Granite Point Foundation
Granite Point Foundation is a private foundation based in South Portland, Maine. Its 2024 grants supported organizations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maine, including a college, a maritime museum, community organizations, and food and environmental organizations.
Granite Point Foundation at a glance
In short: Granite Point Foundation gave $780K across 20 grants in 2024 (avg $39K), top state Massachusetts. 35% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $780,000
- +208.3% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 20
- +53.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $39,000
- +100.4% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,879,002
- -5.3% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 35% first-time grantees (7 of 20, 2024; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Massachusetts (47% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Granite Point 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: 16 Bay Road, South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 776-8967
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Granite Point Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Williams College ($350K). Together the top 10 received $738K.
Grant Size Distribution
57 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 51 grants of 57 (89%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2024, 47% of grant dollars went to recipients in Massachusetts, 32% to Connecticut, and 21% to Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Granite Point Foundation open to new grantees?
35%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 7 of 20 grantees (35%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $41K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $10K repeat.
- 45% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 417% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 360% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $151K (2021) to $780K (2024). In 2024 it made 20 grants totaling $780K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Williams College Williamstown, MA | General Use | $350,000 |
| Mystic Seaport Museum Inc Mystic, CT | General Use | $250,000 |
| Royal River Community Players Yarmouth, ME | General Use | $33,000 |
| Friends of Casco Bay South Portland, ME | General Use | $25,000 |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank Auburn, ME | General Use | $20,000 |
| Preble Street Portland, ME | General Use | $20,000 |
| Coastwise Incorporated Durham, ME | General Use | $15,000 |
| Friends of Mvyradio Inc West Tisbury, MA | General Use | $10,000 |
| South Portland Food Cupboard South Portland, ME | General Use | $10,000 |
| Gulf of Maine Research Institute Portland, ME | General Use | $5,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Granite Point Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $3,879,002 | $436,560 | $806,593 | $780,000 | 20 | $780,000 | $409,967 | $216,583 |
| 2023 | $4,097,983 | $88,356 | $282,018 | $253,000 | 13 | $253,000 | $75,882 | $196,276 |
| 2022 | $3,717,669 | $73,832 | $182,738 | $161,000 | 6 | $161,000 | $60,282 | $202,433 |
| 2021 | $3,152,548 | $423,760 | $170,612 | $151,000 | 5 | $155,058 | $408,206 | $211,672 |
| 2020 | $2,899,400 | $-187,178 | $225,500 | $206,250 | 13 | — | $41,464 | $182,399 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Granite Point Foundation reported a distributable amount of $217K for 2024 — 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 foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants include support for organizations working in areas such as maritime history, environmental protection, food access, housing and poverty services, and bicycling and walking.
The grantees describe their work in their own terms: Mystic Seaport Museum strives to inspire an enduring connection to the American maritime experience; Friends of Casco Bay works to improve and protect Casco Bay’s environmental health; and Preble Street provides services for people experiencing homelessness, housing problems, hunger, and poverty, while advocating for solutions. Good Shepherd Food Bank says its mission is to eliminate hunger in Maine by improving access to food and building community partnerships. The Bicycle Coalition of Maine says it works to make Maine better for bicycling and walking through promotion, education, legislation, advocacy, and encouragement.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $780,000. Grant amounts ranged from $1,000 to $350,000, with a median of $5,000. The largest grants were $350,000 to Williams College and $250,000 to Mystic Seaport Museum, both for general use. Other reported grants included $33,000 to Royal River Community Players, $25,000 to Friends of Casco Bay, and $20,000 each to Good Shepherd Food Bank and Preble Street.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Carolyn Birmingham, Stephen Birmingham, and Paula Birmingham as trustees.
Granite Point Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Carolyn Birmingham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Paula Birmingham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephen Birmingham
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Granite Point Foundation
How much does Granite Point Foundation give each year?
Granite Point Foundation gave $780K across 20 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $253K across 13 grants.
