Onion Foundation
Onion Foundation is a private foundation based in Auburn, Maine. It supports nonprofit organizations in Maine through arts and environmental grantmaking, with a mission of building a more equitable and healthy Maine by deepening people’s connections to the arts and nature.
Onion Foundation at a glance
In short: Onion Foundation gave $4.4M across 245 grants in 2024 (avg $18K), mostly in Maine. 29% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2024)
- $4,380,610
- +31.4% vs 2023
- Grants made (2024)
- 245
- +17.8% vs 2023
- Average grant
- $17,880
- +11.5% vs 2023
- Median grant
- $15,000
- Total assets
- $63,607,053
- -1.8% vs 2023
- New grantees (estimate)
- 29% first-time grantees (70 of 245, 2024)
- Primary geography
- Maine (94% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2024 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2024; updated October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to Onion Foundation
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- Yes
- How to Apply
-
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants can apply through the foundation’s online grant portal and should review the relevant Arts or Environment Program information. The foundation encourages new applicants to discuss their ideas with staff before applying, and especially encourages fiscally sponsored applicants to speak with a program officer before writing an application. Applicants must be an IRS-designated 501(c)(3) public charity, operate under a qualified 501(c)(3) fiscal sponsor, be a public education institution, or be a Maine governmental unit.
- Review Cycle
- The 2026 Expand Nature Learning cycle ran from March 18 through April 30, 2026, with notification scheduled for July. This cycle has passed. The foundation says application links are posted on program pages when a cycle is open.
- Deadline
- The 2026 Expand Nature Learning cycle ran from March 18 through April 30, 2026, with notification scheduled for July.
- Contact
Application contact: Onion Foundation
Mailing address: 2 Great Falls Plaza Box 7, Auburn, ME 04210
Phone: (207) 221-0272
Email: info@onionfoundation.org
Website: https://onionfoundation.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Open Grants
4 open opportunities from Onion Foundation
Arts Education and Public Engagement Grants (For organizations or projects with budgets up to $50,000)
Onion Foundation
Amount
Up to US $22,500
Deadline
Deadline not published
Arts Program: Arts Education and Public Engagement Grants ( For organizations or projects with budgets over $50,000 )
Onion Foundation
Amount
Up to US $60,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Environment Grant Program: Strategy I- Equitable Outdoor Access
Onion Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Deadline not published
Who Onion Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Momentum Conservation ($625K). Together the top 10 received $1.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
1,185 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 1,167 grants of 1,185 (98%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s mission and Environment Program focus on Maine. In 2024, 94% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine; Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, and New Hampshire each received 1–2%. The foundation’s website says its Environment Program particularly seeks to serve rural areas.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2024 grant dollars across all 245 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Onion Foundation open to new grantees?
29%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 70 of 245 grantees (29%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $11K; repeat grants $21K. How we count
Medians: $8K first-time, $15K repeat.
- 51% of 2024 grantees were also funded in 2023. Method
- Giving grew 31% from 2021 to 2024. Method
- In 2024 it paid out 173% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2024). 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 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $3.0M (2022) to $4.4M (2024). In 2024 it made 245 grants totaling $4.4M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Momentum Conservation Portland, ME | To provide technical and financial support to land trusts | $625,000 |
| Maine Association of Nonprofits Portland, ME | To support the Cultural Alliance of Maine's arts and for culture advocacy | $88,000 |
| Maine Environmental Education Association Brunswick, ME | To conduct a landscape analysis of Maines Youth Climate Movement | $75,000 |
| New Learning Journey Fayston, VT | To support the First Light program in increasing access to land and water for Wabanaki people | $75,000 |
| Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance Augusta, ME | To support the professional development of educators | $71,000 |
| Mayo Street Arts Portland, ME | To provide general support | $57,500 |
| Maine Audubon Falmouth, ME | To expand science-based environmental education to Lewiston and Bangor schools | $52,500 |
| Maine Initiatives Portland, ME | To support the Maine Outdoor Equity Fund | $50,000 |
| SPACE Gallery Portland, ME | To support a weekend-long gathering for the Maine dance community | $42,500 |
| Maine Lakes Yarmouth, ME | To provide general support | $41,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Onion Foundation?
