The Casco Foundation
Friends of Casco Bay is a community-based environmental organization founded in 1989 to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay. With over 2,400 members, 310 volunteers, 15 board members, and 8 staff members, the organization uses science-based approaches, maintains a fleet of research vessels, and operates monitoring programs to address water quality issues including sewage overflow, nitrogen pollution, and coastal acidification. The organization works collaboratively with community members, businesses, and decision-makers to find solutions that are both ecologically sound and economically viable.
The Casco Foundation at a glance
In short: The Casco Foundation gave $41K across 7 grants in 2025 (avg $6K), mostly in Maine. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $41,000
- +36.7% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 7
- +0.0% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $5,857
- +36.7% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $5,500
- Total assets
- $799,214
- +5.5% vs 2024
- Primary geography
- Maine (100% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990-PF, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990-PF, 2025; updated September 2026.
Who The Casco Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 7 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was Maine Center for Entrepreneurs ($9K). Together the top 7 received $41K.
Grant Size Distribution
41 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 41 grants of 41 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 7 itemized grants.
States
Cities
How The Casco Foundation gives
- Giving held roughly steady from 2022 to 2025 (−8%). Method
- In 2025 it paid out 97% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
From the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings. Methodology.
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $30K (2024) to $45K (2022). In 2025 it made 7 grants totaling $41K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Maine Center for Entrepreneurs Portland, ME | Top Gun Program | $9,000 |
| Upstart Maine Orono, ME | Mastermind: 8-12 Women Founders Technical Resources & Expenses | $7,500 |
| Coastal Enterprises Inc Brunswick, ME | Inroads to Wholesaling & I.D.E.A. Sponsorship | $7,000 |
| Thomas College Waterville, ME | Central me top gun program & sustainable business program | $5,500 |
| Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative Waterville, ME | General Support | $4,500 |
| University of Maine Foundation Orono, ME | Female Inaugural Innovate Me Aspiring Entrepreneur Fellowship Program | $4,000 |
| College of the Atlantic Bar Harbor, ME | Sustainable Business Program | $3,500 |
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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 | $799,214 | $93,158 | $51,520 | $41,000 | 7 | $42,293 | $35,143 | $43,609 |
| 2024 | $757,576 | $152,393 | $38,524 | $30,000 | 7 | $31,230 | $95,099 | $37,783 |
| 2023 | $643,707 | $83,534 | $46,278 | $38,500 | 9 | $39,855 | $9,397 | $33,378 |
| 2022 | $606,451 | $36,910 | $53,603 | $44,500 | 9 | $45,725 | $5,652 | $34,047 |
| 2021 | $623,144 | $108,724 | $45,404 | $36,000 | 9 | $36,000 | $70,205 | $42,544 |
| 2020 | $559,824 | $92,146 | $42,139 | $35,000 | 12 | — | $55,367 | $29,996 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Casco Foundation reported a distributable amount of $44K for 2025 — the minimum it must pay out in qualifying distributions.
About The Casco Foundation
Based on IRS filings
The Casco Foundation is a private foundation, based in Portland, ME. IRS filing data is available from 2020 through 2025. As of 2025, the organization holds $799K in total assets. In 2025, it awarded 7 grants totaling $41K. Net investment income was $35K.
Focus Areas
Leadership & Key People
Officers and directors from IRS filings
The Casco Foundation is led by Sandra L. Stone, Director & President on every filing since 2020; none of the 3 officers listed in 2025 report compensation.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Sandra L. Stone
Director & President
On filings since 2020
0.5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Alexander W. Knecht
Director & Treasurer
On filings since 2020
No compensation reported
Richard E. Curran
Director & Secretary
On filings since 2020
0.1 hrs/week
No compensation reported
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 The Casco Foundation
How much does The Casco Foundation give each year?
The Casco Foundation gave $41K across 7 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $30K across 7 grants.
What is The Casco Foundation's typical grant size?
The Casco Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $5,500, and its average grant was $5,857, across 7 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Where does The Casco Foundation give grants?
The Casco Foundation gives mostly in Maine: 100% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Orono, ME (2 grants) and Waterville, ME (2 grants).
Does The Casco Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 14% of The Casco Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (1 of 7) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Casco Foundation's largest grantees?
The Casco Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include Maine Center for Entrepreneurs ($9,000), Upstart Maine ($7,500) and Coastal Enterprises Inc ($7,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 57% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Casco Foundation?
The Casco Foundation reported $799K in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $42K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $44K (roughly 5% of its investment assets). Falling short in one year is not a violation: foundations have until the end of the next year to meet the minimum.
What is The Casco Foundation's EIN?
The Casco Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 45-4869369. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings.
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 May 10, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 5, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 3, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS May 15, 2025)
- Added Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS May 14, 2026)
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