Maine Initiativesinc
Maine Initiatives is a Portland, Maine-based public charity that supports social, economic, and environmental justice through grants and other support to grassroots organizations in Maine communities. The organization was formed in 1993 and describes its work as bringing people together through participatory grantmaking and community calls to action.
Maine Initiativesinc at a glance
In short: Maine Initiativesinc gave $1.8M across 51 grants in 2025 (avg $36K), mostly in Maine. 30% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,839,540
- +13.4% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 51
- -16.4% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $36,069
- +35.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $40,000
- Total assets
- $6,402,822
- +23.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 30% first-time grantees (15 of 50, 2025)
- Primary geography
- Maine (97% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Maine Initiativesinc
- How to Apply
-
Program announcements describe applications and community-led, participatory selection processes. The 2024 Grants for Change announcement described selection by a Grantmaking Advisory Committee; the 2026 Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund announcement invited eligible organizations to apply. The stated eligibility requirements vary by program and include Maine-based work and, for Grants for Change, BIPOC leadership and racial justice programming.
- Contact
Mailing address: 57 Exchange Street 100, Portland, ME 04101
Phone: (207) 712-1198
Website: https://maineinitiatives.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
3 open opportunities from Maine Initiativesinc
Immigrant-Led Organizations (ILO) Fund Grant
Maine Initiativesinc
Amount
US $45,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund
Maine Initiativesinc
Amount
$15,000 per year ($45,000 over three years)
Deadline
Deadline not published
The Giving Project Fund for Community Organizing
Maine Initiativesinc
Amount
$20,000 (one year of unrestricted, general operating support)
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Maine Initiativesinc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition ($159K). Together the top 10 received $750K.
Grant Size Distribution
247 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 207 grants of 247 (84%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Maine Initiatives describes its work as focused on Maine, including Wabanaki Territory. 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 51 itemized grants.
Cities
Is Maine Initiativesinc open to new grantees?
30%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 15 of 50 grantees (30%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $34K; repeat grants $38K. How we count
Medians: $40K first-time, $30K repeat.
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 $532K (2019) to $1.8M (2025). In 2025 it made 51 grants totaling $1.8M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition Portland, ME | General Support | $159,050 |
| Mano En Mano Millbridge, ME | General Support | $100,000 |
| Land in Common Greene, ME | Outdoor Equity Fund | $75,000 |
| Southern Maine Workers Center Portland, ME | General Operations | $65,490 |
| Food for All Services Portland, ME | General Support | $55,000 |
| Intercultural Community Center Westbrook, ME | General Operations | $55,000 |
| Ladder to the Moon Network Portland, ME | General Support | $55,000 |
| Somali Bantu Community Association of Lewiston ME Lewiston, ME | General Operations | $55,000 |
| Wounded Healers International South Portland, ME | Me Afro Yoga Project | $55,000 |
| United Youth Empowerment Services Lewiston, ME | General Support | $55,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Maine Initiativesinc?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
The organization states in its 2024 filing that it holds some donor-designated funds as agent or custodian for recipients selected by donors; those amounts are not reported as contribution revenue or expense on Form 990. It also reports using a mission-aligned investment portfolio to support operations and grantmaking.
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $6,402,822 | $3,901,867 | $3,722,485 | $1,839,540 | 51 | $57,939 |
| 2024 | $5,176,132 | $1,962,279 | $3,893,392 | $1,621,676 | 61 | $70,830 |
| 2023 | $5,149,067 | $3,513,921 | $3,593,377 | $1,561,996 | 42 | $67,049 |
| 2022 | $4,414,537 | $2,709,270 | $2,902,420 | $1,316,240 | 60 | $45,353 |
| 2021 | $5,223,192 | $2,603,313 | $2,105,941 | $1,063,949 | 33 | $42,134 |
| 2020 | $4,089,641 | $2,143,400 | $2,047,769 | $1,344,475 | 42 | $74,741 |
| 2019 | $3,803,798 | $1,036,850 | $1,120,829 | $532,416 | 29 | $48,738 |
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
Maine Initiatives’ mission is to support greater social, economic, and environmental justice in Maine through informed, intentional, and collective philanthropy. Its stated vision places its work at the intersection of community organizing, place-based philanthropy, and racial justice.
Its Grants for Change program supports BIPOC-led and -serving nonprofit organizations advancing racial justice in Maine. The Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund supports and convenes organizations led by and serving immigrants, refugees, asylees, migrant farm workers, and undocumented people in Maine. The Outdoor Equity Fund focuses on equitable access to nature-based learning and related priorities, including environmental justice, cultural preservation, and food sovereignty.
