The Saco & Biddeford Savings Charitable Foundation concentrates its giving on local community wellbeing in Southern Maine, primarily channeling large gifts to the regional United Way and to Thornton Academy. Its grants emphasize broad public-society benefit activities — supporting safety-net services, community programs, and local K–12 education — with a strong focus on place-based impact in Saco/Biddeford and nearby areas. The foundation favors a small number of sizable awards to a few repeat recipients rather than many small, disparate grants.
Highly concentrated: few, large grants focused locally; repeat funding to the same lead intermediaries (United Way of Southern Maine and Trustees of Thornton Academy) rather than wide distribution across many organizations.
A defining pattern in Saco & Biddeford Savings Charitable Foundation’s grantmaking is its repeated support for Thornton Academy and United Way of Southern Maine, with the largest recent award going to Trustees of Thornton Academy for $73,871 in 2024. The foundation’s giving is tightly place-based in Southern Maine and appears to favor general operating support for organizations that serve local residents, students, and families. Recent grants also show sustained funding for community-serving institutions such as Hospice of Southern Maine, Maine Behavioral Healthcare, and the Center for Grieving Children. That mix suggests a funder that backs both education and essential human services rather than a single narrow program area. Across the recent grants list, awards commonly go to organizations that provide direct services, from food access and youth programs to health, grief support, and emergency assistance. The foundation’s approach is visible in repeat awards to the same recipients over multiple years, including Thornton Academy, United Way of Southern Maine, and Maine Behavioral Healthcare, indicating ongoing relationships rather than isolated one-time gifts.
In education, the foundation gave $73,871 to Trustees of Thornton Academy in 2024 for general operating support and also awarded $9,843 to the school in 2025. Youth-serving organizations appear regularly as well: Apex Youth Connection received $15,000 in 2024, while My Place Teen Center Inc. received $12,800 in both 2023 and 2024. For health-related needs, the foundation supported Hospice of Southern Maine with $25,700 in 2023, $21,600 in 2024, and $17,450 in 2025, and also gave Maine Behavioral Healthcare $13,500 in 2024 and 2025, plus $12,500 in 2023. Food access is another visible thread, including a $15,000 grant to Good Shepherd Food Bank in 2024 and a $10,000 grant to Maine Foodscapes in 2023.
Typical awards are modest to mid-sized: the p25 grant is $300, the median is $1,000, and the p75 is $2,100. The recent grants list also shows a concentrated set of larger operating gifts to a handful of recurring partners, alongside many smaller awards. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Thornton Academy, United Way of Southern Maine, Hospice of Southern Maine, Maine Behavioral Healthcare, My Place Teen Center Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, and University of Southern Maine. That repeat pattern points to ongoing, relationship-based grantmaking. The foundation is a charitable foundation rather than an operating nonprofit, and the grants shown are primarily general operating support.
$372K
$478K
$165K
$375K
Most grants fall between $300 and $2K, with a median of $1K.
25th Percentile
$300
Median
$1K
75th Percentile
$2K
Top 2 recipient countries by grant volume for Saco & Biddeford Savings Charitable Foundation.
| Rank | Country | Grants | Total | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | United StatesDomestic | 684 | $1.7M | 99.8% |
| 2 |
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Notable grantees: United Way of Southern Maine, Trustees of Thornton Academy, United Way-funded local community programs in Southern Maine
Grantmaking is overwhelmingly local: 90% of grants go to recipients in Maine, and the recipient country distribution is almost entirely U.S.-based, with one Canadian grant in the file. Within Maine, awards cluster around Saco, Biddeford, Portland, and surrounding Southern Maine communities. Recent examples include recipients in Saco, Biddeford, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, Auburn, Windham, Camden, and Kennebunk. The geographic pattern aligns with a Southern Maine focus rather than broad regional or national giving.
The recent grants show support for schools, youth programs, health and hospice organizations, food access groups, and emergency or basic-needs providers. Examples include Thornton Academy, United Way of Southern Maine, Hospice of Southern Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank, and Apex Youth Connection, mostly through general operating support.
Yes. Several recipients appear across multiple years, including Thornton Academy, United Way of Southern Maine, Hospice of Southern Maine, Maine Behavioral Healthcare, My Place Teen Center Inc., Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine, and University of Southern Maine.
The distribution is centered on smaller grants: p25 is $300, median grant size is $1,000, and p75 is $2,100. The recent grants list also includes larger operating awards to recurring partners, such as $73,871 to Trustees of Thornton Academy in 2024.
It gives most often in Maine, and 90% of grants in the file go to recipients in the HQ state. Recent Maine recipients include organizations in Saco, Biddeford, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, Auburn, Windham, Camden, and Kennebunk.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
| 1 |
| $1K |
0.1% |
Recipient country reflects the grantee's headquarters per IRS 990-PF and Schedule F filings, not the program's implementation country.
Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Way of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $50,200 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Hospice of Southern Maine | Scarborough, ME | $16,400 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Saco Food Pantry Inc | Saco, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | $2,500 Open Hands Open Heart; $12,500 Food Pantry |
| Thornton Academy | Saco, ME | $11,760 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Habitat for Humanity York County | Kennebunk, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Center for Grieving Children | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| University of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| MaineHealth | Portland, ME | $9,650 | 2026 | $3,400 Barbara Bush Children's Hosptial; $6,250 MaineHealth |
| The Salvation Army National Corporation | Alexandria, VA | $8,200 | 2026 | Salvation Army Old Orchard Beach |
| Biddeford Food Pantry | Biddeford, ME | $7,450 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Heart of Biddeford | Biddeford, ME | $7,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Saco Main Street | Saco, ME | $6,600 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Junior Achievement of Maine Inc | Portland, ME | $5,700 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Maine Cancer Foundation | Falmouth, ME | $5,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center | Biddeford, ME | $5,450 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Make-A-Wish Foundation of Maine | Scarborough, ME | $5,250 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank | Auburn, ME | $5,200 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Caring Unlimited | Sanford, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Seagull Foundation | Old Orchard Beach, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine | Westbrook, ME | $5,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| MaineHealth Behavioral Health | Portland, ME | $4,750 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| South Portland Food Cupboard | South Portland, ME | $4,250 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| My Place Teen Center Inc | Westbrook, ME | $4,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc | Portland, ME | $4,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Bon Appetit Community Meal Program | Biddeford, ME | $4,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Girl Scouts of Maine | South Portland, ME | $3,900 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Ocean Park Association | Ocean Park, ME | $3,750 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Shutterbugs 4 Charity | Saco, ME | $3,750 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Westbrook Community Food & Resource Center | Westbrook, ME | $3,600 | 2026 | Westbrook Food Pantry |
| South Portland Cape Elizabeth Rotary Charitable Fund | South Portland, ME | $3,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Southern Maine Agency on Aging | Biddeford, ME | $3,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Project Grace | Scarborough, ME | $3,200 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| La Kermesse | Biddeford, ME | $3,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| First Congregational Church of Scarborough | Scarborough, ME | $3,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Spurwink | Portland, ME | $3,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Old Orchard Beach United Methodist Church | Old Orchard Beach, ME | $3,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Dempsey Centers for Quality Cancer Care | Lewiston, ME | $3,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Kids First Center | Scarborough, ME | $2,700 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Kids Free to Grow | Kennebunk, ME | $2,600 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| City Theater Associates Inc | Biddeford, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| The Opportunity Alliance | South Portland, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Dyer Library Association | Saco, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Locker Project | Portland, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Old Orchard Beach Food Pantry | Old Orchard Beach, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Ferry Beach Park Association | Saco, ME | $2,500 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Ecology Education Inc | Saco, ME | $2,200 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Union Church | Biddeford Pool, ME | $2,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Northern Light Health Foundation | Brewer, ME | $2,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $2,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
| Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute | Portland, ME | $2,000 | 2026 | General Operating Support |
Hospice of Southern Maine
$16,400General Operating Support
Saco Food Pantry Inc
$15,000$2,500 Open Hands Open Heart; $12,500 Food Pantry
Thornton Academy
$11,760General Operating Support
Habitat for Humanity York County
$10,000General Operating Support
Center for Grieving Children
$10,000General Operating Support
MaineHealth
$9,650$3,400 Barbara Bush Children's Hosptial; $6,250 MaineHealth
The Salvation Army National Corporation
$8,200Salvation Army Old Orchard Beach
Biddeford Food Pantry
$7,450General Operating Support
Heart of Biddeford
$7,000General Operating Support
Saco Main Street
$6,600General Operating Support
Junior Achievement of Maine Inc
$5,700General Operating Support
Maine Cancer Foundation
$5,500General Operating Support
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center
$5,450General Operating Support
Seagull Foundation
$5,000General Operating Support
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Maine
$5,000General Operating Support
MaineHealth Behavioral Health
$4,750General Operating Support
South Portland Food Cupboard
$4,250General Operating Support
My Place Teen Center Inc
$4,000General Operating Support
Ronald McDonald House Charities Inc
$4,000General Operating Support
Bon Appetit Community Meal Program
$4,000General Operating Support
Girl Scouts of Maine
$3,900General Operating Support
Ocean Park Association
$3,750General Operating Support
Shutterbugs 4 Charity
$3,750General Operating Support
Westbrook Community Food & Resource Center
$3,600Westbrook Food Pantry
South Portland Cape Elizabeth Rotary Charitable Fund
$3,500General Operating Support
Southern Maine Agency on Aging
$3,500General Operating Support
Project Grace
$3,200General Operating Support
La Kermesse
$3,000General Operating Support
First Congregational Church of Scarborough
$3,000General Operating Support
Spurwink
$3,000General Operating Support
Old Orchard Beach United Methodist Church
$3,000General Operating Support
Kids First Center
$2,700General Operating Support
Kids Free to Grow
$2,600General Operating Support
City Theater Associates Inc
$2,500General Operating Support
Dyer Library Association
$2,500General Operating Support
Old Orchard Beach Food Pantry
$2,500General Operating Support
Ferry Beach Park Association
$2,500General Operating Support
Ecology Education Inc
$2,200General Operating Support
Union Church
$2,000General Operating Support
Northern Light Health Foundation
$2,000General Operating Support