The Harold Alfond Foundation focuses heavily on strengthening Maine’s higher education, workforce and health infrastructure through large, capital and programmatic gifts. It repeatedly funds colleges, universities and workforce initiatives (including scholarships), plus regional health care facilities and ocean science research — often supporting facility construction, program expansion, and economic development that ties education to local job creation. Grants are predominantly multi-million-dollar investments in a small set of repeat institutional partners, with a clear emphasis on building capacity and long-term community impact in Maine.
The Harold Alfond Foundation’s most distinctive recent pattern is a run of very large, repeat commitments to Maine institutions, especially higher education and health care. In 2025, it gave $28 million to the University of Maine Foundation for the University of Maine Athletics Master Facilities Plan and $14.5 million to MaineGeneral Health for the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care Expansion. Those gifts fit a broader portfolio built around capital projects, endowment-style support, and program expansion in Maine. The foundation also backs scholarship systems at scale, including the Alfond Scholarship Foundation and the My Alfond Grant program, while continuing to invest in workforce pipelines tied to Maine employers and public higher education. Its support for the University of Maine System, Maine community colleges, and related initiatives shows a long-term interest in strengthening education infrastructure, student success, and the state’s labor force. In health care, the foundation has repeatedly funded cancer care and other delivery improvements that connect care access with local communities. Across its recent grants, the pattern is clear: large institutional grants, repeated over multiple years, aimed at durable capacity rather than short-term projects.
Higher education is one of the foundation’s clearest priorities. It gave $12 million to Northeastern University for The Harold Alfond Scholars Initiative at the Roux Institute and $7 million to the University of Maine System for Revitalize Graduate & Professional Center & Engineering, Computing, & Info Science. A separate grant of $4.5 million to the University of New England supported The Institute for Interprofessional Education & Practice at UNE. Workforce development is closely linked to that education work. The foundation awarded $7.6 million to The Foundation for Maine Community Colleges for The Center for the Advancement of Maine’s Workforce: Building a More Prosperous Maine, and $4.5 million to the Maine Community College System for the same initiative. In health care, it gave $2.5 million each to The Jackson Laboratory in 2024 and 2025 for the Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative 2.0. The arts also appear in the portfolio, including a $3 million grant to Colby College for the Paul J. Schupf Art Center.
Typical grant size is sizable: the p25 is $10,000, the median is $240,045, and the p75 is $1.6 million. The recent grant list shows a strong repeat-grantee pattern, with multi-year support going to institutions such as Northeastern University, Colby College, the University of Maine System, MaineGeneral Health, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, and The Jackson Laboratory. The foundation is classified as a Regular Funder and funds individuals through the Harold Alfond College Challenge, which awards a $500 seed grant to every Maine resident baby. Its active programs also indicate that unsolicited requests are accepted in several areas, including education, health care, youth & community development, and the general grantmaking guidelines.
$102.7M
$1B
$171M
$128.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $1.6M, with a median of $240K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$240K
75th Percentile
$1.6M
About 88% of grants go to recipients in ME.
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Concentrated, high-dollar grants to a small group of repeat institutional partners; many multi-million-dollar, capital-oriented gifts and strategic program investments rather than numerous small grants. Strong geographic focus on Maine with occasional support for partner institutions outside the state tied to the Foundation’s mission.
Notable grantees: University of Maine Foundation / University of Maine System, Alfond Scholarship Foundation, MaineGeneral Health, Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Foundation for a Strong Maine Economy
Giving is heavily concentrated in Maine: 88% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state, and the top state by grant count is Maine. Recent grants land in Orono, Augusta, Waterville, Biddeford, Bar Harbor, East Boothbay, and Portland. The broader recipient picture is still domestic; all recent grants in the data go to U.S. organizations. A smaller share also reaches outside Maine, including Boston, Massachusetts, and Winter Park, Florida, but Maine institutions dominate the portfolio.
