The Machias Savings Bank Community Development Foundation concentrates its giving on local community development in eastern Maine, with large, targeted program-support grants to organizations that support the regional economy and workforce. Recent support has gone primarily to fisheries-related community work and to a regional university, indicating an interest in both sustaining coastal livelihoods and strengthening local higher-education or training capacity. Grants are few but sizable, suggesting strategic investments rather than broad, small-dollar philanthropy.
Concentrated, small-number portfolio: a handful of relatively large program-support grants (two organizations account for 100% of recent dollars), with repeat funding to the same local partners rather than many one-off awards.
The Machias Savings Bank Community Development Foundation has made fisheries support one of its clearest recurring priorities, backing Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance with $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025. That pattern sits alongside sustained support for higher education and workforce capacity in Maine, including multi-year program support for Husson University and other regional organizations. The foundation’s recent grants are mostly program-restricted and relatively few in number, but they are large enough to signal targeted investments rather than diffuse small checks. Its giving reaches a mix of coastal, rural, and regional institutions across eastern and northern Maine, from community organizations in Machias and Danforth to Bangor-based education and service providers. Grants also go to groups tied to economic resilience, community development, housing, and basic needs, which suggests a portfolio aimed at keeping local communities functioning as well as strengthening longer-term opportunity. The foundation’s support for Maine-based nonprofits is consistent year to year, with repeated awards to several recipients over multiple years.
A core theme in the Machias Savings Bank Community Development Foundation’s grantmaking is fisheries and coastal livelihood support. It gave $50,000 in 2025 to Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance for program support, following the same amount in 2024. Workforce and higher education are another clear thread. Husson University received $25,000 in 2025 for program support, after similar awards in 2024 and 2023. The College of the Atlantic also received $12,500 in each of 2023, 2024, and 2025, showing steady institutional support. The foundation also funds regional economic development groups. In Augusta, it awarded $15,000 to Foundation for a Strong Maine Economy in both 2023 and 2024, and it gave $15,000 to FocusMaine in 2025. Those grants point to an interest in broad economic conditions as well as direct community services.
Typical grant size is $3,375 at the 25th percentile, $5,000 at the median, and $7,125 at the 75th percentile. The recent-grants list shows a small number of larger awards alongside repeated mid-sized program grants, including several grants that recur across multiple years. That pattern suggests ongoing relationships with selected nonprofits rather than one-time awards only. The foundation appears to operate as a community-development grantmaker rather than as an operating foundation or a funder of individuals, and the active programs indicate both competitive and donation-style support. One listed program accepts unsolicited requests, while others are presented as community development or donations and sponsorships channels.
$205K
$4.2M
$514K
$231K
Most grants fall between $3K and $7K, with a median of $5K.
25th Percentile
$3K
Median
$5K
75th Percentile
$7K
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Notable grantees: Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance, Husson University, Other local Washington County community organizations (representative of the foundation's regional focus)
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly concentrated in Maine, with 98% of grants going to recipients in the foundation’s HQ state. Recipients appear across coastal and inland communities, including Machias, Bangor, Augusta, Bar Harbor, Ellsworth, Presque Isle, Caribou, Portland, and Danforth. The distribution points to a statewide Maine footprint that is still tightly rooted in eastern and Downeast communities. All recipient-country records are in the US.
Its recent grants favor Maine nonprofits and public-serving institutions tied to community development, fisheries, higher education, workforce development, housing, food access, and local economic resilience. Repeated awards to organizations such as Husson University, Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance, and several regional service groups show a preference for program support rather than individual aid.
Yes. Multiple recipients appear across several years. Husson University received $25,000 in 2023, 2024, and 2025; The College of the Atlantic received $12,500 in each of those same years; and Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance received $50,000 in both 2024 and 2025.
The grant-size distribution centers on mid-sized awards: the 25th percentile is $3,375, the median is $5,000, and the 75th percentile is $7,125. The recent grants list also includes larger program grants, but the middle of the distribution sits at $5,000.