Grantees’ missions illustrate the range of organizations funded. Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition says it works to improve the legal, social, and economic conditions experienced by Maine’s immigrants through advocacy, information sharing, and collaboration. Land in Common describes its work as placing land in a member-run trust for long-term care and sustainable livelihoods. Southern Maine Workers Center says it builds a grassroots, people-powered movement to improve the lives and working conditions of working and poor people in Maine.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, Maine Initiatives reported 51 grants totaling $1,839,540. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $159,050, with a median grant of $40,000. The largest award was $159,050 to Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition for general support. Other large awards included $100,000 to Mano en Mano for general support, $75,000 to Land in Common for the Outdoor Equity Fund, and $65,490 to Southern Maine Workers Center for general operations. Food For All Services, Intercultural Community Center, Ladder to the Moon Network, Somali Bantu Community Association, Wounded Healers International, and United Youth Empowerment Services each received $55,000. Cooperative Development Institute in Massachusetts received $55,000 for New Roots Cooperative.
The funder describes Grants for Change as a participatory grantmaking and community organizing program. Its 2024 funding announcement specified unrestricted general operating grants of $45,000 paid over three years, along with peer learning, training, capacity-building, and community outreach activities. That announcement’s application deadline was July 31, 2024, and is past.
The Immigrant-Led Organizations Fund’s 2026 announcement specified unrestricted general operating grants of $45,000 paid over three years, or $15,000 annually, for ten organizations. Applications for that cycle were due February 22, 2026, a past deadline. The Outdoor Equity Fund is described as offering unrestricted multi-year grants of $10,000 per year over three years, with convenings, training, and peer support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Philip Walsh (Executive DI), Jennette Andre (trustee), Jennifer Ceide (vice-president), Andrea Francis (president), Leslie Hill (treasurer), Lauress Lawrence (secretary), Kael Parker (trustee), David Patrick (trustee), and Victoria Rodriguez (trustee).
Maine Initiativesinc is led by Andrea Francis, President since 2025 (on filings since 2019); 1 of 9 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Andrea Francis
President
Trustee → Vice President, 2024
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Victoria Rodriguez
Trustee
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
David Patrick
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kael Parker
Trustee
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jennette Andre
Trustee
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Walsh
Executive Di
On filings since 2019
40 hrs/week
$96K (2019) → $146K (2025)
Lauress Lawrence
Secretary
Vice President → President, 2024
President → Secretary, 2025
On filings since 2019
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jennifer Ceide
Vice President
Trustee → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2020
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Leslie Hill
Treasurer
Trustee → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2023
2 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (12)
- Former: Carla Hunt (2019–2024) — Secretary
- Former: Ellen Seidman (2019–2024) — Treasurer
- Former: Greg Sample (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Jake Grindle (2019–2024) — Trustee
- Former: Sett Vincent (2021–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sass Borodkin (2022–2023) — Trustee
- Former: Sass Linneken (2020–2021) — Trustee
- Former: Alain Nahimana (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Luc Nya (2019–2020) — Trustee
- Former: Suzy Sonenberg (2019–2020) — President
- Former: Elizabeth Pope (2019) — Trustee
- Former: Tracy Cooley (2019) — Trustee
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 $146K, to Philip Walsh (Executive Di).
Frequently asked questions about Maine Initiativesinc
How much does Maine Initiativesinc give each year?
Maine Initiativesinc gave $1.8M across 51 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $1.6M across 61 grants.
What is Maine Initiativesinc's typical grant size?
Maine Initiativesinc's median grant in 2025 was $40,000, and its average grant was $36,069, across 51 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from Maine Initiativesinc that year got $34K on average.
Where does Maine Initiativesinc give grants?
Maine Initiativesinc gives mostly in Maine: 97% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (21 grants), Lewiston, ME (9 grants), Westbrook, ME (3 grants) and Old Town, ME (2 grants).
Does Maine Initiativesinc give general operating support?
Yes: 86% of Maine Initiativesinc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (44 of 51) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Who are Maine Initiativesinc's largest grantees?
Maine Initiativesinc's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition ($159,050), Mano En Mano ($100,000) and Southern Maine Workers Center ($85,490 across 2 grants), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 19% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Maine Initiativesinc?
Maine Initiativesinc reported $6.4M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.9M.
What does Maine Initiativesinc fund?
Maine Initiatives’ mission is to support greater social, economic, and environmental justice in Maine through informed, intentional, and collective philanthropy. Its stated vision places its work at the intersection of community organizing, place-based philanthropy, and racial justice. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maine Initiativesinc?
Program announcements describe applications and community-led, participatory selection processes. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Maine Initiativesinc's EIN?
Maine Initiativesinc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0484310. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS August 16, 2021)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS August 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 15, 2023)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS August 15, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS August 20, 2025)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS August 17, 2020)
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS August 17, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Maine Initiativesinc's focus areas in our free grants database
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Funders that support many of the same organizations
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Total Given
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Maine Initiativesinc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/maine-initiativesinc-morg_7d4799a137ce48f8a525b60eabbb469c
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010484310_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Maine Initiativesinc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/maine-initiativesinc-morg_7d4799a137ce48f8a525b60eabbb469c},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 Initiativesinc'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 Initiativesinc down — hundreds of funders to go?