Its recent grants center on higher education facilities and academic expansion, scholarship support, workforce development partnerships, health care infrastructure, and ocean science research. Examples in the data include major university capital projects, cancer care expansion at MaineGeneral Health, and workforce initiatives with Maine community colleges.
Yes. The Harold Alfond College Challenge awards a $500 seed grant to every Maine resident baby for education beyond high school, and the recent grants list also includes payments to the Alfond Scholarship Foundation for scholarship support.
The distribution is large relative to many foundations: p25 is $10,000, median grant size is $240,045, and p75 is $1.6 million. Recent grants also include several multi-million-dollar awards, including a $28 million grant to the University of Maine Foundation.
Yes, for several of its active grant areas. The data says unsolicited requests are accepted in education, health care, youth & community development, and the Foundation’s general grantmaking guidelines.
Yes. Maine is the top state by grant count, and 88% of grants go to recipients in the foundation’s headquarters state. The recent grant list is concentrated in Maine cities such as Orono, Augusta, Waterville, Biddeford, Bar Harbor, East Boothbay, and Portland.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION | ORONO, ME | $28,000,000 | 2025 | UNIVERSITY OF MAINE ATHLETICS MASTER FACILITIES PLAN |
| MAINEGENERAL HEALTH | AUGUSTA, ME | $14,535,638 | 2025 | HAROLD ALFOND CENTER FOR CANCER CARE EXPANSION |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $12,000,000 | 2025 | THE HAROLD ALFOND SCHOLARS INITIATIVE AT THE ROUX INSTITUTE |
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM | ORONO, ME | $7,000,000 | 2025 | REVITALIZE GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL CENTER & ENGINEERING, COMPUTING, & INFO SCIENCE |
| ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, ME | $5,609,911 | 2025 | MY ALFOND GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS 2024 |
| UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND | BIDDEFORD, ME | $4,502,515 | 2025 | THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION & PRACTICE AT UNE |
| MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM | AUGUSTA, ME | $4,454,529 | 2025 | THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MAINES WORKFORCE: BUILDING A MORE PROSPEROUS MAINE |
| BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES | EAST BOOTHBAY, ME | $3,869,390 | 2025 | BIGELOW INNOVATION AND EDUCATION WING |
| THOMAS COLLEGE | WATERVILLE, ME | $3,000,000 | 2025 | CATALYZING GROWTH IN CENTRAL MAINE AND BEYOND |
| THE JACKSON LABORATORY | BAR HARBOR, ME | $2,500,000 | 2025 | MAINE CANCER GENOMICS INITIATIVE 2.0 |
| FOCUSMAINE | AUGUSTA, ME | $2,260,000 | 2025 | FOCUSMAINE PHASE 3 IMPLEMENTATION (YEARS 7-9) |
| COLBY COLLEGE | WATERVILLE, ME | $2,000,612 | 2025 | ART CENTER AND HOTEL |
| ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER | WATERVILLE, ME | $2,000,000 | 2025 | CAMP TRACY IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSION |
| MAINE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ALLIANCE | AUGUSTA, ME | $1,987,890 | 2025 | STEM WORKFORCE READY MAINE 2030 |
| JOBS FOR MAINE'S GRADUATES INC | AUGUSTA, ME | $1,926,461 | 2025 | A PROPOSAL TO SCALE, STRENGTHEN AND SUSTAIN JMGS COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM |
| WATERVILLE CREATES | WATERVILLE, ME | $1,600,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, ME | $1,527,000 | 2025 | MY ALFOND GRANT OPERATIONS 2024 |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS | LEXINGTON, MA | $1,500,000 | 2025 | PRESERVATION OF COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS IN MAINE |
| 7 LAKES ALLIANCE | BELGRADE LAKES, ME | $500,000 | 2025 | CONSERVING LAND AND WATERS OF THE BELGRADE LAKES |
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION | ORONO, ME | $500,000 | 2025 | ALFOND FUND |
| ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER | WATERVILLE, ME | $350,000 | 2025 | DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY AT THE ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER |
| ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER | WATERVILLE, ME | $318,450 | 2025 | STRATEGIC LONG TERM CAPITAL AND DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY AT THE ALFOND YOUTH CENTER |
| EDUCARE CENTRAL MAINE | WATERVILLE, ME | $250,000 | 2025 | HAROLD ALFOND SCHOLARSHIPS CONTINUITY OF CARE |
| BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION | WATERVILLE, ME | $109,639 | 2025 | FOUNDATION AND THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN |
| WATERVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY | WATERVILLE, ME | $102,500 | 2025 | WATERVILLE CENTER FOR LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE |
| GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE | NAPLES, FL | $65,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION | NEW YORK, NY | $40,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| NATIONAL TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS | LEXINGTON, MA | $35,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM | ORONO, ME | $25,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| COLBY COLLEGE | WATERVILLE, ME | $20,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| WATERVILLE CREATES | WATERVILLE, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | WATERVILLE OPERA HOUSE SEASON SPONSORSHIP |
| MAINE CHILDRENS HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS | WATERVILLE, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| BELGRADE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER | BELGRADE LAKES, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | GENERAL FACILITIES SUPPORT |
| FOCUSMAINE | AUGUSTA, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SUSAN L CURTIS FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, ME | $14,700 | 2025 | CAMP SUSAN CURTIS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM |
| MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK | LEWISTON, ME | $13,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN | PORTLAND, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| THE PIONEER INSTITUTE | BOSTON, MA | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| FULL PLATES FULL POTENTIAL | BRUNSWICK, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| AROOSTOOK MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INC | CARIBOU, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | AROOSTOOK TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP (ATLC) PROGRAM |
| KENNEBEC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH | WATERVILLE, ME | $2,000 | 2025 | OPERATING SUPPORT |
| BRUNSWICK-TOPSHAM LAND TRUST INC | BRUNSWICK, ME | $2,000 | 2025 | UNRESTRICTED |
| SPECTRUM GENERATIONS | AUGUSTA, ME | $1,200 | 2025 | MEALS ON WHEELS |
| ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER | WATERVILLE, ME | $150 | 2025 | AYCC LITTLE LEAGUE |
| NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY | BOSTON, MA | $11,000,000 | 2024 | THE HAROLD ALFOND SCHOLARS INITIATIVE AT THE ROUX INSTITUTE |
| COLBY COLLEGE | WATERVILLE, ME | $10,000,000 | 2024 | ATHLETICS CENTER |
| UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM | ORONO, ME | $9,000,000 | 2024 | UNIVERSITY OF MAINE ATHLETICS MASTER FACILITIES PLAN |
| THE FOUNDATION FOR MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGES | AUGUSTA, ME | $7,581,367 | 2024 | THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MAINES WORKFORCE: BUILDING A MORE PROSPEROUS MAINE |
| ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION | PORTLAND, ME | $5,793,449 | 2024 | ASF SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS |
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION
$28,000,000UNIVERSITY OF MAINE ATHLETICS MASTER FACILITIES PLAN
MAINEGENERAL HEALTH
$14,535,638HAROLD ALFOND CENTER FOR CANCER CARE EXPANSION
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
$12,000,000THE HAROLD ALFOND SCHOLARS INITIATIVE AT THE ROUX INSTITUTE
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM
