Rural Youth Institute
The Rural Youth Institute is dedicated to enhancing rural youth development by strengthening the leadership and capacity of professionals working with young people. By bridging research and practice, the Rural Youth Institute seeks to innovate youth development by offering immersive learning labs, transformative research, comprehensive training and strategic advocacy to strengthen youth-serving organizations. By employing evidence-based strategies, the Rural Youth Institute aims to foster innovation in the youth development field to elevate the aspirations of rural youth.
Rural Youth Institute at a glance
In short: Rural Youth Institute gave $39K across 3 grants in 2025 (avg $13K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $39,250
- -34.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 3
- -25.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $13,083
- -12.8% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $8,000
- Total assets
- $624,905
- +173.0% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026.
How to apply to Rural Youth Institute
Open Grants
2 open opportunities from Rural Youth Institute
Who Rural Youth Institute funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 3 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Dory Learning Center ($23K). Together the top 3 received $39K.
Grant Size Distribution
7 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 7 grants of 7 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 3 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2024 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $39K (2025) to $60K (2024). In 2025 it made 3 grants totaling $39K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Dory Learning Center Knox, ME | Waldo Alliance for Mentoring (pass-through grant) | $23,250 |
| University of Maine Bangor, ME | UMaine 4-H Learning Center at Tanglewood | $8,000 |
| Belfast Communtiy Radio Inc Belfast, ME | Waldo Alliance for Mentoring pass-through grant | $8,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $624,905 | $596,817 | $189,421 | $39,250 | 3 | $41,772 |
| 2024 | $228,871 | $215,437 | $85,732 | $60,000 | 4 | $4,187 |
| 2023 | $99,166 | $106,605 | $7,439 | — | — | — |
About Rural Youth Institute
Based on IRS filings
Rural Youth Institute is a public charity focused on Education, based in Yarmouth, ME. IRS filing data is available from 2023 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $625K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 3 grants totaling $39K. Net investment income was $42K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
Rural Youth Institute is led by Megan Taft, Executive Director on the 2025 filing; 1 of 11 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Megan Taft
Executive Director
New on the 2025 filing
40 hrs/week
$100K (2025)
Donald Carpenter
President & Director
On filings since 2023
4 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jason Judd
President & Director
Director → President & Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Erin Cinelli
Treasurer & Director
On filings since 2023
10 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Owen McCarthy
Secretary & Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Catherine Biddle
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Jon Doty
Treasurer & Director
Director → Treasurer & Director, 2025
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Kristy Ouellette
Director
On filings since 2024
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Brandon Leppanen
Vice President & Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Samantha Lott-Hale
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Shannon Coffin
Director
New on the 2025 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2023–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $100K, to Megan Taft (Executive Director).
Frequently asked questions about Rural Youth Institute
How much does Rural Youth Institute give each year?
Rural Youth Institute gave $39K across 3 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $60K across 4 grants.
What is Rural Youth Institute's typical grant size?
Rural Youth Institute's median grant in 2025 was $8,000, and its average grant was $13,083, across 3 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990.
Where does Rural Youth Institute give grants?
Rural Youth Institute gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there.
Does Rural Youth Institute give general operating support?
Not in 2025: none of the 3 grants with a stated purpose on Rural Youth Institute's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.
How large is Rural Youth Institute?
Rural Youth Institute reported $625K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $597K.
What is Rural Youth Institute?
Rural Youth Institute is a public charity focused on Education, based in Yarmouth, ME. It holds $625K in total assets as of 2025.
What is Rural Youth Institute's EIN?
Rural Youth Institute's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 93-2311046. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2023–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings.
Data update history
(2)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 4, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2023–2024
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in Rural Youth Institute's focus areas in our free grants database
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