The Maine Community Foundation prioritizes place-based philanthropy in Maine with a strong emphasis on land and coastal conservation, sustainable agriculture, and community well‑being. They fund a mix of conservation trusts, regional research and marine science organizations, food security providers, and tribal/Native-led organizations, often supporting capacity-building, land protection, and programmatic growth. Grants are largely directed to Maine institutions and statewide initiatives, with additional support for higher education, public media, and health/medical education that serve Maine communities.
Maine Community Foundation Inc’s largest recent grants center on farmland preservation, with multiple awards to Maine Farmland Trust across 2023, 2024, and 2025. That recurring support signals a funder that backs long-horizon land protection rather than one-off project funding. Alongside agriculture, the foundation has also made major grants to Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, and The Nature Conservancy, showing sustained attention to conservation of land, wetlands, and coastal resources in Maine. The foundation’s grantmaking also reaches into public service and community infrastructure. Recent awards include support for the University of Maine System, Maine Medical Education Trust Association Dr, MaineHealth, and Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness NPC, indicating interest in education, health, and community well-being. The portfolio includes both large institutional grants and smaller programmatic awards, such as support for Ketcha Outdoors, Opera House Arts, and Friends of the St Lawrence Church, which points to a broad statewide role. The pattern is place-based: Maine organizations dominate the recent grants list, and the foundation’s work is tied to Maine communities, institutions, and regional capacity.
Farmland preservation is one of the clearest throughlines. The foundation gave $4,821,650 in 2023, $4,698,820 in 2024, and $2,487,900 in 2025 to Maine Farmland Trust for farmland preservation, a multi-year pattern that stands out in the recent grants list. Environmental and coastal work is another major area. In 2023, Maine Coast Heritage Trust received $3,395,925 for environment, while Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust received $578,202 in 2024 for water resources, wetlands conservation and management. The Nature Conservancy also appears with grants in 2024 and 2025 for environment support and environment. The foundation also funds research, education, and Native-led community work. First Nations Development Institute received $602,500 in 2023, $600,000 in 2024, and $600,000 in 2025 for research institutes and public policy analysis or research. Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness NPC received $554,000 in 2025 for human services, transportation, and building repairs.
Typical grant size clusters around a median of $16,223, with the 25th percentile at $10,000 and the 75th percentile at $41,225. The recent grants list also shows a wide upper range, with several awards above $500,000 and a few in the multi-million-dollar range. This looks like a recurring grantmaker rather than a one-time funder: the same organizations appear across multiple years, including Maine Farmland Trust, First Nations Development Institute, and The Nature Conservancy. The foundation is a mixed community foundation and makes program-related investments. It also runs several open grant programs, and some of those accept unsolicited applications through the foundation’s grants process.
$57.6M
$807.6M
$138.8M
$82.3M
Most grants fall between $10K and $41K, with a median of $16K.
25th Percentile
$10K
Median
$16K
75th Percentile
$41K
Deborah Ellwood
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Concentrated, repeat support: a relatively small number of large, often multi‑award grants dominate total giving. The foundation focuses on repeat grantees and statewide institutions, combining capital/land protection investments with program and capacity grants to nonprofits and public entities in Maine.
Notable grantees: Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Good Shepherd Food Bank, First Nations Development Institute, Gulf of Maine Research Institute
Grants are overwhelmingly Maine-centered, with 78% of grants going to recipients in Maine. Recent awards cluster in places such as Belfast, Topsham, Orono, Bangor, Portland, Brunswick, Damariscotta, Falmouth, and Augusta. The recipient-country distribution is entirely U.S.-based, with 3,243 grants to U.S. recipients. Outside Maine, a few grants go to organizations in Boston, Cincinnati, Longmont, Arlington, and New York City.
Recent grants show a strong emphasis on farmland preservation, land and coastal conservation, water resources and wetlands, education, health, and community well-being. Maine Farmland Trust, Maine Coast Heritage Trust, Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness NPC all appear in the recent grants list.
Yes. Maine Farmland Trust appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; First Nations Development Institute appears in 2023, 2024, and 2025; and The Nature Conservancy appears in 2024 and 2025. That pattern shows recurring support over multiple years.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the 25th percentile, $16,223 at the median, and $41,225 at the 75th percentile. The recent grants list also includes much larger awards, including several in the hundreds of thousands and a few above $1 million.
Yes, but the portfolio is heavily Maine-focused. Recipients outside Maine in the recent grants list include Northeastern University in Boston, Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund in Cincinnati, First Nations Development Institute in Longmont, The Nature Conservancy in Arlington, and Sustainable Markets Foundation in New York City.
Yes. Several active programs are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including Racial Equity Initiative Grants, Belvedere Animal Welfare Fund, Keepers Preservation Education Fund, Rines-Thompson Fund, Competitive Community Grants, and the County and Regional Program. Maine Women’s Fund is listed as not accepting unsolicited applications.
2025
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2025.
Current and upcoming funding from Maine Community Foundation that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Projects must support artists in residence in Penobscot or Washington County public schools and meet MaineCF eligibility requirements. School projects require a letter of agreement from a school representative.
