Maine Humanities Council
Maine Humanities Council is a Portland-based public charity that uses the humanities to support positive change in Maine communities. It conducts public programs and makes grants to organizations and communities for humanities projects that encourage understanding and connection, with broad public outreach.
Maine Humanities Council at a glance
In short: Maine Humanities Council gave $130K across 17 grants in 2024 (avg $8K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $129,938
- +35.0% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 17
- +30.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $7,643
- +3.3% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $7,500
- Total assets
- $4,538,634
- +25.5% vs 2023
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2024; updated October 2026.
How to apply to Maine Humanities Council
- Next open deadline
- January 26, 2027 (Major Grants)
- Contact
Mailing address: 674 Brighton Avenue, Portland, ME 04102
Phone: (207) 773-5051
Website: https://mainehumanities.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
5 open opportunities from Maine Humanities Council
Arts & Humanities Grants
Maine Humanities Council
Amount
$655 - $2,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Major Grants
Maine Humanities Council
Amount
$4,910 - $7,500
Deadline
Expected ~January
Based on past cycles
ME Humanities: Major Grants
Maine Humanities Council
Amount
US $2,001 - US $7,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Maine Humanities Council funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Maine Wabanaki Reach ($10K). Together the top 10 received $80K.
Grant Size Distribution
155 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 155 grants of 155 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The grant program supports Maine-based projects and organizations across Maine. All reported 2024 grant dollars went to recipients in Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 17 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How Maine Humanities Council gives
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (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 2019 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $10K (2019) to $333K (2022). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $130K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Wabanaki Reach Indian Island, ME | Support Operations | $10,000 |
| Indigo Arts Alliance Portland, ME | Support Operations | $9,500 |
| Maine Inside Out Lewiston, ME | Support Operations | $8,000 |
| Abbe Museum Bar Harbor, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
| Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center Portland, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
| Island Readers & Writers Mount Desert, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
| Maine Discovery Museum Bangor, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
| Maine Museum of Innovation Learning and Labor Lewiston, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
| Studio B Damariscotta, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
| The Telling Room Portland, ME | Support Operations | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with Maine Humanities Council?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $4,538,634 | $2,596,932 | $1,668,100 | $129,938 | 17 | $696,538 |
| 2023 | $3,615,026 | $1,380,902 | $1,358,353 | $96,215 | 13 | $133,668 |
| 2022 | $3,529,954 | $1,686,793 | $1,753,735 | $333,050 | 45 | $92,624 |
| 2021 | $4,722,313 | $1,537,250 | $1,481,377 | $318,061 | 45 | $218,149 |
| 2020 | $3,805,973 | $1,564,104 | $1,633,375 | $188,039 | 35 | $74,088 |
| 2019 | $3,760,735 | $1,326,177 | $1,322,034 | $10,000 | 2 | $88,383 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The Council’s stated mission is to use literature, history, philosophy, and culture as tools for positive change in Maine communities, encouraging critical thinking and conversations across social, economic, and cultural boundaries.
Its grants support projects such as exhibits, films, conferences, and other public-facing humanities programs. The Council looks for substantive humanities content, guidance from someone with expertise in the subject, community involvement, and opportunities for audiences to engage with the humanities and one another. Its guidelines encourage applications from organizations serving or led by communities traditionally under-resourced in the humanities.
The 2024 grantees illustrate the range of organizations supported. Indigo Arts Alliance describes its work as providing a creative-production center and professional opportunities for artists from diverse backgrounds. Maine Inside Out says it engages youth and adults impacted by systemic oppression through original theater. The Abbe Museum’s stated mission is to advance understanding and support for Wabanaki Nations’ heritage, living cultures, and homelands. The Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center describes its work as strengthening the immigrant community through language acquisition, economic integration, and civic engagement.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, the Council reported 17 grants totaling $129,938. The grants ranged from $6,500 to $10,000, with a median of $7,500. For comparison, it reported 13 grants totaling $96,215 in 2023 and 45 grants totaling $333,050 in 2022.
