John Sage Foundation
The John Sage Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine. It makes grants for projects that promote and enhance a harmonious relationship between people and the natural environment, and says it has supported conservation, education, and research projects across Maine since 1991.
John Sage Foundation at a glance
In short: John Sage Foundation gave $162K across 27 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Maine. 73% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $161,500
- +71.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 27
- +50.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,981
- +14.3% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,000
- Total assets
- $3,627,826
- +8.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 73% first-time grantees (19 of 26, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maine (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to John Sage Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The foundation operates one annual application cycle. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and government and tribal entities in Maine. Applicants must submit a complete application form and the organization’s most recent 501(c)(3) ruling. The foundation requests a concise, one-page project description and specifies additional materials for land acquisition and conservation-easement requests. It evaluates proposals on whether they meet its mission, benefit the relationship between people and the environment or reach an underrepresented group, and whether its participation would make a substantial difference. The foundation’s 2024 filing says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
- Review Cycle
- The website says applications must be received by April 30 for consideration at the foundation’s annual meeting in May. The website currently describes applications as closed and says the 2027 application will be published in late 2026.
- Deadline
- The website says applications must be received by April 30 for consideration at the foundation’s annual meeting in May.
- Contact
Application contact: Donald A Brackett
Mailing address: 630 Old County Road, Knox, ME 04986
Phone: (207) 722-3543
Website: https://www.johnsagefoundation.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 John Sage Foundation
Who John Sage Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Cobalt ($14K across 2 grants). Together the top 10 received $86K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
97 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 97 grants of 97 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s guidelines say it funds projects only within Maine. In filing year 2025, 97% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine and 3% to recipients in Massachusetts.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 27 itemized grants.
Cities
Is John Sage Foundation open to new grantees?
73%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 19 of 26 grantees (73%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $6K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $5K first-time, $7K repeat.
- 15% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 71% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 55% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 $71K (2021) to $162K (2025). In 2025 it made 27 grants totaling $162K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences Easy Boothbay, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $10,000 |
| High Peaks Alliance Farmington, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $10,000 |
| 1 grant to individuals Recipients not named | — | $10,000 |
| Cobalt Portland, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $9,000 |
| Maine Appalachain Trail Land Trust Cape Elizabeth, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $8,000 |
| Merrymeeting Bay Trout Unlimited Richmond, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $8,000 |
| Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation Bangor, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $7,500 |
| Coastal Mountains Land Trust Camden, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $7,500 |
| Falmouth Land Trust Falmouth, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $7,500 |
| Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust Damarixcotta, ME | 2025 Grant Award | $7,000 |
Ready to take the next step with John Sage Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The foundation’s filing type is Form 990-PF.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $3,627,826 | $480,121 | $206,889 | $161,500 | 27 | $166,943 | $137,024 | $301,026 |
| 2024 | $3,354,594 | $2,557,895 | $130,975 | $94,200 | 18 | $95,498 | $1,011,827 | $194,096 |
| 2023 | $2,422,137 | $1,786,537 | $108,180 | $102,245 | 17 | $102,932 | $813,496 | $140,036 |
| 2022 | $1,628,771 | $680,041 | $105,942 | $94,560 | 20 | $95,703 | $68,190 | $101,588 |
| 2021 | $1,054,672 | $156,908 | $77,469 | $71,000 | 15 | — | $151,448 | $74,728 |
| 2020 | $975,233 | $93,129 | $78,128 | $73,000 | 16 | — | $88,698 | $62,394 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John Sage Foundation reported a distributable amount of $301K 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’s stated mission is to promote and enhance a harmonious relationship between people and the natural environment. Its guidelines identify climate change mitigation, ecological restoration, environmental research and education, land conservation and stewardship, water quality protection, and wildlife rehabilitation as areas of focus. The foundation says it funds projects within Maine and prioritizes smaller organizations with limited fundraising capacity.
Its 2025 grantees illustrate the range of work supported. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences describes its mission as researching ocean ecosystems and their relationship to life on Earth through research, education, and technology transfer. High Peaks Alliance says it works to ensure and enhance public access and recreation opportunities in Maine’s High Peaks. Coastal Mountains Land Trust says it permanently conserves land to benefit the natural and human communities of western Penobscot Bay. Lake Stewards of Maine describes its work as facilitating the collection and quality assurance of lake-monitoring data from more than 500 Maine lakes.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 27 grants totaling $161,500. Grants ranged from $2,000 to $10,000, with a median of $5,000. The foundation’s guidelines list a typical grant size of $500–$50,000.
