Rural Futures Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PORTLAND, ME. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $768K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $194K. Net investment income was $65K.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990-PF · View filing
Total Assets
$768K
-41.8% YoY
Annual Giving
$194K
-8.9% YoY
Grant Count
5
+0.0% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$39K
-8.9% YoY
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, Rural Futures Fund reported a distributable amount of $48K for 2024 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About Rural Futures Fund
Based on IRS filings
Rural Futures Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PORTLAND, ME. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2024. As of 2024, the organization holds $768K in total assets. In 2024, it awarded 5 grants totaling $194K. Net investment income was $65K.
Focus Areas
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Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $767,887 | $1,319,650 | $1,857,304 |
| Revenue | $66,536 | $144,138 | $65,392 |
| Expenses | $618,299 | $657,173 | $1,076,058 |
| Qualifying Distributions | $615,888 | $653,165 | $1,056,972 |
| Net Investment Income | $65,324 | $123,163 | $74,278 |
| Distributable Amount | $47,789 | $79,474 | $123,660 |
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 5 recipients in 2024
Grant Size Distribution
28 grants across all recorded years
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
Among its reported 2024 grants, the largest include Rural Youth Institute ($100,000), Maine Seacoast Mission ($30,750), Maine Youth Alliance ($25,000).
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Seacoast Mission Bar Harbor, ME | Aspirations Incubator Program | $30,750 |
| Maine Youth Alliance Belfast, ME | Aspirations Incubator Program | $25,000 |
| Old-Town Orono YMCA Old Town, ME | Aspirations Incubator Program | $12,975 |
| Rural Youth Institute Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| University of Maine Orono, ME | Funding support for the Bryant Pond 4-H Camp and Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program | $25,000 |
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
From 2024 filing
| Name | Title | Hours | Compensation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Erin M Cinelli | Associate Director and Secretary | 40 | $89,173 |
| Catharine Biddle PhD | Director (end 11/2024) | 1 | — |
| Victoria Bonebakker | Director | 1 | — |
| Andrew Hudacs | Director | 1 | — |
| Lowell Libby | Director | 1 | — |
| Susan C Ruch | Director | 1 | — |
| Owen McCarthy | President | 1 | — |
| Jon Doty | Treasurer (end 11/2024) | 1 | — |
| Sarah Campbell | Treasurer | 1 | — |
Subject Areas
Focus areas based on grantmaking activity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Rural Futures Fund?
Rural Futures Fund is a private foundation focused on Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking, based in PORTLAND, ME. It holds $768K in total assets as of 2024.
How large is Rural Futures Fund?
As of 2024, Rural Futures Fund holds $768K in total assets with $67K in annual revenue. It awarded 5 grants totaling $194K in 2024.
Where does Rural Futures Fund operate?
Rural Futures Fund has awarded grants in Maine.
What size grants does Rural Futures Fund award?
In 2024, Rural Futures Fund awarded 5 grants totaling $194K — an average of about $39K per grant, based on its IRS Form 990 filings.
How much is Rural Futures Fund required to give away each year?
Private foundations must generally distribute about 5% of their assets annually. For 2024, Rural Futures Fund reported a distributable amount of $48K on its IRS Form 990-PF — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
What is Rural Futures Fund's EIN?
Rural Futures Fund's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 20-8797462. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rural Futures Fund's focus areas in our free grants database
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Data last updated April 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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