$7,000,000REVITALIZE GRADUATE & PROFESSIONAL CENTER & ENGINEERING, COMPUTING, & INFO SCIENCE
ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$5,609,911MY ALFOND GRANT SCHOLARSHIPS 2024
UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND
$4,502,515THE INSTITUTE FOR INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION & PRACTICE AT UNE
MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM
$4,454,529THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MAINES WORKFORCE: BUILDING A MORE PROSPEROUS MAINE
BIGELOW LABORATORY FOR OCEAN SCIENCES
$3,869,390BIGELOW INNOVATION AND EDUCATION WING
THOMAS COLLEGE
$3,000,000CATALYZING GROWTH IN CENTRAL MAINE AND BEYOND
THE JACKSON LABORATORY
$2,500,000MAINE CANCER GENOMICS INITIATIVE 2.0
FOCUSMAINE
$2,260,000FOCUSMAINE PHASE 3 IMPLEMENTATION (YEARS 7-9)
COLBY COLLEGE
$2,000,612ART CENTER AND HOTEL
ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER
$2,000,000CAMP TRACY IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPANSION
MAINE MATHEMATICS AND SCIENCE ALLIANCE
$1,987,890STEM WORKFORCE READY MAINE 2030
JOBS FOR MAINE'S GRADUATES INC
$1,926,461A PROPOSAL TO SCALE, STRENGTHEN AND SUSTAIN JMGS COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM
WATERVILLE CREATES
$1,600,000OPERATING SUPPORT
ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$1,527,000MY ALFOND GRANT OPERATIONS 2024
NATIONAL TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS
$1,500,000PRESERVATION OF COMMUNITY AND LOCAL NEWS IN MAINE
7 LAKES ALLIANCE
$500,000CONSERVING LAND AND WATERS OF THE BELGRADE LAKES
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE FOUNDATION
$500,000ALFOND FUND
ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER
$350,000DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY AT THE ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER
ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER
$318,450STRATEGIC LONG TERM CAPITAL AND DEVELOPMENT SUSTAINABILITY AT THE ALFOND YOUTH CENTER
EDUCARE CENTRAL MAINE
$250,000HAROLD ALFOND SCHOLARSHIPS CONTINUITY OF CARE
BETH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
$109,639FOUNDATION AND THE FUTURE CAMPAIGN
WATERVILLE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$102,500WATERVILLE CENTER FOR LOCAL HISTORY AND CULTURE
GULFSHORE PLAYHOUSE
$65,000UNRESTRICTED
PAUL TAYLOR DANCE FOUNDATION
$40,000UNRESTRICTED
NATIONAL TRUST FOR LOCAL NEWS
$35,000UNRESTRICTED
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM
$25,000UNRESTRICTED
COLBY COLLEGE
$20,000UNRESTRICTED
WATERVILLE CREATES
$15,000WATERVILLE OPERA HOUSE SEASON SPONSORSHIP
MAINE CHILDRENS HOME FOR LITTLE WANDERERS
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
BELGRADE REGIONAL HEALTH CENTER
$15,000GENERAL FACILITIES SUPPORT
FOCUSMAINE
$15,000UNRESTRICTED
SUSAN L CURTIS FOUNDATION
$14,700CAMP SUSAN CURTIS YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM
MAINE PUBLIC BROADCASTING NETWORK
$13,000UNRESTRICTED
THE CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN
$10,000UNRESTRICTED
THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE OF NEW ENGLAND
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
THE PIONEER INSTITUTE
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
FULL PLATES FULL POTENTIAL
$5,000UNRESTRICTED
AROOSTOOK MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES INC
$2,500AROOSTOOK TEEN LEADERSHIP CAMP (ATLC) PROGRAM
KENNEBEC BEHAVIORAL HEALTH
$2,000OPERATING SUPPORT
BRUNSWICK-TOPSHAM LAND TRUST INC
$2,000UNRESTRICTED
SPECTRUM GENERATIONS
$1,200MEALS ON WHEELS
ALFOND YOUTH & COMMUNITY CENTER
$150AYCC LITTLE LEAGUE
NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY
$11,000,000THE HAROLD ALFOND SCHOLARS INITIATIVE AT THE ROUX INSTITUTE
COLBY COLLEGE
$10,000,000ATHLETICS CENTER
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE SYSTEM
$9,000,000UNIVERSITY OF MAINE ATHLETICS MASTER FACILITIES PLAN
THE FOUNDATION FOR MAINE COMMUNITY COLLEGES
$7,581,367THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF MAINES WORKFORCE: BUILDING A MORE PROSPEROUS MAINE
ALFOND SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION
$5,793,449ASF SCHOLARSHIP PAYMENTS