Harold Alfond Foundation logo

Harold Alfond Foundation

Private foundation · Grantmaker Portland, ME EIN: 22-3281672 Website

The Harold Alfond Foundation, based in Portland, Maine, was founded in 1950 to further Harold Alfond’s philanthropic legacy. It invests in education, health care, and youth and community development, with an emphasis on large-scale projects intended to make enduring contributions to Maine.

Key facts about Harold Alfond Foundation

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.

EIN
22-3281672
Latest 990 filing
Form 990-PF, 2024
Annual giving (2024)
$102,710,085
Grants made (2024)
45
Average grant
$2,282,446
Median grant
$250,000
New grantees (estimate)
14% first-time grantees (5 of 35, 2024)
Total assets
$1,043,199,225
Primary geography
Maine (87% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
How to apply
The Foundation is not welcoming new grant applications at this time. Full details ↓

Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Financial Overview

From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing

Total Assets

$1.0B

+4.2% YoY

Annual Giving

$102.7M

+33.9% YoY

Grant Count

45

-10.0% YoY

Avg Grant Size

$2.3M

+48.8% YoY

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.

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.

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

The Foundation’s stated purpose is to honor and promote its founder’s values through transformative investments for the benefit of Maine. Its three broad areas of focus are education, health care, and youth and community development.

Education grants include capital, endowment, scholarship, and programmatic support, primarily for public and private colleges and universities. Health care grants support capital and program projects intended to improve care delivery and quality, promote centers of excellence, and advance education for Maine’s future health care professionals. Youth and community development support includes initiatives involving education, leadership development, job creation, sports, and recreation.

Recent grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. The Alfond Scholarship Foundation says its mission is to provide incentive scholarship grants to Maine children for higher education and support their aspirations and preparation for it. MaineGeneral Health describes its mission as enhancing the health of patients, families, and communities. The University of New England says it prepares students to thrive in a changing world and improve the health of people, communities, and the planet. The Alfond Youth & Community Center says it seeks to inspire young people and families to realize their potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens.

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.

Open Grants

1 open opportunity from Harold Alfond Foundation

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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 2024, 87% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine and 13% to recipients in Massachusetts; reported shares for Florida and New York were 0%.

Grant Distribution by State

8states

Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 45 itemized grants.

Cities

WatervillePortlandAugustaOronoBrunswickBostonBelgrade LakesCaribouNew YorkBangorBar HarborBathBiddefordJamaica PlainLewistonNaplesKents HillTopshamWashingtonWinter Park

Giving Over Time

Total grant dollars and number of grants per year

$0$50M$100M$150M62 grants2020 66 grants2021 59 grants2022 50 grants2023 45 grants2024

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.

Grant Insights

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2024

University of Maine Foundation: $28.5M across 2 grantsUniversity of Maine Foundation$28.5M · 2 grantsMainegeneral Health: $14.5MMainegeneral Health$14.5MNortheastern University: $12.0MNortheastern University$12.0MAlfond Scholarship Foundation: $7.1M across 2 grantsAlfond Scholarship Foundation$7.1M · 2 grantsUniversity of Maine System: $7.0M across 2 grantsUniversity of Maine System$7.0M · 2 grantsUniversity of New England: $4.5MUniversity of New England$4.5MMaine Community College System: $4.5MMaine Community College System$4.5MBigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences: $3.9MBigelow Laboratory for OceanSciences$3.9MThomas College: $3.0MThomas College$3.0MAlfond Youth & Community Center: $2.7M across 4 grantsAlfond Youth & CommunityCenter$2.7M · 4 grants

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

125<$50K7$50–100K19$100–250K14$250–500K25$500K–1M68$1–5M24$5M+

The most common grant size was under $50K: 125 grants of 282 (44%).

Giving History

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
University of Maine Foundation Orono, MEUniversity of Maine Athletics Master Facilities Plan$28,000,000
Mainegeneral Health Augusta, MEHarold Alfond Center for Cancer Care Expansion$14,535,638
Northeastern University Boston, MAThe harold alfond scholars initiative at the roux institute$12,000,000
University of Maine System Orono, MERevitalize graduate & professional center & engineering, computing, & info science$7,000,000
Alfond Scholarship Foundation Portland, MEMy Alfond Grant Scholarships 2024$5,609,911
University of New England Biddeford, METhe institute for interprofessional education & practice at une$4,502,515
Maine Community College System Augusta, METhe center for the advancement of maines workforce: building a more prosperous Maine$4,454,529
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences East Boothbay, MEBigelow Innovation and Education Wing$3,869,390
Thomas College Waterville, MECatalyzing Growth in Central Maine and Beyond$3,000,000
The Jackson Laboratory Bar Harbor, MEMaine Cancer Genomics Initiative 2.0$2,500,000

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

The Foundation’s filing type is 990T. Reported financials were:

Filing year Assets Revenue Expenses Grant sum Grant count
2024 $1,043,199,225 $171,021,822 $128,278,530 $102,710,085 45
2023 $1,001,625,687 $110,997,249 $100,839,081 $76,689,770 50
2022 $991,967,446 $111,359,503 $100,360,598 $74,289,012 59
Revenue
Expenses
Qualifying Distributions
Net Investment Income
$0$100M$200M$300M$400M2020 2021 2022 2023 2024
Metric202420232022
Total Assets$1,043,199,225$1,001,625,687$991,967,446
Revenue$171,021,822$110,997,249$111,359,503
Expenses$128,278,530$100,839,081$100,360,598
Qualifying Distributions$103,933,245$78,127,104$75,835,478
Net Investment Income$76,689,920$40,534,011$68,228,491
Distributable Amount$76,772,405$71,653,842$72,086,016

Data update history

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2024 filing listed 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.

Contact

Mailing address: Co Dexter Entrps Two Monument Sq, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 828-7999
Website: https://haroldalfondfoundation.org

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 honor and promote its founder’s values through transformative investments for the benefit of Maine. Its three broad areas of focus are education, health care, and youth and community development. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from Harold Alfond Foundation?

The Foundation is not welcoming new grant applications 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 September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

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