Harold Alfond Foundation
The Harold Alfond Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. Founded in 1950, it honors founder Harold Alfond’s philanthropic legacy by investing in education, health care, and youth and community development, with a stated preference for large-scale projects intended to make enduring contributions to Maine.
Harold Alfond Foundation at a glance
In short: Harold Alfond Foundation gave $102.7M across 45 grants in 2024 (avg $2.3M), mostly in Maine. 14% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $102,710,085
- +33.9% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 45
- -10.0% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $2,282,446
- +48.8% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $250,000
- Total assets
- $1,043,199,225
- +4.2% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 14% first-time grantees (5 of 35, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maine (87% 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 Harold Alfond Foundation
- How to Apply
-
New applications are not being welcomed at this time. The foundation directs grant seekers to its guidelines and application-process information for further guidance.
- Contact
Application contact: Refer To Grant Guidelines At Wwwhar
Mailing address: Dexter Enterprises Llc Two Monument, Square, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 828-7999
Website: https://haroldalfondfoundation.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 Harold Alfond Foundation
Who Harold Alfond Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was University of Maine Foundation ($28.5M across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $87.7M.
Grant Size Distribution
282 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 282 (44%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation describes its investments as benefiting Maine and favors projects with transformative impact on the state. In its 2024 grant reporting, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine and 13% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Harold Alfond Foundation open to new grantees?
14%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 5 of 35 grantees (14%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $1.7M; repeat grants $3.1M. How we count
Medians: $1.5M first-time, $375K repeat.
- 80% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 41% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 135% 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 $51.6M (2020) to $102.7M (2024). In 2024 it made 45 grants totaling $102.7M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| University of Maine Foundation Orono, ME | University of Maine Athletics Master Facilities Plan | $28,000,000 |
| Mainegeneral Health Augusta, ME | Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care Expansion | $14,535,638 |
| Northeastern University Boston, MA | The harold alfond scholars initiative at the roux institute | $12,000,000 |
| University of Maine System Orono, ME | Revitalize graduate & professional center & engineering, computing, & info science | $7,000,000 |
| Alfond Scholarship Foundation Portland, ME | My Alfond Grant Scholarships 2024 | $5,609,911 |
| University of New England Biddeford, ME | The institute for interprofessional education & practice at une | $4,502,515 |
| Maine Community College System Augusta, ME | The center for the advancement of maines workforce: building a more prosperous Maine | $4,454,529 |
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences East Boothbay, ME | Bigelow Innovation and Education Wing | $3,869,390 |
| Thomas College Waterville, ME | Catalyzing Growth in Central Maine and Beyond | $3,000,000 |
| The Jackson Laboratory Bar Harbor, ME | Maine Cancer Genomics Initiative 2.0 | $2,500,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Harold Alfond 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 | $1,043,199,225 | $171,021,822 | $128,278,530 | $102,710,085 | 45 | $103,933,245 | $76,689,920 | $76,772,405 |
| 2023 | $1,001,625,687 | $110,997,249 | $100,839,081 | $76,689,770 | 50 | $78,127,104 | $40,534,011 | $71,653,842 |
| 2022 | $991,967,446 | $111,359,503 | $100,360,598 | $74,289,012 | 59 | $75,835,478 | $68,228,491 | $72,086,016 |
| 2021 | $984,812,763 | $272,492,790 | $90,798,637 | $72,759,822 | 66 | $73,832,533 | $85,782,783 | $93,404,367 |
| 2020 | $813,380,857 | $317,083,832 | $64,470,586 | $51,645,655 | 62 | — | $31,098,246 | $43,982,880 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Harold Alfond Foundation reported a distributable amount of $76.8M for 2024 — 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’s stated purpose is to make transformative investments for the benefit of Maine in education, health care, and youth and community development. Its education grants include capital, endowment, scholarship, and programmatic support, primarily for public and private colleges and universities. Its health care grants support improvements in care delivery and quality, centers of excellence, and education for future health care professionals. Its youth and community development work includes initiatives involving education, leadership development, sports, and recreation.
