The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, with a mission to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive. The Foundation advances ideas and opportunities that improve the lives of people in Maine, particularly those experiencing poverty, with a special interest in strengthening children and families.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$223.5M
+4.4% YoY
Annual Giving
$7.5M
-11.0% YoY
Grant Count
154
-4.3% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$49K
-7.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, John T Gorman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.6M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Foundation's mission stems directly from the life philosophy of its founder, John "Tom" Gorman, who believed that his personal success was largely derived from the support he received from his family and community.
The Foundation operates according to four core values:
Prevention – Working upstream with organizations to create favorable conditions for healthy child development by preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and building resiliency.
Innovation – Advocating for promising, well-reasoned approaches grounded in the best available data and research that are measurable and can be scaled.
Integration – Taking on complex, systemic problems by integrating multiple approaches that consider differences in experiences, culture, circumstances, and need.
Collaboration – Functioning as a partner, not just a funder, to make exponential impact.
The Foundation invests in comprehensive strategies focused on five key areas: education, social capital, physical/mental health, wealth and assets, and employment navigation and supports. The Foundation also operates a Direct Services Grant Program addressing food insecurity and housing/shelter needs for Maine people experiencing poverty.
Grantmaking
The Foundation operates two primary grant programs:
Grant Range
s and Recent Activity
Grant Types
How to Apply
Organizations interested in Foundation-Initiated Grants should contact the Foundation at info@jtgfoundation.org with a brief description of their proposal, including the issue being addressed, approach with rationale, and cost of implementation.
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The Foundation funds exclusively in Maine, with a commitment to reaching all 16 counties in the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
Assets: $223,518,154 (2024)
Total Revenues: $13,640,176 (2024)
Total Expenses: $10,922,942 (2024)
Total Giving: $7,535,759
Staff: 7 employees
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $223,518,154 | $214,146,299 | $203,958,570 |
| Revenue | $13,640,176 | $13,301,002 | $7,808,084 |
| Expenses | $10,922,942 | $11,602,483 | $11,925,916 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $9,911,850 | $10,800,712 | $11,174,193 |
| Net Investment Income | $8,900,255 | $10,660,341 | $6,669,054 |
| Distributable Amount | $10,569,543 | $9,952,339 | $10,683,706 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
250 grants across all recorded years
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from John T Gorman Foundation
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Boys and Girls Club of Bangor ($316,000), Bangor Housing Development Corporation ($297,000), Educate Maine ($196,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Adoptive and Foster Families of Maine Inc Bangor, ME | To bolster the resources available to rural families in Maine | $100,000 |
| Androscoggin Head Start & Child Care (dba Promise Early Education Center) Lewiston, ME | Promise Food Pantry's supplying of personal hygiene items and cleaning supplies | $5,000 |
| Area Interfaith Outreach Rockland, ME | Food, basic supplies and energy assistance for Knox County | $15,000 |
| Aroostook Area Agency on Aging Presque Isle, ME | To support home delivered meals for older adults | $20,000 |
| Aroostook County Action Program Presque Isle, ME | To gather information about using Two-Gen and Whole Family approaches | $10,000 |
| Aspen Institute Washington, DC | Aspen Institute's Ascend Network's two-generation initiatives | $100,000 |
| Auburn School Department Auburn, ME | To pilot trauma-informed programming to bolster outcomes for students at Franklin School | $125,000 |
| Bangor Area Homeless Shelter Bangor, ME | To provide general operating support | $20,000 |
| Bangor Housing Development Corporation Bangor, ME | Moving Families Forward; youth academic and career exporation; community events | $297,000 |
| Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry Bethel, ME | To provide general operating support | $10,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Nicole Witherbee serves as President & CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nicole Witherbee ex officio | President, CEO, & Director | 40 | $383,618 |
| Michael Bevilacqua | CFO/Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer | 40 | $303,428 |
| Anne Dinsmore | Director | 2 | — |
| Maggie Christie Keohan | Director | 2 | — |
| Richard W Petersen | Director | 1.5 | — |
| Rebecca Hatfield | Director | 1.5 | — |
| John Sullivan | Director | 2 | — |
| Shawn O Gorman | Chairman & Director | 2.5 | — |
| Martha E Greene | Secretary & Director | 2.5 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In May 2025, the John T. Gorman Foundation awarded 77 grants totaling $1.2 million to support nonprofits providing food, shelter, and other essential services to Mainers in need through the 2025 Direct Services Grant Program. The funding reached all 16 counties in the state, with approximately half of the grants supporting efforts to address food insecurity and housing instability. Other major areas of funding included transportation, physical and oral health, and household and hygiene needs.
John T. Gorman Foundation Awards $1.2 Million to Help Meet Critical NeedsContact Information
Address: 200 Middle Street, Suite 804, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 518-6784
Email: info@jtgfoundation.org
Office Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Website: www.jtgfoundation.org
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does John T Gorman Foundation fund?
The Foundation's mission stems directly from the life philosophy of its founder, John "Tom" Gorman, who believed that his personal success was largely derived from the support he received from his family and community. The Foundation operates according to four core values: **Prevention** – Working upstream with organizations to create favorable conditions for healthy child development by preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and building resiliency. **Innovation** – Advocating for pro…
How do I apply for a grant from John T Gorman Foundation?
The Foundation operates two primary grant programs: **Foundation-Initiated Grants** – The bulk of the Foundation's investments are invitation-only to grantees that have demonstrated capacity for whole-family or two-generation approaches to prevent ACEs and improve child and family wellbeing. The Foundation generally does not fund unsolicited proposals but welcomes organizations to contact the Foundation with ideas aligned with its strategic focus. **Direct Services Grant Program (DSGP)** – Prov…
Where does John T Gorman Foundation make grants?
The Foundation funds exclusively in Maine, with a commitment to reaching all 16 counties in the state.
What size grants does John T Gorman Foundation award?
In 2024, John T Gorman Foundation awarded 154 grants totaling $7.5M — an average of about $49K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is John T Gorman Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, John T Gorman Foundation reported a distributable amount of $10.6M on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is John T Gorman Foundation's EIN?
John T Gorman Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0498551. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in John T Gorman Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated June 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated April 2026.
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