Maine Children's Trust
Maine Children's Trust is a Maine nonprofit based in Augusta that provides funding and coordination for efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect. It works statewide to strengthen families, promote healthy relationships, and support communities.
Maine Children's Trust at a glance
In short: Maine Children's Trust gave $12.1M across 14 grants in 2025 (avg $866K), mostly in Maine. 0% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $12,122,228
- +7.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 14
- -12.5% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $865,873
- +23.4% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $804,236
- Total assets
- $4,694,390
- +9.1% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 0% first-time grantees (0 of 14, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Maine Children's Trust
- How to Apply
-
The Trust’s RFP page currently lists no RFP documents. A request for proposals for home visiting services was issued in 2020; that solicitation is a past cycle, not a current opportunity.
- Review Cycle
- The 2020 home-visiting solicitation had a November 5, 2020 submission deadline; this deadline has passed.
- Deadline
- The 2020 home-visiting solicitation had a November 5, 2020 submission deadline; this deadline has passed.
- Contact
Mailing address: 56 Leighton Road, Augusta, ME 04330
Phone: (207) 623-5120
Website: https://mechildrenstrust.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Maine Children's Trust funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Community Concepts Inc ($1.9M). Together the top 10 received $11.4M.
Grant Size Distribution
76 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was in the $500K–1M range: 26 grants of 76 (34%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Maine. The Trust describes its prevention leadership and support as statewide, including support for Prevention Councils in every county.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 14 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Maine Children's Trust open to new grantees?
0%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 0 of 14 grantees (0%) were first-time recipients. With only 14 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 7 points. How we count
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $8.9M (2019) to $12.1M (2025). In 2025 it made 14 grants totaling $12.1M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Concepts Inc Lewiston, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $1,902,394 |
| Kennebec Valley Community Action Program Waterville, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $1,863,918 |
| Penquis Cap Bangor, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $1,590,058 |
| Sunrise Opportunity Machias, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $1,284,070 |
| University of Maine Cooperative Extension Orono, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $1,108,094 |
| The Opportunity Alliance South Portland, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $986,063 |
| Aroostook Council for Healthy Families Houlton, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $886,393 |
| Franklin County Children's Task Farmington, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $722,079 |
| Dechsunrise Care Facility Jonesport, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $662,258 |
| Maine Family Planning Association Augusta, ME | Education for Child Abuse Prevention | $441,631 |
Ready to take the next step with Maine Children's Trust?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $4,694,390 | $14,202,080 | $14,036,528 | $12,122,228 | 14 | $135,481 |
| 2024 | $4,302,386 | $12,869,387 | $12,728,189 | $11,231,241 | 16 | $97,977 |
| 2023 | $4,844,872 | $12,044,474 | $11,923,415 | $10,465,501 | 15 | $67,947 |
| 2022 | $4,380,731 | $11,785,199 | $11,661,418 | $10,071,198 | 15 | $88,022 |
| 2021 | $4,155,896 | $10,566,042 | $10,440,276 | $8,881,334 | 16 | $62,770 |
| 2020 | $3,205,210 | $11,110,179 | $10,374,411 | $8,900,776 | 18 | $67,000 |
| 2019 | $3,045,883 | $10,422,254 | $10,356,692 | $8,870,732 | 19 | $71,846 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Trust’s mission is to strengthen families, promote healthy relationships, and support communities to prevent child abuse and neglect. Its 2023 filing describes its work as child abuse and neglect prevention through community parenting education programs and grants to social-service and educational groups.
In 2025, the stated purpose for the listed grants was education for child abuse prevention. The recipients include organizations with varied missions. For example, Community Concepts says it works to strengthen individuals, families, and communities in Western Maine, while Franklin County Children’s Task says it works to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect. Kids Free to Grow describes its mission as preventing child abuse and neglect by empowering children and families in York and Cumberland Counties.
The Trust also supports Maine’s county-level Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Councils with grant funding, public awareness, and technical assistance. Its website says this work includes coordination, training, and technical assistance for prevention programming.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the Trust reported 14 grants totaling $12,122,228. Grants ranged from $92,089 to $1,902,394, with a median of $804,236.
Among the largest reported grants were $1,902,394 to Community Concepts Inc.; $1,863,918 to Kennebec Valley Community Action Program; $1,590,058 to Penquis CAP; $1,284,070 to Sunrise Opportunity; and $1,108,094 to University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Each was listed for education for child abuse prevention.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Ben Gilman Esq as Board Chair; Anne Jordan Esq as Board Vice Chair; Gail Conley as Board Secretary and Treasurer; and Rileigh Blanchet, Maragaret Craven, Michael Gahagan, Bruce Gerrity, Jeffrey Johnson, Marianne Moore, and Danelle Langely as directors.
Maine Children's Trust is led by Heidi Aakjer, Executive Director on every filing since 2024; 1 of 20 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Heidi Aakjer
Executive Director
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$106K (2024) → $120K (2025)
Ben Gilman Esq.
