoxcroft, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine | Norway, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Supporting the Basic and Emergency Needs of Cancer Patients Living in Western Maine |
| Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center | Ellsworth, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Meeting Our Cancer Patients Where They Are Within Their Journey |
| Down East Hospice Volunteers | Calais, ME | $9,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Ifka Community Services | Lewiston, ME | $7,500 | 2026 | Family Support Program |
| Djiboutian American Community Empowerment Project (DACEP) | Lewiston, ME | $7,500 | 2026 | Cultural Bridge Cancer Transportation Project |
| MaineHealth - Maine Medical Center | Portland, ME | $180,500 | 2025 | 1) Maine Medical Center Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic: Continuing Education for Exemplary Care and 2) Maine Lung Cancer Coalition Collective Impact Transition and 3) MaineHealth Cancer Care Network Patient Support Services and 4) Cancer and Alcohol Message Testing and 5) Enhanced Melanoma Screening in Rural Primary Care. |
| Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center | Ellsworth, ME | $174,000 | 2025 | Access to cancer treatment and general support. |
| Maine Primary Care Association | Augusta, ME | $161,340 | 2025 | Patient Navigation: A Pathway for Improving Health Outcomes |
| Impact Melanoma | Concord, MA | $130,000 | 2025 | Skin Cancer Partners in Prevention |
Phychosocial Care for Cancer Survivors Training, Clinical Interventions to Promote Lifestyle and Behavior Change for Cancer Prevention, Expanded Enhancement of Melanoma Screening Using Dermoscopy in Rural Primary Care
St Croix Regional Family Health Center (Princeton)
$133,250Rural Cancer Patient Navigator Project
Maine General Medical Center
$100,000Preventing Secondary Cancers Related to Tobacco Use and Transportation and Lodging Assistance for Patients of the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care
Food is Medicine and Maine Cancer Patient Support
Harrington Family Health Center
$80,000Patient Navigation Cancer Prevention Program
Bucksport Regional Health Center
$80,000Improving Awareness and Access to Colorectal Cancer Screening for Younger Adults
Cervical Cancer Screening for Underserved Rural Populations in Maine
It's Worth the Try: A Pilot of the LGBTQ+ Youth Tobacco Quit Curriculum
Western Maine Community Action Inc
$80,000Homes Against Harm: Cancer Risk Reduction
OWN IT: Reclaiming Health Through Culture, Nutrition, and Movement
Multi-prong Approaches to Address Cancer for Maine's Most Vulnerable Community Members
Maine Public Health Association
$70,000Advancing Policies to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use and Nicotine Addiction and General Support
Northern Light - AR GouldAroostook Medical Center
$70,000Road to Radiation and RideLink
Dean Snell Cancer Foundation
$60,000Patient Transportation & Lodging Program
Waldo Community Action Partners
$60,000MidCoast Cancer Care Transportation Network
Christine B Foundation
$60,000General Operating Grant and Patient Support Grant
YMCA Alliance of Northern New England
$60,000LIVESTRONG at the YMCA Program Delivery
Penquis CAP Inc
$60,000Accessing Cancer Care
ITNAmerica
$60,000Sponsored Rides for Cancer Treatment, Prevention and Screening
Sarah's House of Maine
$60,000General Operating Support
York Hospital
$60,000York Hospital Patient Transportation: Expanding Capacity for Cancer Care
Medical Lodging and Transportation for Maine Cancer Patients Receiving Care in Boston
Brians Ride Cancer Fund
$60,000Brian's Ride Cancer Fund- Ride to Treatment
Empowered Immigrant Women Unite
$60,000Bridging the Gap: Early Detection and Awareness for Breast Cancer in Underserved Communities
Bath Area Family YMCA
$54,940Tobacco-Free Teens: Empowering Youth for a Healthier Future
Nick's House, Boston: Easing the Emotional and Financial Burden of For Maine Cancer Patients
Refining and Improving the Tobacco Treatment and Prevention Program at Mount Desert Island Hospital
Joe Andruzzi Foundation's Assistance Programs for Cancer Patients
Sebasticook Valley Health dba Northern Light Sebasticook Valley Hospital
$15,000Stereotactic Breast Biopsy: Improving timelines to diagnosis and saving lives in Central Maine
Indian Township Child & Family Services
$15,000Motankomiquk Family Cancer Support Project
Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area
$10,000General Operating Support
Hospice Volunteers of Hancock County
$10,000General Operating Support
Coastal Family Hospice Volunteers
$10,000Hospice, Bereavement and Community Support Programs
United Community Living Center
$10,000Preventing Skin Cancer in the Unhoused Population
Hospice Volunteers of Waldo County
$10,000General Operating Support
Pine Tree Hospice
$10,000General Operating Support
Cancer Resource Center of Western Maine
$10,000Supporting the Basic and Emergency Needs of Cancer Patients Living in Western Maine
Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center
$10,000Meeting Our Cancer Patients Where They Are Within Their Journey
Down East Hospice Volunteers
$9,000General Operating Support
Ifka Community Services
$7,500Family Support Program
Djiboutian American Community Empowerment Project (DACEP)
$7,500Cultural Bridge Cancer Transportation Project
1) Maine Medical Center Cancer Risk and Prevention Clinic: Continuing Education for Exemplary Care and 2) Maine Lung Cancer Coalition Collective Impact Transition and 3) MaineHealth Cancer Care Network Patient Support Services and 4) Cancer and Alcohol Message Testing and 5) Enhanced Melanoma Screening in Rural Primary Care.
Beth C Wright Cancer Resource Center
$174,000Access to cancer treatment and general support.
Maine Primary Care Association
$161,340Patient Navigation: A Pathway for Improving Health Outcomes
Impact Melanoma
$130,000Skin Cancer Partners in Prevention