Among its 2025 awards were $10,000 each to Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, High Peaks Alliance, and Saint Joseph’s College of Maine; $9,000 to Cobalt; and $8,000 each to Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust and Merrymeeting Bay Trout Unlimited. Other recipients included Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation and Coastal Mountains Land Trust, each receiving $7,500, and Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, which received $7,000.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Donald A. Brackett as president, effective September 22, 2024; Ian James Brackett as vice president; Rurik J. Brackett as treasurer, effective December 11, 2024; and Kim Chavez as secretary. Directors listed were Thomas M. Pierce, John Hastings, Caroline Norden, and Hunter Hastings. The filing also lists Corrilla D. Hastings as president through September 21, 2024, and James P. Hastings Jr. as treasurer through December 10, 2024.
John Sage Foundation is led by Corrilla D. Hastings, President on every filing since 2020; none of the 11 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Corrilla D. Hastings
President
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Donald A. Brackett
President
Secretary → President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Caroline Norden
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Thomas M. Pierce
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Fritz Hastings
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Hunter Hastings
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Hastings
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ian James Brackett
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
James P. Hastings Jr.
Treasurer
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kim Chavez
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rurik J. Brackett
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (2)
- Former: Erin Lloyd (2020–2024) — Vice President
- Former: Martha Bolster (2020–2024) — Director
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.
Frequently asked questions about John Sage Foundation
How much does John Sage Foundation give each year?
John Sage Foundation gave $162K across 27 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $94K across 18 grants.
What is John Sage Foundation's typical grant size?
John Sage Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,000, and its average grant was $5,981, across 27 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from John Sage Foundation that year got $6K on average.
Where does John Sage Foundation give grants?
John Sage Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (3 grants), Cape Elizabeth, ME (2 grants) and Augusta, ME (2 grants).
Does John Sage Foundation give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 27 grants with a stated purpose on John Sage Foundation's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "2025 Grant Award" (27 grants).
Who are John Sage Foundation's largest grantees?
John Sage Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Cobalt ($14,000 across 2 grants), Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences ($10,000) and High Peaks Alliance ($10,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($10,000), which are not listed by name. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is John Sage Foundation?
John Sage Foundation reported $3.6M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $167K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $301K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does John Sage Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to promote and enhance a harmonious relationship between people and the natural environment. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from John Sage Foundation?
The foundation operates one annual application cycle. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is John Sage Foundation's EIN?
John Sage Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0469155. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
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 2020–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John Sage Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
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
Davis Conservation Foundation
Yarmouth, ME
The Davis Conservation Foundation funds 501(c)(3) organizations working on wildlife, habitat, environmental protection, outdoor recreation, and community involvement, with priority for the Northern Forest and Gulf of Maine, then Northern New England. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $17,000 and ranged from $6,000 to $181,000. It accepts applications through its online system and does not require a pre-proposal or letter of inquiry.
Assets
$40.3M
Grants
62
Total Given
$1.5M
Onion Foundation
Auburn, ME
Onion Foundation funds Maine nonprofits working in the arts and environment, including nature learning, with particular attention to rural and underserved communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $1,000 to $625,000, with a median of $15,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through its online grant portal.
Assets
$63.6M
Grants
245
Total Given
$4.4M
Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Freeport, ME
The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation funds Maine nonprofits working for equity and interconnected well-being for people, animals, and the environment, across areas including food systems, animal welfare, and community development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $31,000, though awards varied widely; it accepts applications through its online system during designated periods and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$164.8M
Grants
296
Total Given
$14.4M
The Nature Conservancy
Arlington, VA
The Nature Conservancy funds conservation work, including land and easement acquisition, research, planning, organizational capacity, and sustainable agriculture, across the United States and internationally. In 2025, its grants had a median of about $31,000, with awards ranging from about $5,000 to $2.1 million; some regional programs offer grants of up to $100,000.
Assets
$10.1B
Grants
671
Total Given
$67.8M
Quimby Family Foundation
Portland, ME
The Quimby Family Foundation supports Maine-based nonprofits advancing human well-being through movement and nourishment, especially outdoor experiences, regional plant-based food, and equitable access for under-resourced communities. Its 2024 grants ranged from $2,500 to $45,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through an open application process, with two application periods each year.
Assets
$21.5M
Grants
97
Total Given
$1.1M
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). John Sage Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/john-sage-foundation-morg_d8894acc83da4d1c844b75980567dafc
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010469155_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{John Sage Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/john-sage-foundation-morg_d8894acc83da4d1c844b75980567dafc},
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 John Sage 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.
John Sage Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?