Examples of the organizations it supports include the University of Maine Foundation, which says it encourages philanthropic support for the University of Maine and other charitable organizations; MaineGeneral Health, which says it provides health care services for people of all ages; and the Alfond Scholarship Foundation, which says it provides incentive scholarship grants to Maine children and supports their access to and preparation for higher education. Other 2024 grantees include the University of New England, which says it prepares students to thrive and improve the health of people, communities, and the planet; Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, which says it conducts ocean research, education, and technology transfer; and the Alfond Youth & Community Center, which says it works to help young people and families realize their potential.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation reported 45 grants totaling $102,710,085. Grant amounts ranged from $150 to $28 million, with a median grant of $250,000.
Its largest reported grants included $28 million to the University of Maine Foundation for the University of Maine Athletics Master Facilities Plan; $14,535,638 to MaineGeneral Health for the Harold Alfond Center for Cancer Care expansion; and $12 million to Northeastern University for the Harold Alfond Scholars Initiative at the Roux Institute. Other large grants included $7 million to the University of Maine System for graduate and professional center and engineering, computing, and information science improvements; $5,609,911 to the Alfond Scholarship Foundation for My Alfond Grant Scholarships 2024; and $4,502,515 to the University of New England for its Institute for Interprofessional Education & Practice.
The foundation’s application page says it is not welcoming new grant applications at this time because of significant existing commitments to large-scale projects across Maine. It asks prospective applicants to check back in late 2027 for further guidance.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists the following trustees: Theodore B. Alfond, William L. Alfond, Gregory W. Powell, Peter H. Lunder, Steven P. Akin, Theresa M. Stone, Barry Mills, Katharine Alfond, Justin Alfond, and Michael E. Dubyak.
Harold Alfond Foundation's 2024 filing lists 11 officers; none of the 11 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Barry Mills
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gregory W. Powell - See Statement
Trustee
On filings since 2020
27 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Justin Alfond
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Katharine Alfond
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Peter H. Lunder
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Steven P. Akin
Trustee
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Theodore B. Alfond
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Theresa M. Stone
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
William L. Alfond
Trustee
On filings since 2020
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael E. Dubyak
Trustee
On filings since 2021
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Seeman
Trustee
On filings since 2023
7 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: David T. Flanagan (2020–2021) — Trustee
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 Harold Alfond Foundation
How much does Harold Alfond Foundation give each year?
Harold Alfond Foundation gave $102.7M across 45 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $76.7M across 50 grants.
What is Harold Alfond Foundation's typical grant size?
Harold Alfond Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $250,000, and its average grant was $2,282,446, across 45 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Harold Alfond Foundation that year got $1.7M on average.
Where does Harold Alfond Foundation give grants?
Harold Alfond Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 87% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest state was Massachusetts (13%). The most frequent recipient cities were Waterville, ME (14 grants), Augusta, ME (7 grants), Orono, ME (4 grants) and Portland, ME (4 grants).
Does Harold Alfond Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 36% of Harold Alfond Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (16 of 45) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Harold Alfond Foundation's largest grantees?
Harold Alfond Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include University of Maine Foundation ($28,500,000 across 2 grants), Mainegeneral Health ($14,535,638) and Northeastern University ($12,000,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 54% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Harold Alfond Foundation?
Harold Alfond Foundation reported $1.0B in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $103.9M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $76.8M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Harold Alfond Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated purpose is to make transformative investments for the benefit of Maine in education, health care, and youth and community development. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Harold Alfond Foundation?
New applications are not being welcomed at this time. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Harold Alfond Foundation's EIN?
Harold Alfond Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 22-3281672. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(1)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Harold Alfond Foundation funds
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Harold Alfond Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/harold-alfond-foundation-morg_6edb3fb7a4d84d789e31a7545489e3dd
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_223281672_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Harold Alfond Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/harold-alfond-foundation-morg_6edb3fb7a4d84d789e31a7545489e3dd},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-22. 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 Harold Alfond 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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