Rocking Moon Foundation Inc
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc is a private foundation based in Yarmouth, Maine. Its 2025 filing describes support for charitable organizations through grants, discounted office space, and a short-term, below-market-rate note to the Ali Forney Center.
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc at a glance
In short: Rocking Moon Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 20 grants in 2025 (avg $77K), mostly in Maine. 15% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $1,533,120
- +90.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 20
- -20.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $76,656
- +138.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $37,763
- Total assets
- $15,137,325
- -3.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 15% first-time grantees (3 of 20, 2025; small sample)
- Primary geography
- Maine (64% 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 Rocking Moon Foundation Inc
- Accepts unsolicited proposals
- No
- How to Apply
-
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests.
- Contact
Mailing address: PO Box 65, Yarmouth, ME 04096
Phone: (207) 730-1154
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Rocking Moon Foundation Inc funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Knox County Homeless Coalition (dba Homeworthy) ($753K). Together the top 10 received $1.3M.
Grant Size Distribution
138 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 80 grants of 138 (58%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
In 2025, Maine recipients received 64% of grant dollars, followed by New York at 19%, Maryland at 7%, and Massachusetts and Texas at 3% each. The listed grants also included $40,000 to Open City Advocates in Washington, DC.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 20 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is Rocking Moon Foundation Inc open to new grantees?
15%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 3 of 20 grantees (15%) were first-time recipients. With only 20 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 5 points. First grants averaged $271K; repeat grants $42K. How we count
Medians: $50K first-time, $36K repeat.
- 80% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (+7%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 185% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2020–2025). 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 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $805K (2024) to $1.7M (2020). In 2025 it made 20 grants totaling $1.5M.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Knox County Homeless Coalition (dba Homeworthy) Rockland, ME | Facilities, building, and program support | $753,416 |
| The Ali Forney Center NY, NY | General Operating Support - Multi Year (Year 3 of 3) | $102,885 |
| Tree Street Youth Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support - Capacity Building Support | $82,581 |
| Children's National Hospital Foundation Bethesda, MD | Program Support | $78,360 |
| Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund New York, NY | General Operating Support | $60,704 |
| American Civil Liberties Union Foundation New York, NY | Program Support - LGBT Project | $60,388 |
| The Lesbian Gay Bisexual and Transgender Community Center New York, NY | General Operating Support | $52,111 |
| NOPI Inc Walpole, MA | Program Support for Proteus Medical | $50,000 |
| The Level Up Project Humble, TX | General Operating Support for TENT | $50,000 |
| Open City Advocates Washington, DC | General Operating Support | $40,000 |
Ready to take the next step with Rocking Moon Foundation Inc?
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 | $15,137,325 | $459,473 | $1,875,675 | $1,533,120 | 20 | $2,217,950 | $338,635 | $1,201,060 |
| 2024 | $15,720,550 | $5,169,818 | $1,186,219 | $804,565 | 25 | $1,067,030 | $749,970 | $581,816 |
| 2023 | $11,211,682 | $1,108,842 | $1,223,088 | $906,520 | 27 | $1,116,262 | $1,068,392 | $543,648 |
| 2022 | $10,996,386 | $441,086 | $1,703,422 | $1,430,320 | 37 | $1,638,693 | $410,227 | $485,502 |
| 2021 | $14,853,019 | $1,001,984 | $1,641,731 | $1,405,445 | 29 | $1,585,708 | $986,540 | $717,643 |
| 2020 | $14,327,030 | $444,373 | $1,934,168 | $1,738,070 | 40 | — | $303,577 | $557,466 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rocking Moon Foundation Inc reported a distributable amount of $1.2M 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 filing describes its program activity but does not state a mission. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations addressing homelessness and youth services, LGBTQ+ communities, civil liberties, legal advocacy, and immigrant communities. For example, Tree Street Youth describes its mission as supporting Lewiston-Auburn youth through academics, arts, and athletics while providing a safe space for their development. Maine Initiatives says it cultivates social, economic, and environmental justice through support for grassroots organizations in Maine.
Other 2025 recipients describe work that includes youth-centered legal defense and advocacy (Open City Advocates), legal services and policy advocacy for immigrants (Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project), and financial education and counseling for refugee and immigrant communities (ProsperityME).
Through April 2025, the foundation provided free or significantly discounted office space to small nonprofits. It then donated its real estate holdings to the Knox County Homeless Coalition, doing business as Homeworthy, as a charitable grant. The foundation also issued the Ali Forney Center a $500,000 short-term, below-market-rate note during the 2025 tax year to help meet short-term liquidity and cash-flow needs.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 20 grants totaling $1,533,120. Grant amounts ranged from $10,000 to $753,416, with a median of $37,762.
The largest reported grants included $753,416 to Knox County Homeless Coalition (dba Homeworthy) for facilities, building, and program support; $102,885 to The Ali Forney Center for year three of a three-year general operating support grant; and $82,581 to Tree Street Youth for general operating and capacity-building support. Other notable grants were $78,360 to Children’s National Hospital Foundation for program support, $60,704 to Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund for general operating support, and $60,388 to the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation for LGBT Project program support.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Joseph R. Higdon, Matthew Jaffe, and Ellen L. Sudow as trustees; Sarah Higdon-Sudow as a trustee through February 2025; William J. Higdon-Sudow as president; and Robert J. Higdon as treasurer.
