Foundations & Grantmakers in Maine
897 grantmakers in Maine reported grants on their latest 990s. The 353 that made at least 5 grants gave $488.1M. The largest by giving are Harold Alfond Foundation, Maine Community Foundation Inc and TD Charitable Foundation. The list below ranks grantmakers with at least 5 grants by annual giving, and each funder links to a profile with its grant history and financials.
Looking for open funding opportunities instead? Browse Maine grants
Foundation giving in Maine at a glance
Active grantmakers
897
reported grants on latest 990
Annual giving
$488.1M
from the 353 with 5+ grants
Typical grant
$15K
median of each funder's average grant
Median annual giving
$54K
per grantmaker
Top 10 foundations in Maine by annual giving
| # | Funder | City | Annual giving | Grants |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Harold Alfond Foundation | Portland | $102.7M | 45 |
| 2 | Maine Community Foundation Inc | Ellsworth | $57.6M | 1,161 |
| 3 | TD Charitable Foundation | Portland | $24.9M | 1,003 |
| 4 | Lunder Foundation | Portland | $24.4M | 153 |
| 5 | Maine Technology Institute | Portland | $22.2M | 194 |
| 6 | Decoster Family Charitable | Turner | $21.5M | 17 |
| 7 | Elmina B Sewall Foundation | Freeport | $14.4M | 296 |
| 8 | Maine Children's Trust | Augusta | $12.1M | 14 |
| 9 | Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence | Augusta | $9.6M | 8 |
| 10 | John T Gorman Foundation | Portland | $7.5M | 154 |
Ranked by grants reported on each funder's latest 990. Only grantmakers with at least 5 grants are ranked; 4 organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants (usually one transfer to an affiliated charity) are left out.
Most common focus areas
- Education 46 · 24%
- Arts, Culture & Humanities 25 · 13%
- Human Services 22 · 12%
- Environment & Animals 17 · 9%
- Health 17 · 9%
- Community Improvement & Capacity Building 13 · 7%
Share of grantmakers with a program NTEE code (42% carry any NTEE code); general grantmaking foundations (NTEE T) are not counted.
Community foundations in Maine
- Maine Community Foundation Inc $57.6M · 1,161 grants
Source: IRS Form 990 and 990-PF filings, latest available year per organization (most of the largest funders' latest filing: tax year 2025).
Most open to new grantees in Maine
Foundations based in Maine whose latest grant list had the largest share of organizations they had not funded in any earlier year on file.
| # | Funder | First-time grantees | Grantees | Avg first grant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Androscoggin Bank's Mainstreet Fdn Portland Trust Company LLC | 90% (19) | 21 in 2025 | $4K |
| 2 | The Masonic Charitable Foundation of the Grand Lodge of Maine | 76% (26) | 34 in 2025 | $13K |
| 3 | Davis Family Foundation | 71% (65) | 92 in 2024 | $27K |
| 4 | Maine Technology Institute | 66% (127) | 192 in 2025 | $121K |
| 5 | Good Shepherd Food Bank | 63% (88) | 139 in 2025 | $21K |
| 6 | Simmons Foundation - PerkinsThompson | 60% (41) | 68 in 2024 | $3K |
| 7 | Coastal Enterprises Inc | 60% (21) | 35 in 2025 | $27K |
| 8 | Bangor Savings Bank Foundation | 50% (78) | 156 in 2025 | $5K |
| 9 | Atlantic Federal Credit Union Foundation | 48% (46) | 95 in 2025 | $1K |
| 10 | Machias Savings Bank Community | 48% (13) | 27 in 2025 | $5K |
Estimate from itemized IRS Form 990 and 990-PF grant lists. Only foundations with at least 20 grants in each of the last three years (and 20 distinct grantees in the latest), a filing from the last 2 years, and first grants averaging at least $1K are ranked; grants to individuals are left out, and recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed grantee can look new. How we calculate this.
