Elmina B Sewall Foundation
The Elmina B Sewall Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation established in 1982 and based in Freeport, Maine. The foundation was established by Elmina Brewster Sewall of Kennebunk, Maine. It operates as a 501(c)(3) organization and is classified as a family foundation.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$164.8M
-3.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$14.4M
+7.3% YoY
Grant Count
296
+3.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
+3.7% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Elmina B Sewall Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To support a culture of equity and interconnected well-being for people, animals, and the environment in Maine.
The foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations working in the following program areas:
- Animal Welfare
- Food Systems
- Keystone - Prioritizes grassroots and community-led efforts to address environmental and racial justice as a key strategy for equitable social change and community well-being in Maine
- Lewiston-Auburn - Supports organizations working through the Lewiston-Auburn Systems Approach to strengthen collaboration, build sustainable capacity, and deepen equity by centering leadership by youth and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color
- Nature-Based Education
- Rural Partnerships
- Wabanaki
- Rapid Response Fund - Provides support for emergent community needs in Maine that require a timely response outside of regular grant cycles
- Legacy Grants
Grantmaking
Grant Range
s:** Typical awards range from $150,000 to $580,000. Recent grants include:
Review Cycle
are available on the foundation's website.
Grant Types
How to Apply
** The foundation follows a one-step, online grant application process. Detailed instructions and deadlines are available on the foundation's website.
Ready to take the next step with Elmina B Sewall Foundation?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations working in Maine and Wabanaki territory.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total Assets: $164,831,338
- Total Liabilities: $1,196,747
- Net Assets: $163,634,591
- Total Revenue: $42,549 (primarily from interest revenue)
- Total Expenses: $8,139,499
- Charitable Disbursements: $16,862,450
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $170,578,667
- Total Revenues: $5,294,917
- Total Expenses: $16,200,018
- Investment income and dividends: $5,308,706
Officer Compensation (2024): $410,806
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $164,831,338 | $170,578,667 | $166,615,697 |
| Revenue | $42,549 | $5,294,917 | $-3,635,299 |
| Expenses | $8,139,499 | $16,200,018 | $14,123,615 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $21,534,276 | $18,427,704 | $14,789,826 |
| Net Investment Income | $7,886,318 | $3,268,356 | $6,398,390 |
| Distributable Amount | $8,134,686 | $8,017,067 | $8,792,728 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
8 open opportunities from Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Animal Welfare Grant Program
Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $75,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Food Systems Grant Program
Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $1,000,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Keystone Grant Program
Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Amount
US $10,000 - US $100,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Center for An Ecology-Based Economy ($200,000), Cooperative Development Institute ($185,000), Aroostook Band of Micmacs ($150,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 4-H Clubs & Affiliated 4-H Organizations Orono, ME | General Operating Support | $50,000 |
| A Climate to Thrive Mt Desert, ME | General Operating Support | $25,000 |
| Abbe Museum Bar Harbor, ME | General Operating Support | $60,000 |
| AK Health and Social Services Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association Chicago, IL | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| American Civil Liberties Union of Maine Foundation Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $20,000 |
| American National Red Cross Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $7,500 |
| An Angels Wing Inc Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $10,000 |
| Androscoggin Land Trust Inc Auburn, ME | General Operating Support | $32,500 |
| Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments Auburn, ME | General Operating Support | $55,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- M. Gabriela Alcalde, MPH, DrPH - Executive Director
- Jono Anzalone - Board Chair
- Amie Hutchison - Animal Welfare and Legacy Community Partner
- Gina Lamarche - Executive Support Partner
- Kristina Kalolo - Community Partner: Food Systems
- Leslie Hill - Board Member
- Lisa Smith - Administrative Coordinator
- Nikki Evans - Administrative Coordinator
- Sonya LaCoute-Dana - Wabanaki Community Partner
- Tom Boutureira - Program Officer
The foundation employs 9 staff members and operates fully remotely.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dr Gabriela Alcalde | Executive Director | 36 | $254,000 |
| Autumn Fitch | Director | 2 | $15,000 |
| Leslie Hill | Director | 1 | $10,000 |
| Amara Ifeji | Director | 1 | $12,500 |
| Dale McCormick | Director | 2 | $15,000 |
| Rotha Chan | Chair (end 5/2024) | 1 | $3,750 |
| Jono Anzalone | Director; Chair (start 5/2024) | 2 | $15,000 |
| Vendean Vafiades | Treasurer | 2 | $15,000 |
| John Banks | Secretary | 2 | $15,000 |
| Margaret Sewall Barbour | Member Emeritus | — | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2024, the foundation adopted a values-based theory of change called the "Sewall Approach," which emphasizes that how the foundation does its work is as important as what it does. The approach is values-driven, adaptable, and does not hold the foundation to specific programming or outcomes.
FDDC Receives Grant Awards from the Elmina B. Sewall FoundationIn 2025, the foundation launched the Strategic Discretionary Fund and implemented its first board-approved five-year grants budget. The foundation continues to embed the Sewall Approach into its work internally and externally, with emphasis on listening to communities and responding in alignment with its values.
FDDC Receives Grant Awards from the Elmina B. Sewall FoundationThe foundation has made grants to organizations including RedRover (supporting pets and their people), Wabanaki Youth In Science (WaYS), and various other Maine-based nonprofits working in its priority areas.
RedRover: Protecting Pets and Supporting Their People — Elmina B. Sewall FoundationFrequently Asked Questions
What does Elmina B Sewall Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To support a culture of equity and interconnected well-being for people, animals, and the environment in Maine. The foundation supports 501(c)(3) organizations working in the following program areas: • **Animal Welfare** • **Food Systems** • **Keystone** - Prioritizes grassroots and community-led efforts to address environmental and racial justice as a key strategy for equitable social change and community well-being in Maine • **Lewiston-Auburn** - Supports organizations working t…
How do I apply for a grant from Elmina B Sewall Foundation?
**Grant Types:** The foundation considers requests for operating grants, project grants, and capital grants. The foundation does not make grants for operating endowments or to individuals. **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $150,000 to $580,000. Recent grants include: • Sunrise County Economic Council: $425,000 (General Operating Support, 2023) • Kennebec Valley Humane Society: $300,000 (General Operating Support, 2023) • New Learning Journey: $295,000 (General Operating Support, 2023) …
Where does Elmina B Sewall Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations working in Maine and Wabanaki territory.
What size grants does Elmina B Sewall Foundation award?
In 2024, Elmina B Sewall Foundation awarded 296 grants totaling $14.4M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Elmina B Sewall Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Elmina B Sewall Foundation reported a distributable amount of $8.1M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Elmina B Sewall Foundation's EIN?
Elmina B Sewall Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0387404. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated June 2026.
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