The Hudson Foundation
The Hudson Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, that makes grants to strengthen communities. Its website says it supports Maine nonprofits, with recent emphasis on organizations serving disadvantaged and marginalized people, community programs empowering at-risk immigrant and refugee youth, food insecurity, anti-bias education, and student access to classroom programming.
The Hudson Foundation at a glance
In short: The Hudson Foundation gave $200K across 13 grants in 2025 (avg $15K), mostly in Maine. 69% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
- Annual giving (2025)
- $199,500
- +36.6% vs 2024
- Grants made (2025)
- 13
- -27.8% vs 2024
- Average grant
- $15,346
- +89.2% vs 2024
- Median grant
- $10,000
- Total assets
- $6,135,625
- +18.7% vs 2024
- New grantees (estimate)
- 69% first-time grantees (9 of 13, 2025; small sample)
- 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 October 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).
How to apply to The Hudson Foundation
- How to Apply
-
The 2024 filing says interested parties may submit an application and supporting materials, and that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Applicants are asked to provide an application form and, if approved, an evaluation form one year after payment. The filing says application materials should include the organization’s history, proof of tax-exempt status, current board list, governing documents, prior tax filings and financial statements; proposals should include a clear project mission, budget, and project date. The foundation’s stated eligibility requirements include IRS recognition as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit in good standing and not being a private foundation, plus meeting at least one of these criteria: location in New England, primarily Maine; medical research or service; direct service to individuals; service to people who are handicapped or disadvantaged; anti-bias education; or religious organization. Its website says application forms and instructions are available through its grant process.
- Review Cycle
- The 2024 filing lists April 15, August 15, and December 15, while also allowing applications at other times of year. Those listed dates are past application cycles.
- Deadline
- The 2024 filing lists April 15, August 15, and December 15, while also allowing applications at other times of year.
- Contact
Application contact: Gillian B Schair
Mailing address: PO Box 402, Portland, ME 04112
Phone: (207) 805-0101
Website: https://www.hudsonfoundationmaine.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who The Hudson Foundation funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2025
The largest 2025 recipient was LearningWorks ($35K). Together the top 10 received $183K.
Grant Size Distribution
79 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 79 grants of 79 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
The foundation’s website says it makes grants to nonprofits throughout Maine. The 2025 filing reports that 100% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine. The 2024 filing’s eligibility criteria include organizations located in the six New England states, with a primary focus on Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 13 itemized grants.
States
Cities
Is The Hudson Foundation open to new grantees?
69%
first-time grantees, 2025
In 2025, 9 of 13 grantees (69%) were first-time recipients. With only 13 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $14K; repeat grants $18K. How we count
Medians: $10K first-time, $16K repeat.
- 23% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
- Giving grew 46% from 2022 to 2025. Method
- In 2025 it paid out 84% of its IRS minimum distribution (the 5% rule). Foundations have until the end of the next year to meet it. Method
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990-PF filings (2019–2025). 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 2019 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $137K (2022) to $200K (2025). In 2025 it made 13 grants totaling $200K.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| LearningWorks Portland, ME | General Support | $35,000 |
| Maine Equal Justice Augusta, ME | General Support | $35,000 |
| Mano en Mano Hand in Hand Milbridge, ME | General Support | $35,000 |
| Waynflete School Portland, ME | General Support | $25,000 |
| Augusta Food Bank Augusta, ME | General Support | $10,000 |
| Cobscook Community Learning Center Trescott, ME | General Support | $10,000 |
| Maine Family Planning Augusta, ME | General Support | $10,000 |
| Aroostook County Action Program Presque Isle, ME | General Support | $7,500 |
| Penquis CAP Inc Bangor, ME | General Support | $7,500 |
| Western Maine Community Action East Wilton, ME | General Support | $7,500 |
Ready to take the next step with The Hudson Foundation?
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 | $6,135,625 | $254,771 | $254,578 | $199,500 | 13 | $223,547 | $226,580 | $266,697 |
| 2024 | $5,167,747 | $219,340 | $195,515 | $146,000 | 18 | $170,550 | $195,375 | $222,251 |
| 2023 | $4,001,823 | $-27,617 | $179,908 | $137,000 | 16 | $159,026 | $9,487 | $166,185 |
| 2022 | $2,723,117 | $30,532 | $210,237 | $136,500 | 13 | $167,415 | $13,245 | $167,612 |
| 2021 | $4,914,536 | $1,830,249 | $237,773 | $195,000 | 19 | $213,559 | $1,807,149 | $197,446 |
| 2020 | $3,972,824 | $6,041 | $242,821 | $193,000 | 17 | — | $31,634 | $180,456 |
| 2019 | $2,906,310 | $245,947 | $251,359 | $198,000 | 17 | — | $215,603 | $207,623 |
Under IRS private-foundation payout rules, The Hudson Foundation reported a distributable amount of $267K 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 stated mission is to strengthen communities through strategic and thoughtful monetary grants. Its website says it makes grants to nonprofits throughout Maine and identifies food insecurity, anti-bias education, and student access to classroom programming as current areas of focus.