What is Granite Point Foundation's typical grant size?
Granite Point Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $5,000, and its average grant was $39,000, across 20 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Granite Point Foundation that year got $41K on average.
Where does Granite Point Foundation give grants?
Granite Point Foundation's top state is Massachusetts, with 47% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. The next largest states were Connecticut (32%) and Maine (21%). The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (5 grants) and South Portland, ME (2 grants).
Does Granite Point Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 100% of Granite Point Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (20 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Granite Point Foundation's largest grantees?
Granite Point Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Williams College ($350,000), Mystic Seaport Museum Inc ($250,000) and Royal River Community Players ($33,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 81% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Granite Point Foundation?
Granite Point Foundation reported $3.9M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $780K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $217K (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Granite Point Foundation fund?
No foundation mission is stated in the available information. Its grants include support for organizations working in areas such as maritime history, environmental protection, food access, housing and poverty services, and bicycling and walking. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Granite Point 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 Granite Point Foundation's EIN?
Granite Point Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 04-3213793. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Granite Point Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Granite Point Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders with grantees in common, and similar funders in Maine
Maine Community Foundation Inc
Ellsworth, ME
Maine Community Foundation supports nonprofits and communities in Maine through grants for areas such as community building, arts, land and water, housing, and equity, as well as scholarships. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $17,500, though awards varied widely. The profile describes online applications for competitive grants but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$807.6M
Grants
1,161
Total Given
$57.6M
Horizon Foundation Inc
Rockport, MA
Horizon Foundation Inc supports nonprofits working to build sustainable, resilient communities, with interests including children’s learning and leadership, environmental conservation, service, arts and music, and historic preservation. Grants are generally $5,000–$20,000 (about $12,500 on average) for organizations based in or primarily serving specified communities in Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Maine and Massachusetts. It does not accept unsolicited requests; applications are by invitation only.
Assets
$32.0M
Grants
110
Total Given
$1.3M
Bangor Savings Bank Foundation
Bangor, ME
The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation supports arts and culture, economic and workforce development, education, health and wellness, and social and community services, including affordable housing and health care. It focuses on Maine, New Hampshire, and Essex County, Massachusetts; 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $4,750. It accepts applications through an online portal, with applications reviewed twice a year.
Assets
$7.0M
Grants
156
Total Given
$1.2M
Sam L Cohen Foundation
Portland, ME
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation funds nonprofits in arts and culture, civic and community work, education, health and human services, and Jewish culture and traditions, with a focus on organizations serving Cumberland and/or York counties in Maine. Its average award is less than $15,000, though 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $275,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through a two-step online process, beginning with an inquiry.
Assets
$28.0M
Grants
125
Total Given
$3.3M
TD Charitable Foundation
Portland, ME
TD Charitable Foundation funds education, human services, housing and eviction prevention, nonprofit training, and community initiatives, with emphasis on inclusion and underserved and low-to-moderate-income communities. Its 2025 grants ranged from $300 to $250,000, with a median of $10,000; its filing lists a typical award range of $135–$475,000. It focuses primarily on Florida, New Jersey, and New York, and its 2023 filing says applications are available online; applicants must be eligible 501(c)(3) public charities in states with a TD Bank branch.
Assets
$9.1M
Grants
1,003
Total Given
$24.9M
Simple Generosity Foundation
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Simple Generosity Foundation supports nonprofits across varied missions, with an emphasis on smaller organizations, mainly in the United States. Its 2025 grants ranged from $5,002 to $271,548, with a median of $6,287. It does not describe an open unsolicited-request process: nonprofits must join its network and be matched to a client giving program to receive donations.
Assets
$2.8M
Grants
339
Total Given
$4.4M
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Granite Point Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/granite-point-foundation-morg_4df6750e56c9476183a49037fa9a5ecd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_043213793_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Granite Point Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/granite-point-foundation-morg_4df6750e56c9476183a49037fa9a5ecd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-12. 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 Granite Point 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.
Granite Point Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?