Fisher Charitable Foundation is a private foundation established by Dean L. Fisher and based in Portland, Maine. The foundation became active in 1997 and provides grants to tax-exempt charitable organizations, primarily in Maine.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$2.7M
+0.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$535K
+10.8% YoY
Grant Count
109
+29.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-14.6% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fisher Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
Fisher Charitable Foundation's mission is to provide grants to tax-exempt charitable, §501(c)(3) organizations, primarily in Maine.
The foundation's primary funding areas include:
- General operating support
- Workforce preparedness training for military members and their families
- Medical professional training within the Wabanaki network
- Education
- Community development
- Children and youth
- Arts and culture, including museums and performing arts
The foundation welcomes proposals that offer creative solutions to community problems or take advantage of opportunities that will have a favorable impact on the quality of life for a number of people.
Grantmaking
In 2023, the foundation made 79 grants totaling approximately $483,350. Recent grant recipients include:
Grant Range
s:**
How to Apply
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation primarily funds organizations located within the state of Maine, with some activity in Connecticut.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2023:
- Total Assets: $2,687,983
- Total Revenues: $481,444
- Total Expenses: $631,228
- Number of Employees: 0
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $2,701,899 | $2,687,983 | $2,836,858 |
| Revenue | $706,555 | $481,444 | $343,417 |
| Expenses | $690,907 | $631,228 | $653,795 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $624,582 | $571,525 | $583,589 |
| Net Investment Income | $480,356 | $282,324 | $255,116 |
| Distributable Amount | $331,012 | $305,368 | $328,907 |
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
1 open opportunity from Fisher Charitable Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Downeast Community Partners ($15,000), Boots2roots ($10,000), Community Concepts ($10,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 317 MAIN COMMUNITY MUSIC CENTER YARMOUTH, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ABBE MUSEUM BAR HARBOR, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| ANDROSCOGGIN HOME HEALTH SERVICES DBA ANDWELL HEALTH PARTNERS LEWISTON, ME | DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS EDUCATION AND SUPPORT | $3,000 |
| AREA INTERFAITH OUTREACH ROCKLAND, ME | WEEKEND MEALS PROGRAM | $3,000 |
| AUGUSTA BOYS & GIRLS CLUB AUGUSTA, ME | THREE COMPUTERS TO BE BUILT BY TEENS USING RECYCLED PARTS | $5,000 |
| AUGUSTA FOOD BANK AUGUSTA, ME | KIDSPAKS | $5,000 |
| AVESTA HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION PORTLAND, ME | HOMELESS TO HOUSING PROGRAM | $5,000 |
| BANGOR SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA BANGOR, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $5,000 |
| BAY CHAMBER CONCERTS CAMDEN, ME | GENERAL OPERATING SUPPORT | $2,000 |
| BELFAST SOUP KITCHEN BELFAST, ME | RSU 20 BACKPACK PROJECT THAT PROVIDES FOOD FOR STUDENTS | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Fisher Charitable Foundation is led by a Board of Trustees under the guidance of the foundation's mission.
Founder: Dean L. Fisher (1900–2000) founded Fisher Engineering, which became one of the leading U.S. manufacturers of snow and ice removal equipment. Fisher earned degrees in civil engineering and mechanical engineering from Kansas State College of Engineering and Agriculture (now Kansas State University) and the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland. During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy with a Seabees construction battalion and served as second in command of a Seabee warehouse complex at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. He designed the first snow plows for Willys Jeeps and built his company from the ground up, starting in 1948 in Rockland, Maine.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALEXSANDRA L FISHER | TRUSTEE/PRESIDENT | 1 | $15,000 |
| OWEN W WELLS | TRUSTEE/CLERK | 1 | $15,000 |
| MEG BAXTER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $15,000 |
| HENRY L P SCHMELZER | TRUSTEE | 1 | $15,000 |
| CRAIG N DENEKAS | TRUSTEE | 1 | $15,000 |
| ARIE FISHER COLES | TRUSTEE | 1 | $15,000 |
Contact Information
Mailing Address: PO BOX 17513 PORTLAND, ME 04112-8513
Website: fishercharitablefoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Fisher Charitable Foundation fund?
Fisher Charitable Foundation's mission is to provide grants to tax-exempt charitable, §501(c)(3) organizations, primarily in Maine. The foundation's primary funding areas include: • General operating support • Workforce preparedness training for military members and their families • Medical professional training within the Wabanaki network • Education • Community development • Children and youth • Arts and culture, including museums and performing arts The foundation welcomes proposals that off…
How do I apply for a grant from Fisher Charitable Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** In 2023, the foundation made 79 grants totaling approximately $483,350. Recent grant recipients include: • Portland Stage Company: $25,000 (Making An Entrance Capital Campaign) • The Women's Board of the Maine Medical Center: $25,000 (Dean L. Fisher Scholarships) • Downeast Community Partners: $15,000 (General Operating Support) **Grant Sizes:** Typical awards range from $1,000 to $25,000. **Application Process:** Applicants are asked to complete a one-page application.
Where does Fisher Charitable Foundation make grants?
The foundation primarily funds organizations located within the state of Maine, with some activity in Connecticut.
What size grants does Fisher Charitable Foundation award?
In 2024, Fisher Charitable Foundation awarded 109 grants totaling $535K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Fisher Charitable Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Fisher Charitable Foundation reported a distributable amount of $331K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Fisher Charitable Foundation's EIN?
Fisher Charitable Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0512082. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Fisher Charitable Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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