Showing 353 grantmakers in Maine with 5+ grants on their latest 990, most giving first
Harold Alfond Foundation
Portland, ME
Assets
$1.0B
Grants
45
Total Given
$102.7M
Maine Community Foundation Inc
Ellsworth, ME
Assets
$807.6M
Grants
1,161
Total Given
$57.6M
TD Charitable Foundation
Portland, ME
Assets
$9.1M
Grants
1,003
Total Given
$24.9M
Lunder Foundation
Portland, ME
Assets
$380K
Grants
153
Total Given
$24.4M
Maine Technology Institute
Portland, ME
Assets
$22.5M
Grants
194
Total Given
$22.2M
Decoster Family Charitable
Turner, ME
Assets
$342K
Grants
17
Total Given
$21.5M
Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Freeport, ME
Assets
$164.8M
Grants
296
Total Given
$14.4M
Maine Children's Trust
Augusta, ME
Assets
$4.7M
Grants
14
Total Given
$12.1M
Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence
Augusta, ME
Assets
$3.4M
Grants
8
Total Given
$9.6M
John T Gorman Foundation
Portland, ME
Assets
$223.5M
Grants
154
Total Given
$7.5M
Friends of Acadia
Bar Harbor, ME
Assets
$100.3M
Grants
16
Total Given
$7.3M
The Mimi Foundation
Scarborough, ME
Assets
—
Grants
8
Total Given
$6.6M
Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault
Augusta, ME
Assets
$2.5M
Grants
8
Total Given
$5.4M
Maine Health Access Foundation Inc
Augusta, ME
Assets
$154.4M
Grants
126
Total Given
$5.0M
Onion Foundation
Auburn, ME
Assets
$63.6M
Grants
245
Total Given
$4.4M
Simple Generosity Foundation
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
339
Total Given
$4.4M
Libra Foundation
Portland, ME
Assets
$156.5M
Grants
56
Total Given
$4.3M
Maine Justice Foundation
Augusta, ME
Assets
$9.7M
Grants
18
Total Given
$3.8M
The Morton Foundation Inc
Cape Neddick, ME
Assets
$87K
Grants
5
Total Given
$3.8M
Huber Foundation
Falmouth, ME
Assets
$79.9M
Grants
9
Total Given
$3.7M
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Topsham, ME
Assets
$312.2M
Grants
17
Total Given
$3.7M
United Way Inc
Portland, ME
Assets
$19.5M
Grants
78
Total Given
$3.4M
Bill and Joan Alfond
Portland, ME
Assets
$31.2M
Grants
41
Total Given
$3.4M
Davis Educational Foundation
Yarmouth, ME
Assets
$130.3M
Grants
22
Total Given
$3.4M
Here's the math on clicking through this list.
You, clicking into all 24 funders
~2.8 hrs
at ~7 min per funder profile
Your agents, the same 24
~1 min
every profile evaluated and scored, with reasoning
Questions about foundations in Maine
What are the largest foundations in Maine?
By grants reported on their latest 990s, the largest are Harold Alfond Foundation ($102.7M across 45 grants), Maine Community Foundation Inc ($57.6M) and TD Charitable Foundation ($24.9M). Together the top 10 account for 61% of the $488.1M given by the 353 grantmakers in Maine that made at least 5 grants. Organizations that reported large giving in fewer grants, usually a single transfer to an affiliated charity, are left out of the ranking.
How big is a typical foundation grant in Maine?
The typical grant is about $15K (the median of each grantmaker's average grant). Half of these grantmakers gave less than $54K in total in their latest filing year, so many are small foundations that give to a few organizations they already know. The largest funders make many more grants, but also get the most requests.
Are there community foundations in Maine?
Yes. We found 1 community foundation in Maine with grant activity. The largest by giving is Maine Community Foundation Inc. Community foundations pool gifts from many local donors and usually run open grant rounds for nonprofits in their area, which makes them a good first stop for local funding.
How do I find Maine foundations that accept unsolicited proposals?
Most private foundations don't run an open application. Their 990-PF says whether they only give to preselected charities, and their past grants show who they actually fund. Start with the funders above whose grant counts and typical grant size fit your budget, then check each profile's grant history for organizations like yours before you reach out. Read the grant prospecting guide.
Related guides
- Grant prospecting: how to find funders that fit
How to shortlist foundations in Maine from their 990s and giving history.
- AI grant writing: draft proposals in your voice
Turn a shortlist into LOIs and proposals drafted from your own materials.