Among the 2024 grants, Maine Wabanaki REACH received $10,000; Indigo Arts Alliance received $9,500; Maine Inside Out received $8,000; and the Abbe Museum, Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, Island Readers & Writers, Maine Discovery Museum, Maine Museum of Innovation Learning and Labor, Studio B, The Telling Room, and Bates College each received $7,500.
The Council’s website describes Major Grants of $2,001 to $7,500 for larger projects and Mini Grants of up to $2,000 for smaller projects. It also lists Arts & Humanities Grants of up to $1,000 for community projects combining arts and humanities. These program descriptions are separate from the totals and grant counts reported in the filing.
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) organizations, government organizations, churches, and education organizations; other applicants need a fiscal sponsor, and for-profit organizations cannot apply through one. The guidelines require a cash and/or in-kind match and prohibit using funds for general operating expenses or for projects promoting a particular political, religious, or ideological point of view or discriminating against people or groups. Proposals are evaluated on humanities content, goals and impact, project design and budget, community outreach and engagement, and alignment with the Council’s priorities. The Council encourages prospective applicants to speak with its grants team before applying. Its website states that an organization awarded a project grant cannot apply for another MHC grant in the same or following calendar year.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Greg Fahy as chair, Paul Buck as vice chair, Julie Sheehan as treasurer, and Joseph Hall as secretary. It lists Luis Millones, Lawrence Boyle, Georges Budagu Makoko, Jean Deighan, Martha Dudman, and Mazie Hough as directors. The Council’s website identifies Samaa Abdurraqib as executive director.
Maine Humanities Council is led by Samaa Abdurraqib, Executive Director on every filing since 2022; 1 of 20 officers listed in 2024 is compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Samaa Abdurraqib
Executive Director
On filings since 2022
35 hrs/week
$64K (2022) → $97K (2024)
Greg Fahy
Chair
Vice Chair → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2021
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jean Deighan
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Mazie Hough
Director
Vice Chair → Chair, 2021
Chair → Director, 2023
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lawrence Boyle
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Luis Millones
Director
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
Vice Chair → Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Margery Irvine
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Georges Budagu Makoko
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amie Parker
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lise Pelletier
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Martha Dudman
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Rosalani Moore
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Tam Thanh Huynh
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ayesha Hall
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brendon Reay
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Niang Mouhamdoul
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ryan Lolar
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph M. Hall
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Julie Sheehan
Treasurer
Director → Secretary, 2023
Secretary → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Paul Buck
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2024
On filings since 2022
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (24)
- Former: Edward Kelleher (2019–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Iva Sussman (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Joseph Conforti (2019–2023) — Director
- Former: Reid Byers (2020–2023) — Director
- Former: Larissa Malone (2023) — Director
- Former: Hayden Anderson (2019–2022) — Executive Director
- Former: Heather Sirocki (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Julie Rabinowitz (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Melody Fitch (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Meredith Jones (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Ted Sharp (2019–2022) — Director
- Former: Victoria Bornheimer (2021–2022) — Secretary
- Former: Ted Kelleher (2022) — Treasurer
- Former: Paul Doiron (2019–2021) — Director
- Former: Crystal Williams (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Gregory Fahy (2019–2020) — Director
- Former: Vicki Bornheimer (2019–2020) — Secretary
- Former: Richard Speer (2020) — Director
- Former: Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko (2019) — Director
- Former: Daniel P. Gunn (2019) — Director
- Former: Joe Boyle (2019) — Director
- Former: Marge Irvine (2019) — Director
- Former: Rick Speer (2019) — Director
- Former: Steve Hayes (2019) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $97K, to Samaa Abdurraqib (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Maine Humanities Council
How much does Maine Humanities Council give each year?
Maine Humanities Council gave $130K across 17 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. In 2023 it gave $96K across 13 grants.