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc is led by William J Higdon-Sudow, President since 2021 (on filings since 2020); none of the 6 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
William J Higdon-Sudow
President
Director → President, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ellen L Sudow
Trustee
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer & Director → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joseph R Higdon
Trustee
President & Director → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sarah Higdon-Sudow
Trustee
Director → Trustee, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Matthew Jaffe
Trustee
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Robert J Higdon
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2021
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Jessie K Gillespie (2020) — Director
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "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 Rocking Moon Foundation Inc
How much does Rocking Moon Foundation Inc give each year?
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc gave $1.5M across 20 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $805K across 25 grants.
What is Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's typical grant size?
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's median grant in 2025 was $37,763, and its average grant was $76,656, across 20 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from Rocking Moon Foundation Inc that year got $271K on average.
Where does Rocking Moon Foundation Inc give grants?
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc gives mostly in Maine: 64% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The next largest states were New York (19%) and Maryland (7%). The most frequent recipient cities were New York, NY (5 grants), Rockland, ME (3 grants), Portland, ME (3 grants) and Bethesda, MD (2 grants).
Does Rocking Moon Foundation Inc give general operating support?
Yes: 65% of Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (13 of 20) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's largest grantees?
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's largest 2025 grantees include Knox County Homeless Coalition (dba Homeworthy) ($753,416), The Ali Forney Center ($102,885) and Tree Street Youth ($82,581), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 61% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is Rocking Moon Foundation Inc?
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc reported $15.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $2.2M in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $1.2M (roughly 5% of its investment assets).
What does Rocking Moon Foundation Inc fund?
The foundation’s filing describes its program activity but does not state a mission. Its 2025 grants show support for organizations addressing homelessness and youth services, LGBTQ+ communities, civil liberties, legal advocacy, and immigrant communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Rocking Moon Foundation Inc?
The foundation makes contributions only to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's EIN?
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 05-0545520. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Does Rocking Moon Foundation Inc accept unsolicited proposals?
No, 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 September 2026.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 11, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rocking Moon Foundation Inc's focus areas in our free grants database
Similar Funders
Funders that support many of the same organizations
John T Gorman Foundation
Portland, ME
The John T. Gorman Foundation funds nonprofits and government-affiliated entities working to improve child and family well-being and meet essential needs, especially for people experiencing poverty in Maine. In 2024, grants ranged from $500 to $345,000, with a median award of $20,250. It generally does not accept unsolicited proposals; most foundation-initiated grants are by invitation, though organizations may contact the Foundation with an aligned idea.
Assets
$223.5M
Grants
154
Total Given
$7.5M
Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Freeport, ME
The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation funds Maine nonprofits working for equity and interconnected well-being for people, animals, and the environment, across areas including food systems, animal welfare, and community development. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $31,000, though awards varied widely; it accepts applications through its online system during designated periods and does not limit giving to preselected organizations.
Assets
$164.8M
Grants
296
Total Given
$14.4M
Bangor Savings Bank Foundation
Bangor, ME
The Bangor Savings Bank Foundation supports arts and culture, economic and workforce development, education, health and wellness, and social and community services, including affordable housing and health care. It focuses on Maine, New Hampshire, and Essex County, Massachusetts; 2025 grants ranged from $1,000 to $50,000, with a median of $4,750. It accepts applications through an online portal, with applications reviewed twice a year.
Assets
$7.0M
Grants
156
Total Given
$1.2M
Louis and Anne Abrons Foundation Inc
Wilmington, DE
The foundation supports a broad range of charitable work, including social services, climate advocacy, human rights, civil liberties, and humanitarian response, with most 2024 funding going to organizations in New York, followed by California and Washington, DC. Its 2024 median grant was $10,000, though awards ranged from $300 to $771,075. It does not accept unsolicited requests and gives only to preselected organizations.
Assets
$125.9M
Grants
227
Total Given
$8.2M
RSF Social Finance Inc
San Francisco, CA
RSF Social Finance funds organizations and projects advancing social and environmental change, especially in food and agriculture, climate and energy, education, and community impact. Its 2024 grants had a median of $25,000, with awards ranging from $5,250 to $5.52 million; recipients were primarily in California, Maryland, New York, Georgia, and Pennsylvania. The profile does not state whether RSF accepts unsolicited requests.
Assets
$108.4M
Grants
457
Total Given
$48.2M
Maine Community Foundation Inc
Ellsworth, ME
Maine Community Foundation supports nonprofits and communities in Maine through grants for areas such as community building, arts, land and water, housing, and equity, as well as scholarships. Its 2024 grants had a median amount of $17,500, though awards varied widely. The profile describes online applications for competitive grants but does not state whether unsolicited requests are accepted.
Assets
$807.6M
Grants
1,161
Total Given
$57.6M
More similar funders
More Funders in Maine
Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). Rocking Moon Foundation Inc funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 15, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/rocking-moon-foundation-inc-morg_b481348aa8ab418d886f0df457f665d2
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_050545520_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{Rocking Moon Foundation Inc funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/rocking-moon-foundation-inc-morg_b481348aa8ab418d886f0df457f665d2},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-15. 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 Rocking Moon Foundation Inc'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.
Rocking Moon Foundation Inc down — hundreds of funders to go?