Foundation for Seacoast Health
The Foundation for Seacoast Health is a private foundation based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Established in 1984 after the sale of Portsmouth Hospital, it supports organizations working to improve health and well-being across the Seacoast region.
Foundation for Seacoast Health at a glance
In short: Foundation for Seacoast Health gave $908K across 43 grants in 2025 (avg $21K), mostly in New Hampshire. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $908,420
- +29.8% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 43
- +16.2% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $21,126
- +11.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $20,000
- Total assets
- $27,883,246
- +7.7% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- New Hampshire (90% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Foundation for Seacoast Health
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and accepts unsolicited requests. Apply online through the foundation’s website. Submission deadlines are announced in the Grant Guidelines. Awards are restricted to purposes related to promoting the health and well-being of residents of the nine communities identified in Part IX-A of the filing.
- Review Cycle
- Submission deadlines are announced in the Grant Guidelines; no specific date is provided.
- Deadline
- Submission deadlines are announced in the Grant Guidelines; no specific date is provided.
- Contact
Application contact: Jenny Macmurdo
Mailing address: PO Box 670, Portsmouth, NH 03802
Phone: (603) 502-8076
Email: jmacmurdo@ffsh.org
Website: https://foundationforseacoasthealth.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
1 open opportunity from Foundation for Seacoast Health
Who Foundation for Seacoast Health funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Seacoast Mental Health Center ($55K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $370K.
Grant Size Distribution
179 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 166 grants of 179 (93%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grantmaking page identifies the service area as Portsmouth, Newington, New Castle, Greenland, Rye, and North Hampton in New Hampshire, and Kittery, Eliot, and York in Maine. In 2025, 90% of grant dollars went to recipients in New Hampshire and 10% to recipients in Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 43 itemized grants.
Cities
How Foundation for Seacoast Health gives
- 36% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving fell 91% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 102% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (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
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $145K (2020) to $10.1M (2022). In 2025 it made 43 grants totaling $908K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Arts in Reach Portsmouth, NH | 2024 Strategic Grant (multi-year) | $50,000 |
| Cornerstone VNA Rochester, NH | 2025 Strategic Grant | $50,000 |
| Seacoast Mental Health Center Portsmouth, NH | 2025 Strategic Grant | $50,000 |
| Seacoast Youth Services Exeter, NH | 2024 Strategic Grant (multi-year) | $50,000 |
| Rockingham Nutrition & Meals on Wheels Brentwood, NH | 2025 Strategic Grant | $35,000 |
| York County Community Action Corporation Sanford, ME | 2025 Strategic Grant | $30,000 |
| AIDS Response of the Seacoast Portsmouth, NH | 2025 Strategic Grant | $25,000 |
| Connor's Climb Foundation Exeter, NH | 2024 Strategic Grant (multi-year) | $25,000 |
| Cooperative Alliance for Seacoast Transportation Dover, NH | 2025 Strategic Grant | $25,000 |
| Friends Forever Inc Durham, NH | 2024 Strategic Grant (multi-year) | $25,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Foundation for Seacoast Health?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $27,883,246 | $1,450,486 | $1,361,915 | $908,420 | 43 | $1,325,809 | $1,403,115 | $1,300,934 |
| 2024 | $25,895,816 | $1,402,204 | $1,348,551 | $699,698 | 37 | $1,241,950 | $1,350,171 | $1,155,832 |
| 2023 | $24,860,519 | $451,724 | $994,541 | $433,500 | 31 | $1,024,641 | $522,171 | $1,153,076 |
| 2022 | $22,646,639 | $4,382,438 | $11,199,847 | $10,074,769 | 44 | $10,936,827 | $3,936,531 | $11,318,004 |
| 2021 | $41,410,046 | $2,583,149 | $2,168,013 | $324,030 | 24 | $1,588,280 | $1,779,736 | $1,631,859 |
| 2020 | $39,490,341 | $5,481,063 | $1,970,473 | $144,541 | 15 | — | $4,762,502 | $1,386,813 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Foundation for Seacoast Health reported a distributable amount of $1.3M for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation says it partners with organizations to improve health and well-being across the Seacoast. Its stated focus areas are mental health, healthy aging, career pathways in healthcare, and thriving communities. It offers two funding cycles each year and is shifting from traditional scholarships toward career-pathway support. A pilot with Great Bay Community College and the Foundation for NH Community Colleges helps healthcare students with expenses such as licensing exam fees, uniforms, equipment, and transportation.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations supported. Seacoast Mental Health Center says it provides accessible mental health services to residents of eastern Rockingham County. Cornerstone VNA says it promotes well-being, independence, and dignity through community healthcare. Seacoast Youth Services says it provides educational prevention programs for youth. Other 2025 grantees include organizations whose stated missions address transportation access, aging, suicide prevention education, and community well-being.
