Cascade Foundation
Cascade Foundation is a private foundation based in Rockport, Maine. Its 2024 grants supported organizations working in areas including medical research, healthcare, arts and culture, and environmental causes.
Cascade Foundation at a glance
In short: Cascade Foundation gave $735K across 34 grants in 2024 (avg $22K), mostly in Maine. 26% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $734,813
- +8.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 34
- -8.1% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $21,612
- +18.0% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $12,935,807
- -4.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 26% first-time grantees (9 of 34, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maine (60% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Cascade Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 958, Rockport, ME 04856
Phone: (203) 903-0762
Website: https://cascadehealth.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Cascade Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Fraxa Research Foundation ($80K). Together the top 10 received $507K.
Grant Size Distribution
170 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 149 grants of 170 (88%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 60% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine, 16% to Massachusetts, 11% to the District of Columbia, 4% to New York, and 3% to Pennsylvania.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 34 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Cascade Foundation open to new grantees?
26%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 34 grantees (26%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $16K; repeat grants $24K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 68% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2021 to 2024 (+17%). Method
- In 2024 it paid out 119% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $538K (2020) to $735K (2024). In 2024 it made 34 grants totaling $735K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Fraxa Research Foundation Newburyport, MA | Medical Research | $80,000 |
| National Fragile X Foundation Washington DC, DC | Medical Research | $80,000 |
| Friends of the Strand Theater Rockland, ME | Arts and Culture | $76,813 |
| Atlantic Salmon Federation Brunswick, ME | Environmental | $75,000 |
| Knox County Health Clinic Rockland, ME | Healthcare | $70,000 |
| Maine Family Planning Augusta, ME | Healthcare | $25,000 |
| Mercer Museum Doylestown, PA | Arts and Culture | $25,000 |
| Planned Parenthood New York, NY | Healthcare | $25,000 |
| Smithsonian Libraries Boston, MA | Arts and Culture | $25,000 |
| Victoria Mansion Portland, ME | Arts and Culture | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Cascade Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $12,935,807 | $698,159 | $1,273,131 | $734,813 | 34 | $1,049,904 | $480,362 | $879,103 |
| 2023 | $13,517,320 | $-87,362 | $1,181,262 | $677,662 | 37 | $966,948 | $221,282 | $840,160 |
| 2022 | $14,821,884 | $-223,693 | $1,209,073 | $695,300 | 32 | $1,001,568 | $90,960 | $897,137 |
| 2021 | $16,395,441 | $857,628 | $1,111,975 | $629,500 | 37 | $832,400 | $588,094 | $995,322 |
| 2020 | $16,647,577 | $-263,401 | $1,013,565 | $538,000 | 30 | — | $49,729 | $912,249 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Cascade Foundation reported a distributable amount of $879K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for medical research, healthcare, arts and culture, and environmental work. Among the supported organizations, FRAXA Research Foundation says its mission is to find effective treatments and ultimately a cure for Fragile X syndrome; Maine Maritime Museum says it connects people to Maine’s waterways and their global reach; and Reef Relief says it works to improve and protect coral reef ecosystems.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation made 34 grants totaling $734,813. Grant amounts ranged from $500 to $80,000, with a median of $15,000. Among its largest grants were $80,000 each to FRAXA Research Foundation for medical research and the National Fragile X Foundation for medical research; $76,813 to Friends of the Strand Theater for arts and culture; $75,000 to Atlantic Salmon Federation for environmental work; and $70,000 to Knox County Health Clinic for healthcare.
Other 2024 grants included $20,000 to MedShare International, whose mission is to improve quality of life through delivery of surplus medical supplies and equipment to communities in need; $20,000 to Wayfinder Schools, which says it helps students discover strengths, practice personal responsibility, contribute to their communities, and earn a high school diploma; and $15,000 to Partners for World Health, which says it collects and redistributes medical supplies and supports medical missions and global health education.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Daniel Dibner as treasurer; Victoria Dibner as president; and Bern Dibner, Aurora Dibner, and Avalon Fennessey as directors.
