Onion Foundation
The Onion Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 2014 and based in Auburn, Maine. Founded by Maine technology entrepreneur Frederick "Fritz" Onion (co-founder of Pluralsight Inc.) and his wife Susan Onion, the foundation operates as a 501(c)(3) organization with a staff of 6 employees. The foundation has made over 1,500 grants totaling more than $27 million to over 600 unique nonprofit organizations since its inception.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
—
Annual Giving
$4.4M
+31.4% YoY
Grant Count
245
+17.8% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$18K
+11.5% YoY
Mission & Focus Areas
Mission: To build a more equitable and healthy Maine by deepening the connection of all people to the arts and nature.
Core Values:
- Learning and Creativity: Seeking out and sharing new and unconventional ideas and taking risks to improve
- Accessibility and Transparency: Striving to be welcoming, transparent, and accessible to all
- Equity: Leveraging resources to reduce systemic inequities
- Inclusion and Diversity: Respecting lived experiences and encouraging a broad range of ideas and perspectives
Primary Funding Areas:
- Arts and arts education
- Environmental conservation and nature access
- Youth climate initiatives
- Land conservation and land trusts
- Outdoor learning and environmental education
Grantmaking
Grant Range
$1,000 - $470,000
Review Cycle
Spring cycle (March) and Fall cycle (September)
How to Apply
**
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Primarily Maine, with some funding in Massachusetts and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
FY 2024:
- Total Assets: $63.6 million
- Total Revenue: $3,124,480
- Total Expenses: $5,554,662
- Net Income: -$2,430,182
- Total Liabilities: $4,710
FY 2023:
- Total Assets: $64,768,101
- Total Revenue: -$4,207,671
- Total Expenses: $4,475,646
FY 2022:
- Total Assets: $64,663,290
- Total Revenue: -$4,328,584
- Total Expenses: $3,854,320
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | — | — | — |
| Revenue | — | — | — |
| Expenses | — | — | — |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | — | — | — |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
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
250 grants across all recorded years
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
Rolling / Open
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
Rolling / Open
Environment Grant Program: Strategy I- Equitable Outdoor Access
Onion Foundation
Amount
US $5,000 - US $30,000
Deadline
Rolling / Open
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Appalachian Mountain Club ($30,000), Climate Change for All Educators Inc ($30,000), Chewonki Foundation Inc ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| 240 Strings Portland, ME | To provide general support | $10,000 |
| 30 Mile River Watershed Association Mt Vernon, ME | To provide general support | $15,000 |
| 317 Main Community Music Center Yarmouth, ME | To provide general support | $20,000 |
| A Company of Girls Portland, ME | To provide general support | $15,000 |
| Abbe Museum Bar Harbor, ME | To provide general support | $20,000 |
| ACLU of Maine Foundation Portland, ME | To provide general support | $1,000 |
| Acorn Productions Portland, ME | To provide general support | $6,000 |
| Adaptive Outdoor Education Center Carrabassett Valley, ME | To provide general support | $15,000 |
| Appalachian Mountain Club Boston, MA | To support the Maine Woods Community Youth and Environment Program | $30,000 |
| ArtsFarmington Farmington, ME | To provide general support | $5,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
- Frederick "Fritz" Onion: Co-Founder
- Susan Onion: Co-Founder, Director
- Diana Morris: Executive Director (appointed 2022)
- Nat May: Arts Program Officer
- Rosalind Erwin: Program Officer
- Holly Taylor: Program Associate
- Sally Struever: Grants Officer Administrator
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick Onion | Trustee | 18 | — |
| Susan Onion | Trustee | 18 | — |
| Alene Onion | Trustee (start 2024) | 1 | — |
Recent News & Activity
Recent developments and announcements
In 2022, the foundation appointed Diana Morris as its first executive director, marking a significant shift toward more professional grantmaking operations. The foundation is recognized as one of Maine's top 25 funders and maintains an active presence in the state's philanthropic community through the Maine Philanthropy Center.
US: Onion Foundation Grants Program - fundsforNGOsThe foundation continues to accept grant applications through its online portal, with Arts Program applications currently accepted on a rolling basis with spring and fall deadlines.
The 2025 Sonic Visions Fund Applications Are Open! - SPACE GalleryFrequently Asked Questions
What does Onion Foundation fund?
**Mission:** To build a more equitable and healthy Maine by deepening the connection of all people to the arts and nature. **Core Values:** • Learning and Creativity: Seeking out and sharing new and unconventional ideas and taking risks to improve • Accessibility and Transparency: Striving to be welcoming, transparent, and accessible to all • Equity: Leveraging resources to reduce systemic inequities • Inclusion and Diversity: Respecting lived experiences and encouraging a broad range of ideas …
How do I apply for a grant from Onion Foundation?
**Grant Statistics:** • Annual giving: $5.4 million (FY 2024) • Number of grants: 208 annually • Grant range: $1,000 - $470,000 • Median grant: $13,000 **Grant Programs:** *Arts Program Grants:* $10,000 - $100,000 • Application deadlines: Spring cycle (March) and Fall cycle (September) • Supports both general operating and project-specific funding • Special consideration for organizations with budgets under $50,000 **Application Process:** • Online application portal: onionfoundation.givingdata…
Where does Onion Foundation make grants?
Primarily Maine, with some funding in Massachusetts and Vermont.
What size grants does Onion Foundation award?
In 2024, Onion Foundation awarded 245 grants totaling $4.4M — an average of about $18K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
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.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Onion 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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