Board Chair
Director → Board Co-Chair, 2021
Board Co-Chair → Board Chair, 2022
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bruce Gerrity
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Charles Soltan Esq.
Director
Board President → Board Co-Chair, 2021
Board Co-Chair → Director, 2022
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Christopher Pezzullo DO
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jeffrey Johnson
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Maragaret Craven
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Michael Gahagan
Director
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Danelle Langely
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marianne Moore
Director
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kim Russell
Director
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mandie Pepperman
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Rileigh Blanchet
Director
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Wendy Pace
Director
On filings since 2024
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Bobbi Johnson
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dr Puthiery
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Lori Gramlich
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Mary Beth Mitchell
Director
New on the 2025 filing
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Anne Jordan Esq.
Board Vice Chair
Director → Board Vice Chair, 2021
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gail Conley
Board Secretary & Treasurer
Board Vice Chair → Board Secretary, 2021
Board Secretary → Board Secretary & Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (15)
- Former: Greg Mitchell (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Joyce Maker (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Pamela LaHaye (2019–2023) — Executive Director
- Former: Tim Floyd (2019–2023) — Board Treasurer
- Former: Susan Denoncour (2023) — Director
- Former: Genevieve Gardner (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: James Martin (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Lanelle Freeman (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Renee Whitley (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Heather Pouliot (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Jennifer Hayman MD (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Kim Gore (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Peter Mills (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Danielle Langley (2019) — Director
- Former: Tracee O'Brien (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $120K, to Heidi Aakjer (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Maine Children's Trust
How much does Maine Children's Trust give each year?
Maine Children's Trust gave $12.1M across 14 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $11.2M across 16 grants.
What is Maine Children's Trust's typical grant size?
Maine Children's Trust's median grant in 2025 was $804,236, and its average grant was $865,873, across 14 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Maine Children's Trust give grants?
Maine Children's Trust gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Maine Children's Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 14 grants with a stated purpose on Maine Children's Trust's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Education for Child Abuse Prevention" (14 grants).
Who are Maine Children's Trust's largest grantees?
Maine Children's Trust's largest 2025 grantees include Community Concepts Inc ($1,902,394), Kennebec Valley Community Action Program ($1,863,918) and Penquis Cap ($1,590,058), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 44% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Maine Children's Trust?
Maine Children's Trust reported $4.7M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $14.2M.
What does Maine Children's Trust fund?
The Trust’s mission is to strengthen families, promote healthy relationships, and support communities to prevent child abuse and neglect. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maine Children's Trust?
The Trust’s RFP page currently lists no RFP documents. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Maine Children's Trust's EIN?
Maine Children's Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0492479. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS March 27, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS February 5, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 13, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 27, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 1, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS January 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS March 25, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Live grants for the work Maine Children's Trust funds
Crime & Legal Related Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Maine Children's Trust's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Maine Community Action Association DBA Maine Community Action Partnership
South Paris, ME
Maine Community Action Association funds Maine organizations, primarily for its Whole Family Approach and work supporting community action agencies and family economic mobility. Its 2025 grants ranged from $8,000 to $165,913, with a median of $57,072. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
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Total Given
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United Way Inc
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United Way Inc funds community programs addressing youth opportunity, financial security, housing, health, and related needs, with recent awards ranging from $5,074 to $518,397 and a median of $19,500. Its community investment funding focuses on York and Cumberland Counties, Maine, excluding Brunswick and Harpswell. It uses application-based processes, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
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Grants
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Total Given
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Western Maine Community Action Inc
East Wilton, ME
It is Western Maine Community Action's mission to help overcome poverty in our communities through services and advocacy that help people build better lives.
Assets
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Grants
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Total Given
$202K
John T Gorman Foundation
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The John T. Gorman Foundation funds nonprofits and government-affiliated entities working to improve child and family well-being and meet essential needs, especially for people experiencing poverty in Maine. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $345,000, with a median award of $20,250. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals; most foundation-initiated grants are by invitation, though organizations may contact the Foundation with an aligned idea.
Assets
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Total Given
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The Hudson Foundation
Portland, ME
The Hudson Foundation supports nonprofits addressing education, social services, food insecurity, anti-bias work, Jewish services, and programs for disadvantaged people, with a primary focus on Maine. Recent grants ranged from $5,000 to $35,000, with a median of $10,000. It accepts applications from eligible organizations; the provided materials do not say whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
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Total Given
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Heart of Maine United Way
Bangor, ME
Heart of Maine United Way funds health and human services addressing basic needs, substance use disorder, and early childhood development across six Maine counties. Recent grants had a median of $17,000; its main program offers annual grants of $2,500–$50,000, with a larger collaborative award of $85,000 annually.
Assets
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Grants
37
Total Given
$863K
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Maine Children's Trust funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 22, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/maine-children-s-trust-morg_26854f35aeb6448799690b63cfec4644
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010492479_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Maine Children's Trust funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/maine-children-s-trust-morg_26854f35aeb6448799690b63cfec4644},
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 Maine Children's Trust'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.
Maine Children's Trust down — hundreds of funders to go?