The Opportunity Alliance logo

The Opportunity Alliance

Public charity · Grantmaker South Portland, ME EIN: 01-0274725 Website

The Opportunity Alliance (TOA) is a public charity based in South Portland, Maine. It supports people across Maine through programs and resources intended to improve health, safety, and stability, including services related to behavioral health, early childhood education, basic needs, and community well-being.

The Opportunity Alliance at a glance

In short: The Opportunity Alliance gave $696K across 12 grants in 2025 (avg $58K), mostly in Maine. 50% of 2025 grantees were new. Source: 2025 IRS Form 990.

Annual giving (2025)
$695,612
+32.5% vs 2024
Grants made (2025)
12
+50.0% vs 2024
Average grant
$57,968
-11.6% vs 2024
Median grant
$44,404
Total assets
$20,967,347
-12.3% vs 2024
New grantees (estimate)
50% first-time grantees (6 of 12, 2025; small sample)
Primary geography
Maine (95% of itemized 2025 grant dollars)
Latest 990 filing
Form 990, 2025 View filing

Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology).

How to apply to The Opportunity Alliance

Contact

Mailing address: 50 Lydia Lane, South Portland, ME 04106
Phone: (207) 874-1175
Website: https://opportunityalliance.org

Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.

Who The Opportunity Alliance funds

How this funder distributes its grants

Top Recipients

Top 10 recipients in 2025

OUT Maine: $106KOUT Maine$106KYellow Tulip Project: $98KYellow Tulip Project$98KUniversity of Southern Maine: $95KUniversity of Southern Maine$95KWabanaki Public Health and Wellness: $87KWabanaki Public Health andWellness$87KMaine Recovery Access Project: $84KMaine Recovery Access Project$84KMaine Immigrant's Rights Coalition: $45KMaine Immigrant's RightsCoalition$45KMaine People's Resource Center: $44KMaine People's Resource Center$44KMaine Conservation Alliance: $33KMaine Conservation Alliance$33KMobilize Recovery: $33KMobilize Recovery$33KHealthy Acadia: $32KHealthy Acadia$32K

The largest 2025 recipient was OUT Maine ($106K). Together the top 10 received $657K.

Grant Size Distribution

50 grants across all recorded years

18<$50K27$50–100K3$100–250K2$250–500K$500K–1M$1–5M$5M+

The most common grant size was in the $50–100K range: 27 grants of 50 (54%).

Geographic Focus

Where this funder awards grants

TOA’s mission and programs are described as serving Maine. In filing year 2025, 95% of grant dollars went to recipients in Maine and 5% to a recipient in Nevada. The grant purposes reference youth engagement services across public health districts and services in the Brunswick area.

Grant Distribution by State

2states

Share of 2025 grant dollars across all 12 itemized grants.

States

Cities

PortlandBangorEllsworthLas VegasRocklandCaribouGardinerAugustaSacoWestbrookPresque Isle

Is The Opportunity Alliance open to new grantees?

50%

first-time grantees, 2025

In 2025, 6 of 12 grantees (50%) were first-time recipients. With only 12 grantees, that is a small sample: one grantee more or less moves the share by about 8 points. First grants averaged $54K; repeat grants $62K. How we count

Medians: $44K first-time, $64K repeat.

  • 50% of 2025 grantees were also funded in 2024. Method
  • Giving fell 25% from 2022 to 2025. Method

Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2021–2025). 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

$0$250K$500K$750K$1M9 grants2021 10 grants2022 11 grants2023 8 grants2024 12 grants2025

From 2021 to 2025, annual grant giving ranged from $525K (2024) to $923K (2022). In 2025 it made 12 grants totaling $696K.

Grants by year

Grant recipients and amounts by year

RecipientPurposeAmount
OUT Maine Rockland, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$106,244
Yellow Tulip Project Portland, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$98,125
University of Southern Maine Portland, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$95,162
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Bangor, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$86,740
Maine Recovery Access Project Augusta, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$84,264
Maine Immigrant's Rights Coalition Portland, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$45,000
Maine People's Resource Center Portland, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$43,807
Maine Conservation Alliance Augusta, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$33,193
Mobilize Recovery Las Vegas, NVTOA is providing services in the Brunswick area.$32,802
Healthy Acadia Ellsworth, METOA is providing youth engagement services in district 2. Because the contract requires statewide staffing, subcontractors will employ district-level youth engagement staff in all other public health districts.$32,000
Your AI grants department

Ready to take the next step with The Opportunity Alliance?