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Qualifying Distributions | Net Investment Income | Distributable Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $63,607,053 | $3,124,480 | $5,554,662 | $4,380,610 | 245 | $5,448,989 | $3,016,597 | $3,147,391 |
| 2023 | $64,768,101 | $-4,207,671 | $4,475,646 | $3,334,875 | 208 | $4,453,235 | $211,820 | $3,188,683 |
| 2022 | $64,663,290 | $-4,328,584 | $3,854,320 | $2,985,938 | 252 | $3,886,916 | $857,565 | $3,404,051 |
| 2021 | $81,245,612 | $74,610,618 | $3,834,151 | $3,333,900 | 246 | $3,942,833 | $5,010,016 | $2,845,210 |
| 2020 | $13,942,760 | $6,147,695 | $3,744,677 | $3,411,874 | 234 | — | $1,260,782 | $558,308 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Onion Foundation reported a distributable amount of $3.1M for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
The foundation’s mission is “to build a more equitable and healthy Maine by deepening the connection of all people to the arts and nature.” Its website identifies two grantmaking areas: the Arts Program and the Environment Program. The Environment Program aims to help Maine residents, especially those in rural areas, enjoy natural resources and develop the knowledge, skills, and motivation to protect the environment. Its Expand Nature Learning strategy supports high-quality, science-based nature-learning opportunities for Maine youth, including youth programs in underserved parts of the state and intensive, multi-day outdoor experiences.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of work funded. Momentum Conservation says its mission is to build mutually beneficial relationships with the earth, communities, and people through Maine’s conservation movement. Mayo Street Arts describes its work as providing a neighborhood arts hub and engaging youth from diverse cultural communities in the arts. Maine Environmental Education Association says it amplifies efforts to build environmental awareness, understanding, and action in Maine.
Grantmaking
In 2024, the foundation awarded 245 grants totaling $4,380,610. Grants ranged from $1,000 to $625,000, with a median grant of $15,000.
Among the largest 2024 grants were $625,000 to Momentum Conservation for technical and financial support to land trusts; $88,000 to Maine Association of Nonprofits to support the Cultural Alliance of Maine’s arts and culture advocacy; and $75,000 to Maine Environmental Education Association for a landscape analysis of Maine’s Youth Climate Movement. New Learning Journey received $75,000 to support the First Light program in increasing Wabanaki people’s access to land and water, and Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance received $71,000 for educator professional development.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Frederick Onion, Susan Onion, and Alene Onion as trustees. Alene Onion’s trusteeship began in 2024.
Onion Foundation's 2024 filing lists 3 officers; none of the 3 officers listed in 2024 report compensation.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Frederick Onion
Trustee
Co-Director → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
18 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Onion
Trustee
Co-Director → Trustee, 2023
On filings since 2020
18 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alene Onion
Trustee
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Zoe Onion (2022–2023) — Trustee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "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 Onion Foundation
How much does Onion Foundation give each year?
Onion Foundation gave $4.4M across 245 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2023 it gave $3.3M across 208 grants.
What is Onion Foundation's typical grant size?
Onion Foundation's median grant in 2024 was $15,000, and its average grant was $17,880, across 245 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Onion Foundation that year got $11K on average.
Where does Onion Foundation give grants?
Onion Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 94% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (58 grants), Lewiston, ME (9 grants), Brunswick, ME (8 grants) and Augusta, ME (7 grants).
Does Onion Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 47% of Onion Foundation's 2024 grants with a stated purpose (114 of 245) were for general or operating support, per its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Onion Foundation's largest grantees?
Onion Foundation's largest 2024 grantees include Momentum Conservation ($625,000), Maine Association of Nonprofits ($88,000) and Maine Environmental Education Association ($75,000), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 18% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Onion Foundation?
Onion Foundation reported $63.6M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $5.4M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $3.1M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Onion Foundation fund?
The foundation’s mission is “to build a more equitable and healthy Maine by deepening the connection of all people to the arts and nature.” Its website identifies two grantmaking areas: the Arts Program and the Environment Program. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Onion Foundation?
The foundation accepts unsolicited requests and does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Onion Foundation's EIN?
Onion Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 47-1289795. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Does Onion Foundation accept unsolicited proposals?
Yes, according to Grantable's research on the foundation's published guidelines. See how to apply ↑
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(6)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 15, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 15, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS November 14, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS November 8, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS November 7, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Onion Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Onion Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 10, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/onion-foundation-morg_f5823225b56b425dad08450f55b2fdaa
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_471289795_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Onion Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/onion-foundation-morg_f5823225b56b425dad08450f55b2fdaa},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-10. 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 Onion Foundation'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.
Onion Foundation down — hundreds of funders to go?