Cascade Foundation is led by Victoria Dibner, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); all 5 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Victoria Dibner
President
Director & President → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $104K (2024)
Aurora Dibner
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Avalon Fennessey
Director
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
$12K (2020) → $12K (2024)
Bern Dibner
Director
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$69K (2020) → $103K (2024)
Daniel Dibner
Treasurer
Director & Treasurer → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
35 hrs/week
$113K (2020) → $104K (2024)
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $104K, to Daniel Dibner (Treasurer). 5 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Cascade Foundation
How much does Cascade Foundation give each year?
Cascade Foundation gave $735K across 34 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $678K across 37 grants.
What is Cascade Foundation's typical grant size?
Cascade Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $21,612, across 34 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Cascade Foundation that year got $16K on average.
Where does Cascade Foundation give grants?
Cascade Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 60% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were Massachusetts (16%) and District of Columbia (11%). The most frequent recipient cities were Rockland, ME (6 grants), Portland, ME (3 grants), Camden, ME (3 grants) and New York, NY (2 grants).
Does Cascade Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 34 grants with a stated purpose on Cascade Foundation's 2024 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Arts and Culture" (11 grants), "Healthcare" (6 grants) and "Environmental" (4 grants).
Who are Cascade Foundation's largest grantees?
Cascade Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Fraxa Research Foundation ($80,000), National Fragile X Foundation ($80,000) and Friends of the Strand Theater ($76,813), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 32% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Cascade Foundation?
Cascade Foundation reported $12.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.0M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $879K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Cascade Foundation fund?
No mission statement is provided. The 2024 grants show support for medical research, healthcare, arts and culture, and environmental work. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Cascade Foundation?
The foundation states that it makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Cascade Foundation's EIN?
Cascade Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-4956488. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Cascade Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Cascade Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
IBM International Foundation
Armonk, NY
The IBM International Foundation funds education and workforce programs that build 21st-century and technology job skills, including initiatives for underserved students and job seekers. Its 2024 grants ranged from $10,000 to $8.48 million, with a median of $100,000, and went to organizations across several U.S. states, especially Delaware and Massachusetts. It funds only preselected organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
Assets
$357.7M
Grants
16
Total Given
$11.7M
Enterprise Holdings Foundation
Saint Louis, MO
The Enterprise Holdings Foundation supports charitable and educational nonprofits in communities where Enterprise Mobility operates, focusing on health, education, arts, and disaster relief; applicants must be actively supported by an Enterprise Mobility team member, spouse, or domestic partner. Giving varies widely: it reported 9,499 grants in 2024, but its 2025 filing showed one grant of $101.4 million, so that amount is not a typical award. Applications are accepted at any time through eligible Enterprise-affiliated applicants; the Foundation does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$594.3M
Grants
1
Total Given
$101.4M
Davis Family Foundation
Yarmouth, ME
The Davis Family Foundation funds eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in education, health care, and arts and cultural activities, prioritizing Southern Maine and then the rest of Maine; projects elsewhere in New England must benefit Maine learners. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $400,000, with a median of $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$100.5M
Grants
92
Total Given
$3.2M
Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation Inc
Princeton, NJ
The Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation supports health access and stronger health systems, with a focus on adult and pediatric cancers, blood disorders, brain health, and clinical-trial participation in the United States, Brazil, India, and ten Sub-Saharan African countries. In 2024, its median grant was about $134,000, though awards varied widely; it does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests, and advises prospective applicants to contact the Foundation about its process.
Assets
$83.3M
Grants
144
Total Given
$67.7M
Maine Community Foundation Inc
Ellsworth, ME
Maine Community Foundation supports nonprofits and communities in Maine through grants for areas such as community building, arts, land and water, housing, and equity, as well as scholarships. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $17,500, though awards varied widely. The profile describes online applications for competitive grants but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$807.6M
Grants
1,161
Total Given
$57.6M
The Yelp Foundation
San Francisco, CA
Assets
$6.2M
Grants
644
Total Given
$886K
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Cascade Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/cascade-foundation-morg_1213f82168c149f2ac84bdbcd56d26f8
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_204956488_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Cascade Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/cascade-foundation-morg_1213f82168c149f2ac84bdbcd56d26f8},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. Data licensed CC BY 4.0}
}The figures on this page are open data under CC BY 4.0: reuse them with credit to Grantable and a link. Download the data.
Figures come from Cascade Foundation's IRS filings (methodology). AI-written summaries, news items and logos are not covered by the open licence. Spot an error? Email hello@grantable.co.
Cascade Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?