Oak Grove School
Oak Grove School is a private foundation based in East Vassalboro, Maine. Its 2023 filing describes direct charitable activity as providing scholarships and educational assistance. Its 2025 grants also supported Maine schools and community organizations, including projects involving school equipment, food assistance, and restoration.
Oak Grove School at a glance
In short: Oak Grove School gave $92K across 66 grants in 2025 (avg $1K), mostly in Maine. 39% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $91,740
- -10.9% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 66
- -5.7% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $1,390
- -5.6% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $1,000
- Total assets
- $1,848,414
- +1.6% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 39% first-time grantees (7 of 18, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Oak Grove School
- How to Apply
-
The 2023 filing lists the Oak Grove Application and Financial Aid Form. It states that scholarships are for the educational expenses described above and are awarded on a nondiscriminatory basis.
- Review Cycle
- January 15 (as stated on the 2023 filing).
- Deadline
- January 15 (as stated on the 2023 filing).
- Contact
Application contact: Joann C Austin Esq
Mailing address: PO Box 150, South China, ME 04358
Phone: (207) 445-3333
Website: https://ogschool.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Oak Grove School funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Messalonskee High School ($26K across 16 grants). Together the top 10 received $78K.
Organizations only. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($500), which are not listed by name.
Grant Size Distribution
350 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 350 grants of 350 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
All grant dollars reported for 2025 went to recipients in Maine. The 2023 filing’s scholarship restrictions specify eligible students in Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 66 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Oak Grove School open to new grantees?
39%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 7 of 18 grantees (39%) were first-time recipients. With only 18 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 6 points. First grants averaged $3K; repeat grants $6K. How we count
Medians: $3K first-time, $4K repeat.
- 28% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−18%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 94% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2021–2025). 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 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $59K (2021) to $134K (2023). In 2025 it made 66 grants totaling $92K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Friends of River Meeting House Vassalboro, ME | Restoration/Improvement Projects | $7,486 |
| Vassalboro Community School Vassalboro, ME | Book Vending Machine | $5,000 |
| Messalonskee High School Oakland, ME | Percussion Equipment | $4,940 |
| Erksine Academy South China, ME | Immersive Learning Through | $4,934 |
| Messalonskee High School Oakland, ME | Metals Project | $4,914 |
| Kennebec Valley Multiple Pathways Madison, ME | Aquaponics | $4,084 |
| Augusta Food Bank Augusta, ME | Kidspak | $4,000 |
| Messalonskee High School Oakland, ME | Gymnasium Equipment | $3,200 |
| Messalonskee High School Oakland, ME | Art Tables | $2,500 |
| Waterville Jr High School Waterville, ME | Promethean Panel | $2,500 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $1,848,414 | $164,624 | $136,309 | $91,740 | 66 | $91,740 | $70,545 | $97,275 |
| 2024 | $1,818,799 | $141,287 | $129,542 | $103,018 | 70 | $103,018 | $57,947 | $88,688 |
| 2023 | $1,807,054 | $306,092 | $159,739 | $134,050 | 85 | $134,050 | $51,066 | $84,389 |
| 2022 | $1,660,701 | $222,183 | $135,482 | $111,711 | 65 | $111,711 | $72,636 | $84,096 |
| 2021 | $1,574,000 | $170,892 | $80,585 | $59,354 | 64 | — | $28,063 | $84,188 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Oak Grove School reported a distributable amount of $97K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s stated charitable activity is providing scholarships and educational assistance. Its 2023 filing says scholarships are made on a nondiscriminatory basis for educational expenses of financially needy Maine students enrolled in secondary schools affiliated with the Friends Council on Education, as well as children of former faculty and staff enrolled in those schools.
Its grants have also supported schools and other community organizations. For example, Augusta Food Bank describes its mission as providing supplemental food to individuals and families in need. Children’s Discovery Museum says it provides exhibits and activities intended to promote developmental skills through hands-on learning and play.