At least one active program, the Community Development Grant, accepts unsolicited applications. Another listed program, Donations, Pledges, Sponsorships, and Capital Campaigns, also accepts unsolicited requests and notes decisions are generally made within 30 days for requests of $100 or greater.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance | Kennebunk, ME | $50,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Jobs For Maine Graduates Inc | Augusta, ME | $25,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Penquis CAP Inc | Bangor, ME | $20,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Town of Machias | Machias, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Homeless Services of Aroostook | Presque Isle, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Lift All Boats | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Avesta Housing Development Corporation | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Midcoast Habitat For Humanity | Rockport, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| United Way of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Information Technology Exchange Give IT Get IT | Searsport, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Families First Community Center | Ellsworth, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Rural Aspirations Project | Swanville, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital | Ellsworth, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| The Northern Lighthouse Inc | Presque Isle, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Mount Desert Nursing Association | Northeast Harbor, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Boys & Girls Club of Bangor | Bangor, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| ProsperityME | Portland, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Friends of the Veterans' Memorial Library | Patten, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Healthy Acadia | Ellsworth, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Literacy Volunteers of Bangor | Bangor, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Lubec Community Outreach Center Inc | Lubec, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research | Beals, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Coastal Enterprises Inc | Brunswick, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Community Care | Bangor, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Galen Cole Family Foundation Inc | Bangor, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | Program Support Grant |
| Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance | Kennebunk, ME | $50,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Husson University | Bangor, ME | $25,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| FocusMaine | Augusta, ME | $15,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| The College of the Atlantic | Bar Harbor, ME | $12,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Portland Ovations | Portland, ME | $7,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Avesta Housing Development Corporation | Portland, ME | $7,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Town of Danforth | Danforth, ME | $5,640 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| MaineHealth | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| The Northern Lighthouse Inc | Presque Isle, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Information Technology Exchange Give IT Get IT | Waterville, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Rural Aspirations | Swanville, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Mainestream Finance | Bangor, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Eastern Area Agency on Aging | Brewer, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine | Camden, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital | Ellsworth, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| The Opportunity Alliance | South Portland, ME | $5,000 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Penquis CAP Inc | Bangor, ME | $3,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Alfond Youth & Community Center | Waterville, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Maine Academy of Modern Music | Portland, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
| Katahdin Children and Families | Patten, ME | $2,500 | 2025 | Program Support Grant |
Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance
$50,000Program Support Grant
Penquis CAP Inc
$20,000Program Support Grant
Town of Machias
$10,000Program Support Grant
Homeless Services of Aroostook
$10,000Program Support Grant
Lift All Boats
$10,000Program Support Grant
Avesta Housing Development Corporation
$5,000Program Support Grant
Midcoast Habitat For Humanity
$5,000Program Support Grant
United Way of Southern Maine
$5,000Program Support Grant
Information Technology Exchange Give IT Get IT
$5,000Program Support Grant
Families First Community Center
$5,000Program Support Grant
Rural Aspirations Project
$5,000Program Support Grant
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
$5,000Program Support Grant
The Northern Lighthouse Inc
$2,500Program Support Grant
Mount Desert Nursing Association
$2,500Program Support Grant
Friends of the Veterans' Memorial Library
$2,500Program Support Grant
Literacy Volunteers of Bangor
$2,500Program Support Grant
Lubec Community Outreach Center Inc
$2,500Program Support Grant
Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research
$2,500Program Support Grant
Community Care
$2,500Program Support Grant
Galen Cole Family Foundation Inc
$2,500Program Support Grant
Maine Lobstermen's Community Alliance
$50,000Program Support Grant
Husson University
$25,000Program Support Grant
FocusMaine
$15,000Program Support Grant
Portland Ovations
$7,500Program Support Grant
Avesta Housing Development Corporation
$7,500Program Support Grant
Town of Danforth
$5,640Program Support Grant
The Northern Lighthouse Inc
$5,000Program Support Grant
Information Technology Exchange Give IT Get IT
$5,000Program Support Grant
Rural Aspirations
$5,000Program Support Grant
Mainestream Finance
$5,000Program Support Grant
Eastern Area Agency on Aging
$5,000Program Support Grant
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-Maine
$5,000Program Support Grant
Northern Light Maine Coast Hospital
$5,000Program Support Grant
Penquis CAP Inc
$3,500Program Support Grant
Maine Academy of Modern Music
$2,500Program Support Grant
Katahdin Children and Families
$2,500Program Support Grant