Grantmaking
In 2025, the foundation reported 43 grants totaling $908,420. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $50,000, with a median of $20,000. Examples include $50,000 each to Arts in Reach, Cornerstone VNA, Seacoast Mental Health Center, and Seacoast Youth Services; $35,000 to Rockingham Nutrition & Meals on Wheels; and $30,000 to York County Community Action Corporation.
The foundation announced 27 recipients and $670,000 in awards for its Spring 2026 Strategic Grant Cycle, focused on youth and young adult behavioral health. That spring cycle has passed. The website lists a 2026 Fall Responsive Grant Cycle as open.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Debra S. Grabowski as Past CEO; Andrea Daly as Chair; Kathleen MacLeod as Vice Chair; Peter George as Treasurer; and Robert Hickey as Secretary. It also lists Jenifer Cannon, Jeff Croteau, Jennifer Cutts, Jason Kroll, and Doug Macdonald as trustees.
Foundation for Seacoast Health is led by L Blair Demers, CEO since 2025 (on filings since 2024); 2 of 16 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
L Blair Demers
CEO
Interim CEO → CEO, 2025
On filings since 2024
32 hrs/week
$27K (2024) → $150K (2025)
Andrea Daly
Chair
Secretary → Chair, 2025
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Elisabeth Robinson
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tania Marino
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jenifer Cannon
Trustee
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Cutts
Trustee
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jason Kroll
Trustee
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Doug Macdonald
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jeff Croteau
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Michael McGovern
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Debra S Grabowski
Past CEO
Chief Executive Officer → CEO, 2023
CEO → Past CEO, 2025
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$140K (2020) → $238K (2025)
Peter George
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Stuart Levenson
Past Trustee
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
Chair → Past Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paul Leyden
Past Trustee
Trustee → Past Trustee, 2025
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kathleen MacLeod
Vice Chair
Trustee → Vice Chair, 2025
On filings since 2024
2.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Robert Hickey
Secretary
Trustee → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (11)
- Former: Darci Knowles (2020–2024) — Past Trustee
- Former: Timothy Durkin (2020–2024) — Past Trustee
- Former: Thomas Blais (2023–2024) — Past Trustee
- Former: Mark Jacobs (2020–2023) — Past Trustee
- Former: Amy Schwartz (2020–2022) — Past Trustee
- Former: Archie McGowan MD (2020–2022) — Past Trustee
- Former: John Hebert (2020–2022) — Past Trustee
- Former: Tom Blais (2020–2022) — Trustee
- Former: Jen Cannon (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Stephen H Witt (2020–2021) — Past Trustee
- Former: John E Lyons Jr. (2020) — Past Board Chair
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $238K, to Debra S Grabowski (Past CEO). 2 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Foundation for Seacoast Health
How much does Foundation for Seacoast Health give each year?
Foundation for Seacoast Health gave $908K across 43 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $700K across 37 grants.
What is Foundation for Seacoast Health's typical grant size?
Foundation for Seacoast Health's median grant in 2025 was $20,000, and its average grant was $21,126, across 43 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does Foundation for Seacoast Health give grants?
Foundation for Seacoast Health gives mostly in New Hampshire: 90% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Maine (10%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portsmouth, NH (16 grants), Concord, NH (5 grants), Exeter, NH (3 grants) and Manchester, NH (3 grants).
Does Foundation for Seacoast Health give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 43 grants with a stated purpose on Foundation for Seacoast Health's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2025 Strategic Grant" (19 grants), "2025 Fall Responsive Grant" (11 grants) and "2024 Strategic Grant (multi-year)" (6 grants).
Who are Foundation for Seacoast Health's largest grantees?
Foundation for Seacoast Health's largest 2025 grantees include Seacoast Mental Health Center ($55,000 across 2 grants), Arts in Reach ($50,000) and Cornerstone VNA ($50,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 17% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Foundation for Seacoast Health?
Foundation for Seacoast Health reported $27.9M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $1.3M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.3M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Foundation for Seacoast Health fund?
The foundation says it partners with organizations to improve health and well-being across the Seacoast. Its stated focus areas are mental health, healthy aging, career pathways in healthcare, and thriving communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Foundation for Seacoast Health?
The foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and accepts unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Foundation for Seacoast Health's EIN?
Foundation for Seacoast Health's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 02-0386319. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Foundation for Seacoast Health accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, 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 October 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS June 23, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Foundation for Seacoast Health's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Foundation for Seacoast Health funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-seacoast-health-morg_26b5d5bccc6e48d9bcdb31a882a47c61
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_020386319_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Foundation for Seacoast Health funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/foundation-for-seacoast-health-morg_26b5d5bccc6e48d9bcdb31a882a47c61},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Foundation for Seacoast Health'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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