Grantmaking
In 2025, Oak Grove School reported 66 grants totaling $91,740. Grant amounts ranged from $125 to $7,486, with a median of $1,000. Larger awards included $7,486 to Friends of River Meeting House for restoration and improvement projects; $5,000 to Vassalboro Community School for a book vending machine; and $4,940 to Messalonskee High School for percussion equipment. Other 2025 grants included $4,000 to Augusta Food Bank for Kidspak and $1,600 to Children’s Discovery Museum for “The Stage.”
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Jill Spicer, Loyce Hayslett, Mike Steinberg, Greg Zimba, Johan Dowdy, Lore Ferguson, and Kamela Hahn as directors. Jennifer Day is listed as treasurer; Christopher Hamilton as assistant treasurer; and Dot Cates as vice president.
Oak Grove School is led by Jody Lalime Welch, President on every filing since 2021; none of the 18 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Jody Lalime Welch
President
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Susan Briggs
President
Director → Vice President, 2023
Vice President → President, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Jill Spicer
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Kamela Hahn
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Lore Ferguson
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Loyce Hayslett
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Mike Steinberg
Director
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Alison Jenkins
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Greg Zimba
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Johan Dowdy
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Tom Guttmacher
Director
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Chris Heid
Director
On filings since 2024
No compensation reported
Doree Austin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Thomas Weitkamp
Director
New on the 2025 filing
No compensation reported
Jennifer Day
Treasurer
Director → Assistant Tr, 2024
Assistant Tr → Treasurer, 2025
On filings since 2021
No compensation reported
Christopher Hamilton
Assistent Tr
Treasurer → Assistent Tr, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Dot Cates
Vice President
Director → Vice President, 2025
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Joyce Smith
Secretary
Director → Secretary, 2024
On filings since 2023
No compensation reported
Former officers (9)
- Former: Margaret Cates (2021–2024) — Assistant Tr
- Former: Mary Denison (2023–2024) — Legal Advisor
- Former: Don Poulin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Joann Clark Austin (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: John Reuthe (2021–2023) — Director
- Former: Edith Keller (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Michael Ansdell (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Roy W. Stottler (2021–2022) — Director
- Former: Susan Kiralis (2021–2022) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Frequently asked questions about Oak Grove School
How much does Oak Grove School give each year?
Oak Grove School gave $92K across 66 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $103K across 70 grants.
What is Oak Grove School's typical grant size?
Oak Grove School's median grant in 2025 was $1,000, and its average grant was $1,390, across 66 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Oak Grove School that year got $3K on average.
Where does Oak Grove School give grants?
Oak Grove School gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Oakland, ME (16 grants), Dexter, ME (16 grants), Doverfoxcroft, ME (7 grants) and Waterville, ME (5 grants).
Does Oak Grove School give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 66 grants with a stated purpose on Oak Grove School's 2025 IRS Form 990-PF were described as general or operating support.
Who are Oak Grove School's largest grantees?
Oak Grove School's largest 2025 grantees include Messalonskee High School ($26,419 across 16 grants), Dexter Regional High School ($12,829 across 16 grants) and Friends of River Meeting House ($7,486), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It also paid 1 grant to individuals ($500), which are not listed by name. Together they received 51% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Oak Grove School?
Oak Grove School reported $1.8M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $92K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $97K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What does Oak Grove School fund?
The foundation’s stated charitable activity is providing scholarships and educational assistance. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Oak Grove School?
The 2023 filing lists the Oak Grove Application and Financial Aid Form. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Oak Grove School's EIN?
Oak Grove School's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0211537. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS January 19, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS April 11, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 27, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 12, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 20, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Oak Grove School's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Oak Grove School funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 16, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/oak-grove-school-morg_ec88cdecb7ce4204a279352c4e0c3a1e
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010211537_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Oak Grove School funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/oak-grove-school-morg_ec88cdecb7ce4204a279352c4e0c3a1e},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-16. 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 Oak Grove School'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.
Oak Grove School down — hundreds of funders to go?