Deadline: October; specific deadline listed on the program page.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Farmland Trust | Belfast, ME | $2,487,900 | 2025 | Farmland Preservation |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | $1,733,145 | 2025 | Education |
| Fidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund | Cincinnati, OH | $801,573 | 2025 | Philanthropy |
| First Nations Development Institute | Longmont, CO | $600,000 | 2025 | Research |
| The Nature Conservancy | Arlington, VA | $558,590 | 2025 | Environment |
| Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness NPC | Bangor, ME | $554,000 | 2025 | Human Services, Transportation, Building Repairs |
| Maine Audubon Society | Falmouth, ME | $546,055 | 2025 | Environment, Professional Development |
| Sustainable Markets Foundation | New York City, NY | $536,000 | 2025 | Natural Resources Conservation & Protection |
| Mitchell Institute | Portland, ME | $522,030 | 2025 | Education |
| Opera House Arts | Stonington, ME | $520,500 | 2025 | Performing Arts |
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences | East Boothbay, ME | $519,560 | 2025 | Marine Science & Oceanography |
| Bement School Inc | Deerfield, MA | $398,947 | 2025 | Education |
| EarthJustice | San Francisco, CA | $395,000 | 2025 | Wildlife Preservation & Protection |
| Maine Public | Lewiston, ME | $387,995 | 2025 | Television, Environment |
| Northern Forest Center | Concord, NH | $387,750 | 2025 | Forest Conservation |
| Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust | Damariscotta, ME | $383,990 | 2025 | Food Programs |
| Boys and Girls Clubs of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $367,822 | 2025 | Boys & Girls Clubs, Campership, Emergency Hardship |
| Wild Foundation | Boulder, CO | $350,000 | 2025 | Alliances & Advocacy |
| Center for Climate Integrity | Washington, DC | $350,000 | 2025 | Research |
| Maine Coast Fishermen's Association | Brunswick, ME | $346,761 | 2025 | Water Resources, Wetlands Conservation & Management |
| Savanna Institute | Madison, WI | $340,000 | 2025 | Agricultural Programs |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $337,630 | 2025 | Homeless Shelters, Transportation, Food Programs |
| University of Maine Foundation | Orono, ME | $332,640 | 2025 | Education, Arts |
| Friends of the St Lawrence Church | Portland, ME | $327,750 | 2025 | Performing Arts |
| State of Maine | Augusta, ME | $326,000 | 2025 | Environment |
| National Trust for Local News | Lexington, MA | $306,000 | 2025 | Media & Communications |
| Gulf of Maine Research Institute | Portland, ME | $303,404 | 2025 | Marine Science & Oceanography, Environment |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank | Auburn, ME | $292,750 | 2025 | Food Programs |
| Maine Historical Society | Portland, ME | $286,507 | 2025 | Historical Societies, Transportation, Professional Development |
| United Society of Shakers | New Gloucester, ME | $284,600 | 2025 | Museums |
| St George Community Development Corporation | Tenants Harbor, ME | $283,540 | 2025 | Human Services |
| Forest Society of Maine | Bangor, ME | $271,270 | 2025 | Land Resources Conservation |
| Wolfes Neck Farm Foundation Inc | Freeport, ME | $270,000 | 2025 | Food, Agriculture & Nutrition |
| The Bessemer Giving Fund | Woodbridge, NJ | $265,250 | 2025 | Philanthropy |
| Trust for Public Land | Portland, ME | $265,000 | 2025 | Land Resources Conservation |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust | Topsham, ME | $262,950 | 2025 | Environment |
| Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project | Portland, ME | $248,300 | 2025 | Legal Services |
| Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association | Unity, ME | $247,490 | 2025 | Agriculture |
| Natural Resources Defense Council Inc | New York, NY | $239,500 | 2025 | Natural Resources Conservation & Protection |
| Milestone Recovery | Portland, ME | $232,250 | 2025 | Shelter, Transportation |
| Windward Fund | Washington, DC | $230,000 | 2025 | Natural Resources Conservation & Protection |
| Healthy Acadia | Ellsworth, ME | $228,070 | 2025 | Public Health, Professional Development, Food Programs |
| Maine Huts & Trails | Kingfield, ME | $227,800 | 2025 | Natural Resources Conservation & Protection |
| Conservation Law Foundation Inc | Boston, MA | $226,269 | 2025 | Environment |
| Standearth | San Francisco, CA | $225,000 | 2025 | Forest Conservation |
| Rockefeller Family Fund | New York, NY | $225,000 | 2025 | Environment |
| Indigo Arts Alliance | Portland, ME | $222,300 | 2025 | Arts & Culture |
| Riley School | Rockport, ME | $216,671 | 2025 | Education |
| Toxic Free Future | Seattle, WA | $207,000 | 2025 | Pollution Abatement & Control |
| Niweskok | Milford, ME | $198,450 | 2025 | Agricultural Programs, Professional Development |
Human Services, Transportation, Building Repairs
Sustainable Markets Foundation
$536,000Natural Resources Conservation & Protection
Bement School Inc
$398,947Education
Maine Public
$387,995Television, Environment
Boys & Girls Clubs, Campership, Emergency Hardship
Water Resources, Wetlands Conservation & Management
Friends of the St Lawrence Church
$327,750Performing Arts
State of Maine
$326,000Environment
National Trust for Local News
$306,000Media & Communications
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
$303,404Marine Science & Oceanography, Environment
Maine Historical Society
$286,507Historical Societies, Transportation, Professional Development
United Society of Shakers
$284,600Museums
St George Community Development Corporation
$283,540Human Services
Natural Resources Conservation & Protection
Milestone Recovery
$232,250Shelter, Transportation
Maine Huts & Trails
$227,800Natural Resources Conservation & Protection
Riley School
$216,671Education
Niweskok
$198,450Agricultural Programs, Professional Development