MES Foundation is a private nonprofit organization located in Alfred, Maine. Established in 1992, it operates as a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization classified as a private foundation. The foundation is primarily focused on expanding access to higher education for Maine students through scholarship programs and related educational services.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$4.8M
+4.5% YoY
Annual Giving
$216K
+5.0% YoY
Grant Count
45
+7.1% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$5K
-2.0% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, MES Foundation reported a distributable amount of $234K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation's mission centers on expanding access to higher education for all Maine students by providing valuable college scholarship opportunities. Scholarship awards are made on the basis of demonstrated financial need and distinguished academic merit.
The foundation administers two primary scholarship programs:
- Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship
- Junior Achievement Scholarship
Additionally, the foundation provides services related to student loan servicing for Maine students.
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$5,000
Review Cycle
April 1
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grantmaking is concentrated exclusively in Maine. Grant recipients are concentrated within the state.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
As of December 2024:
- Total assets: $4,838,218
- Total revenues: $443,675
- Total expenses: $327,562
- Number of employees: 1
Revenue Breakdown (FYE 12/2024):
- Investment income and dividends: $117,403
- Net gain from sale of non-inventory assets: $325,883
- Total grants and contributions: $389
Asset Growth: Total assets have grown from $2.8 million in 2011 to $4.8 million in 2024.
Previous Year Comparison (FYE 12/2023):
- Total revenues: $278,000
- Total expenses: $319,000
- Total assets: $4,630,000
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $4,838,218 | $4,627,835 | $3,983,199 |
| Revenue | $443,675 | $278,288 | $82,722 |
| Expenses | $327,562 | $319,305 | $297,796 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $290,514 | $278,095 | $257,052 |
| Net Investment Income | $404,085 | $241,580 | $49,000 |
| Distributable Amount | $233,782 | $211,828 | $207,341 |
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
210 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Ashleigh Daniels ($5,000), Camden Rollins ($5,000), Cassandra Kromer ($5,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ashleigh Daniels Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Camden Rollins Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Cassandra Kromer Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Chloe Harmon Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Cole Ellis Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Crystalann Kloeber Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Delia Harms Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Devyn Robinson Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Donna Nadeau Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
| Ella Suitter Alfred, ME | Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
Kristie Hurlburt - President and Executive Director (compensation: $57,681 as of 2025)
The foundation is governed by 7 officers and trustees.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kristie Hurlburt | President/Executive Director | 20 | $59,415 |
| Christopher Bell | Director | 1 | — |
| Guy Langevin | Director | 1 | — |
| Todd Cesca | Director/Chair | 1 | — |
| Scott Albert | Director/Vice Chair | 1 | — |
| Donald Reynolds | Director/Treasurer (end 7/2024) | 1 | — |
| Timothy Sabo | Director/Treasurer (start 8/2024) | 1 | — |
| Darren Hurlburt | Director/Secretary | 1 | — |
Contact Information
Address: PO Box 1296, Alfred, ME 04002-1296
Phone: (207) 791-3600
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What does MES Foundation fund?
The foundation's mission centers on expanding access to higher education for all Maine students by providing valuable college scholarship opportunities. Scholarship awards are made on the basis of demonstrated financial need and distinguished academic merit. The foundation administers two primary scholarship programs: • Richard H. Pierce Memorial Scholarship • Junior Achievement Scholarship Additionally, the foundation provides services related to student loan servicing for Maine students.
How do I apply for a grant from MES Foundation?
**Grant Activity:** • Made 42 grants in the most recent reporting year • Historical grantmaking has ranged from $197,000 to $370,000 annually (2020-2023) • Peak grantmaking activity occurred in 2022 with $370,000 distributed across 74 grants • Individual grants have ranged from $500 to $5,000, with an average award of $5,000 • Median grant size: $5,000 • Total grants made over available records: 159 grants totaling $773,000 • The foundation has supported 79 unique organizations **Application In…
Where does MES Foundation make grants?
Grantmaking is concentrated exclusively in Maine. Grant recipients are concentrated within the state.
What size grants does MES Foundation award?
In 2024, MES Foundation awarded 45 grants totaling $216K — an average of about $5K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is MES Foundation required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, MES Foundation reported a distributable amount of $234K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is MES Foundation's EIN?
MES Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0471533. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in MES 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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