Examples of supported organizations illustrate the range of its giving. LearningWorks says its mission is to equip Maine learners with the confidence and skills to realize their full potential. The Augusta Food Bank says it provides supplemental food to individuals and families in need. Aroostook County Action Program describes its work as providing services and resources to help people and families achieve greater economic independence, while Maine Initiatives says it supports grassroots organizations working toward social, economic, and environmental justice.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2025, the foundation reported 13 grants totaling $199,500. Grant amounts ranged from $5,000 to $35,000, with a median of $10,000. The website says awards are made three times a year and that recipients are asked to complete an evaluation form one year after receiving an award.
Notable 2025 grants included $35,000 each to LearningWorks, Maine Equal Justice, and Mano en Mano Hand in Hand; $25,000 to Waynflete School; and $10,000 each to Augusta Food Bank, Cobscook Community Learning Center, and Maine Family Planning. The filing also lists a $5,000 grant to Colby College for the benefit of The Center for Small Town Jewish Life. Maine Initiatives reported receiving $5,000 in 2025.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2025 filing lists Gillian B. Schair as president, Lori-Ann Touchette as secretary, and Erica M. Schair-Cardona as treasurer. Directors listed are Justin H. Schair, Annemieke L. Schair, Cindy Fernandez, and Milo Schair-Rigoletti. The foundation’s history page says its board consists of Douglas M. Schair’s four grown children, his niece, and his grandson.
The Hudson Foundation is led by Gillian B Schair, President on every filing since 2019; 1 of 7 officers listed in 2025 is compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Gillian B Schair
President
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Annemieke L Schair
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Cindy Fernandez
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Justin H Schair
Director
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Milo Schair-Rigoletti
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lori-Ann Touchette
Secretary
On filings since 2019
1 hr/week
$7K (2019) → $10K (2025)
Erica M Schair-Cardona
Treasurer
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (1)
- Former: Erica M Schair (2019–2021) — Treasurer
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2019–2025. "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 $10K, to Lori-Ann Touchette (Secretary).
Frequently asked questions about The Hudson Foundation
How much does The Hudson Foundation give each year?
The Hudson Foundation gave $200K across 13 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. In 2024 it gave $146K across 18 grants.
What is The Hudson Foundation's typical grant size?
The Hudson Foundation's median grant in 2025 was $10,000, and its average grant was $15,346, across 13 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Hudson Foundation that year got $14K on average.
Where does The Hudson Foundation give grants?
The Hudson 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 Portland, ME (3 grants) and Augusta, ME (3 grants).
Does The Hudson Foundation give general operating support?
Yes: 92% of The Hudson Foundation's 2025 grants with a stated purpose (12 of 13) were for general or operating support, per its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF.
Who are The Hudson Foundation's largest grantees?
The Hudson Foundation's largest 2025 grantees include LearningWorks ($35,000), Maine Equal Justice ($35,000) and Mano en Mano Hand in Hand ($35,000), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. Together they received 53% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.
How large is The Hudson Foundation?
The Hudson Foundation reported $6.1M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990-PF. It paid out $224K in qualifying distributions that year, against a required minimum of $267K (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 does The Hudson Foundation fund?
The foundation’s stated mission is to strengthen communities through strategic and thoughtful monetary grants. Its website says it makes grants to nonprofits throughout Maine and identifies food insecurity, anti-bias education, and student access to classroom programming as current areas of focus. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from The Hudson Foundation?
The 2024 filing says interested parties may submit an application and supporting materials, and that the foundation does not restrict giving to preselected organizations. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
What is The Hudson Foundation's EIN?
The Hudson Foundation's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0482817. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2019–2025.
Data last updated October 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Data update history
(8)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2019 (received by the IRS July 15, 2020)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2020 (received by the IRS November 1, 2021)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS May 4, 2022)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS May 3, 2023)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS March 13, 2024)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 21, 2025)
- Updated Form 990-PF for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS April 22, 2026)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2019–2025
Explore Open Grants
Browse active grant opportunities in The Hudson Foundation's focus areas in our free grants database
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Cite this profile
Grantable. (2026). The Hudson Foundation funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-hudson-foundation-morg_4befc7730a0f400b80bb797dc5a24a11
BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010482817_2026,
author = {{Grantable}},
title = {{The Hudson Foundation funder profile}},
howpublished = {GrantGraph},
year = {2026},
url = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-hudson-foundation-morg_4befc7730a0f400b80bb797dc5a24a11},
note = {Accessed 2026-10-11. 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 The Hudson Foundation'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.
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