Fore River Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Portland, ME EIN: 01-0421912
Arts and cultureHistorical activitiesHistoric preservationEducationElementary and secondary education

Fore River Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. Its 2025 grants supported organizations working in areas including environmental conservation, reproductive health and rights, legal advocacy, education, and community health, as well as Maine-based organizations focused on conservation, history, and community services.

Fore River Foundation at a glance

In short: Fore River Foundation gave $1.6M across 91 grants in 2025 (avg $18K), top state Maine. 19% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Annual giving (2025)
$1,649,139
+7.8% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
91
+4.6% vs 2024
Average grant
$18,122
+3.1% vs 2024
Median grant
$5,000
Total assets
$2,620,121
+4.6% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
19% first-time grantees (17 of 91, 2025)
Primary geography
Maine (39% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to Fore River Foundation

Accepts unsolicited proposals
No
How to Apply

The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds.

Contact

Mailing address: PO Box 7525, Portland, ME 04112-7525
Phone: (207) 772-6404

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who Fore River Foundation funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

Trust for Public Lands: $128KTrust for Public Lands$128KBrennan Center for Justice: $125KBrennan Center for Justice$125KEarthjustice: $120KEarthjustice$120KCenter for Science in the Public Inter: $100KCenter for Science in thePublic Inter$100KMaine Family Planning: $100KMaine Family Planning$100KCenter for Reproductive Rights: $77KCenter for Reproductive Rights$77KLand and Garden Preserve: $65KLand and Garden Preserve$65KMaine Coast Heritage Trust: $61KMaine Coast Heritage Trust$61KUniversity of Maine: $55KUniversity of Maine$55KNews Literacy Project: $50KNews Literacy Project$50K

The largest 2025 recipient was Trust for Public Lands ($128K). Together the top 10 received $881K.

Grant Size Distribution

415 grants across all recorded years

364<$50K30$50–100K21$100–250K$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 364 grants of 415 (88%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

In 2025, 39% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine, 17% to California, 16% to New York, 13% to Washington, DC, and 6% to Florida. The listed grants also included recipients in North Carolina. These figures describe recipients’ states, not necessarily the locations where their work takes place.

Grant Distribution by State

17states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 91 itemized grants.

Cities

WashingtonHobe SoundNew YorkMount DesertBar HarborPortlandPoint Reyes StationSan FranciscoFreeportBrunswickBathSeal HarborAugustaTopshamBethesdaNorteast HarborEl PortalYarmouthArlingtonBluff

Is Fore River Foundation open to new grantees?

19%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 17 of 91 grantees (19%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $9K; repeat grants $20K. How we count

Medians: $5K first-time, $5K repeat.

  • 74% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
  • In 2025 it paid out well above its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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

$0$500K$1M$1.5M$2M80 grants2019 53 grants2020 65 grants2021 77 grants2022 95 grants2023 87 grants2024 91 grants2025

From 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $1.2M (2020) to $1.8M (2022). In 2025 it made 91 grants totaling $1.6M.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
Trust for Public Lands San Francisco, CAUnrestricted$128,000
Brennan Center for Justice New York, NYUnrestricted$125,000
Earthjustice San Francisco, CAUnrestricted$120,000
Center for Science in the Public Inter Washington, DCUnrestricted$100,000
Maine Family Planning Augusta, MEUnrestricted$100,000
Center for Reproductive Rights New York, NYUnrestricted$77,000
Land and Garden Preserve Seal Harbor, MEUnrestricted$65,000
Maine Coast Heritage Trust Topsham, MEUnrestricted$61,000
University of Maine Orono, MEUnrestricted$55,000
News Literacy Project Washington, DCUnrestricted$50,000
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Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsQualifying DistributionsNet Investment IncomeDistributable Amount
2025$2,620,121$1,818,168$1,702,924$1,649,13991$1,686,653$872,170$166,869
2024$2,504,877$1,270,639$1,588,921$1,529,55687$1,569,206$450,413$156,828
2023$2,823,159$1,228,843$1,605,639$1,560,71895$1,591,905$513,232$187,853
2022$3,199,955$1,029,955$1,861,078$1,802,23077$1,833,816$396,892$251,900
2021$4,031,078$1,176,521$1,349,268$1,321,91165—$614,035$289,051
2020$4,203,825$1,089,892$1,232,679$1,196,92053—$586,416$279,617
2019$4,326,565$783,279$1,441,104$1,421,50080—$333,916$286,821

Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Fore River Foundation reported a distributable amount of $167K for 2025 — 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 2025 grantees’ own descriptions show the range of work the foundation supports. Earthjustice describes itself as an environmental law organization working to protect health and wildlife, preserve places, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. Maine Coast Heritage Trust says it advances conservation of Maine lands and waters and supports ecological well-being and thriving communities. Guttmacher Institute describes its work as advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights. Constitutional Accountability Center says it works as a nonprofit law firm and think tank to fulfill the Constitution’s promise of greater justice, equity, and inclusion.