What is Maine Humanities Council's typical grant size?
Maine Humanities Council's median grant in 2024 was $7,500, and its average grant was $7,643, across 17 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990.
Where does Maine Humanities Council give grants?
Maine Humanities Council gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (4 grants), Lewiston, ME (3 grants) and Bangor, ME (2 grants).
Does Maine Humanities Council give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 17 grants with a stated purpose on Maine Humanities Council's 2024 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Support Operations" (17 grants).
Who are Maine Humanities Council's largest grantees?
Maine Humanities Council's largest 2024 grantees include Maine Wabanaki Reach ($10,000), Indigo Arts Alliance ($9,500) and Maine Inside Out ($8,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990. Together they received 21% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Maine Humanities Council?
Maine Humanities Council reported $4.5M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $2.6M.
What does Maine Humanities Council fund?
The Council’s stated mission is to use literature, history, philosophy, and culture as tools for positive change in Maine communities, encouraging critical thinking and conversations across social, economic, and cultural boundaries. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maine Humanities Council?
Maine Humanities Council has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check mainehumanities.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.
What is Maine Humanities Council's EIN?
Maine Humanities Council's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0339295. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2024.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(7)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 30, 2020)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 31, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS April 1, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 20, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 26, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 17, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Maine Humanities Council funds
Arts, Culture & Humanities Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Maine Humanities Council's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
Davis Family Foundation
Yarmouth, ME
The Davis Family Foundation funds eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in education, health care, and arts and cultural activities, prioritizing Southern Maine and then the rest of Maine; projects elsewhere in New England must benefit Maine learners. Its 2024 grants ranged from $6,000 to $400,000, with a median of $20,000. The profile does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$100.5M
Grants
92
Total Given
$3.2M
Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation Inc
Kennebunkport, ME
The Virginia Hodgkins Somers Foundation supports charitable, religious, scientific, literary, and educational purposes; recent grants have funded Maine nonprofits and philanthropic professional development. Its 2025 grants ranged from $10,000 to $250,000, with a median of $17,500. The foundation says it has no specific application format and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$4.0M
Grants
4
Total Given
$295K
Sam L Cohen Foundation
Portland, ME
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation funds nonprofits in arts and culture, civic and community work, education, health and human services, and Jewish culture and traditions, with a focus on organizations serving Cumberland and/or York counties in Maine. Its average award is less than $15,000, though 2025 grants ranged from $500 to $275,000. It accepts unsolicited requests through a two-step online process, beginning with an inquiry.
Assets
$28.0M
Grants
125
Total Given
$3.3M
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
Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation Inc
New York, NY
The foundation supports Maine community initiatives, especially in libraries, literacy, community health, and arts and culture, with particular interest in underserved people and the Greater Bangor region. Its 2024 grants ranged from $500 to $800,000, with a median of $20,000; for its limited 2026 opportunity, eligible Maine public libraries and public safety organizations may request up to $50,000. It does not accept unsolicited requests; other organizations are asked to wait until 2027.
Assets
$16.2M
Grants
217
Total Given
$6.6M
Androscoggin Bank's Mainstreet Fdn Portland Trust Company LLC
Portland, ME
Androscoggin Bank’s MainStreet Foundation funds Maine nonprofits in education, arts, and community enhancement, with a focus on essentials and support for at-risk children. Its quarterly grants are up to $5,000, and it offers one annual $25,000 award; 2025 grants ranged from $2,500 to $25,000. It accepts requests: applicants can request an application from the foundation and must provide proof of nonprofit status.
Assets
$710K
Grants
21
Total Given
$78K
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Maine Humanities Council funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 20, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/maine-humanities-council-morg_c045db39482047039235bd8d7589bab6
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010339295_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Maine Humanities Council funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/maine-humanities-council-morg_c045db39482047039235bd8d7589bab6},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-20. 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 Humanities Council'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 Humanities Council down — hundreds of funders to go?