Other 2025 grantees included Friends of Acadia, which describes its work as preserving and protecting Acadia National Park’s natural and cultural resources; Bar Harbor Historical Society, which preserves and interprets local history; St. Timothy’s School, which describes itself as a community of academic excellence; and Mount Desert Island Hospital, whose stated mission is to provide compassionate care and strengthen community health.

Grantmaking

In 2025, the foundation made 91 grants totaling $1,649,139. Grants ranged from $500 to $128,000, with a median of $5,000. Its largest grants included $128,000 to Trust for Public Lands, $125,000 to Brennan Center for Justice, $120,000 to Earthjustice, and $100,000 each to Center for Science in the Public Inter and Maine Family Planning. These grants were listed as unrestricted.

Other 2025 grants included $77,000 to Center for Reproductive Rights, $65,000 to Land and Garden Preserve, $61,000 to Maine Coast Heritage Trust, $55,000 to University of Maine, and $50,000 to News Literacy Project.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Peter W Quesada as VP/Treasurer; T Ricardo Quesada as President/Director; Strand O Quesada as Vice President/Director; Dennis C Keeler as Secretary; and Anthony C Quesada, Emily P Quesada, Charlotte R Quesada, Kate Davis Baxter, and Eliza Wright Baxter as directors.

Fore River Foundation is led by T Ricardo Quesada, President & Director on every filing since 2019; none of the 9 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • T Ricardo Quesada

    President & Director

    On filings since 2019

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anthony C Quesada

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Charlotte R Quesada

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Eliza Wright Baxter

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Emily P Quesada

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Kate Davis Baxter

    Director

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Strand O Quesada

    V.p. & Director

    On filings since 2019

    2.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dennis C Keeler

    Secretary

    On filings since 2019

    No compensation reported

  • Peter W Quesada

    Vice President & Treasurer

    On filings since 2019

    0.5 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.

Frequently asked questions about Fore River Foundation

How much does Fore River Foundation give each year?

Fore River Foundation gave $1.6M across 91 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $1.5M across 87 grants.

What is Fore River Foundation's typical grant size?

Fore River Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $18,122, across 91 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Fore River Foundation that year got $9K on average.

Where does Fore River Foundation give grants?

Fore River Foundation's top state is Maine, with 39% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were California (17%) and New York (16%). The most frequent recipient cities were Hobe Sound, FL (10 grants), New York, NY (6 grants), Washington, DC (6 grants) and Portland, ME (6 grants).

Does Fore River Foundation give general operating support?

Yes: 100% of Fore River Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (91 of 91) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.

Who are Fore River Foundation's largest grantees?

Fore River Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Trust for Public Lands ($128,000), Brennan Center for Justice ($125,000) and Earthjustice ($120,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 23% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is Fore River Foundation?

Fore River Foundation reported $2.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.7M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $167K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).

What does Fore River Foundation fund?

No mission statement is provided. The 2025 grantees’ own descriptions show the range of work the foundation supports. Earthjustice describes itself as an environmental law organization working to protect health and wildlife, preserve places, advance clean energy, and combat climate change. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Fore River Foundation?

The foundation 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 Fore River Foundation's EIN?

Fore River Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0421912. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.

Does Fore River Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?

No, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(8)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 24, 2020)
  2. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 24, 2021)
  3. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS March 21, 2022)
  4. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 20, 2023)
  5. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 14, 2024)
  6. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS February 25, 2025)
  7. Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 9, 2026)
  8. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025

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Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). Fore River Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/fore-river-foundation-morg_187d17e2c70041da848ce7903adf6945

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010421912_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{Fore River Foundation funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/fore-river-foundation-morg_187d17e2c70041da848ce7903adf6945},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Fore River 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.

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