Fully replaces Grant database subscriptions Instrumentl · Foundation Directory · GrantStation & similar

Financial History

Multi-year comparison from IRS filings

Figures from IRS filings, by filing year
Filing yearTotal AssetsRevenueExpensesGrants paidGrantsNet Investment Income
2025$20,967,347$40,279,506$39,430,374$695,61212$896,479
2024$23,910,412$36,544,941$37,252,730$524,8148$100,868
2023$25,605,234$57,557,910$57,055,310$530,40711$113,663
2022$26,061,913$84,718,963$84,991,231$923,25910$62,955
2021$23,247,891$49,098,638$44,487,381$922,2079$66,955

Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated September 2026.

Mission & Focus Areas

TOA’s mission is “to build better lives and stronger communities across Maine” by supporting people with programs and resources to improve their health, safety, and stability. Its website describes work in community well-being; poverty and economic mobility; childcare and early childhood education; and behavioral health and wellness.

The 2025 grants included Maine organizations whose stated missions address immigrant communities, civic participation and social justice, conservation, community health, and poverty reduction. For example, Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition says its mission is to improve the legal, social, and economic conditions experienced by Maine’s immigrants through advocacy, information sharing, and collaboration. Maine People’s Resource Center says it works to unite people in their communities and help them participate in decision-making and campaigns for social justice. Penquis CAP says it assists individuals and families in preventing, reducing, or eliminating poverty.

Grantmaking

In filing year 2025, TOA reported 12 grants totaling $695,612. Grants ranged from $14,219 to $106,244, with a median of $44,404. The largest awards included $106,244 to OUT Maine, $98,125 to Yellow Tulip Project, $95,162 to the University of Southern Maine, $86,740 to Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, and $84,264 to Maine Recovery Access Project. The stated purpose for these awards was youth engagement services in district 2, with subcontractors employing district-level youth engagement staff in other public health districts to meet a statewide staffing requirement. TOA also reported $45,000 to Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, $43,807 to Maine People’s Resource Center, and $33,193 to Maine Conservation Alliance for the same stated youth-engagement purpose. Its $32,802 grant to Mobilize Recovery was described as supporting services in the Brunswick area.

TOA’s website also describes direct client support grants managed by staff, funded through donations and local support, and says these funds are not publicly available. Separately, its Wrap Funds provide discretionary support for urgent needs of eligible adults with severe and persistent mental illness when other resources have been exhausted. These are supports for clients, not a public grant program for outside applicants.

Leadership & Key People

Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings

The 2025 filing lists Josh Steirman as Board Chair; Erin Diekema as Treasurer; and Kris Sahonchik as Secretary. Trustees listed are Rebecca Bloch, Abusana Micky Bondo, Anneliese Gerland, Steve Gorsun, Meghan Henry, Jeanne Hulit, and Frances Hutchinson.

The Opportunity Alliance is led by Joseph R Everett, President & CEO on every filing since 2021; 7 of 24 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.

Officers on the 2025 filing

  • Joseph R Everett

    President & CEO

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $196K (2021) → $186K (2025)

  • Josh Steirman

    Board Chair

    Treasurer → Vice Chair & Treasurer, 2022

    Vice Chair & Treasurer → Board Chair, 2024

    On filings since 2021

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Abusana Micky Bondo

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anne LaFond

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Bernie Kavanagh

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Frances Hutchinson

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Ghomri Rostampour

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Jeanne Hulit

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Meghan Henry

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Penelope Wheeler-Abbott

    Trustee

    On filings since 2021

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Rebecca Bloch

    Trustee

    Secretary → Trustee, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    2 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Anneliese Gerland

    Trustee

    On filings since 2022

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Betsy Tod

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Nina Trowbridge

    Trustee

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Steve Gorsun

    Trustee

    New on the 2025 filing

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Dawn A Ouellette

    Chief Financial Officer

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $150K (2021) → $159K (2025)

  • Kristin E Ricciardone

    Vice President of Residential Programs

    Vice President of Residential Program → Vice President of Residential Programs, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $121K (2021) → $118K (2025)

  • Louise M Marsden

    Vice President of Children & Family Services

    Vice President of Children & Family → Vice President of Children & Family Services, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $121K (2021) → $155K (2025)

  • Sarah D Maxwell

    Chief Operating Officer

    On filings since 2021

    40 hrs/week

    $128K (2021) → $137K (2025)

  • Karen A Turgeon

    Vice President of Programs

    On filings since 2022

    40 hrs/week

    $119K (2022) → $121K (2025)

  • Ashley Goulet

    Vice President of Operations

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    $113K (2025)

  • Kris Sahonchik

    Secretary

    Trustee → Secretary, 2023

    On filings since 2021

    3 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

  • Erin Diekema

    Treasurer

    On filings since 2023

    1 hr/week

    No compensation reported

  • Robert Payne

    Chief Financial Officer

    New on the 2025 filing

    40 hrs/week

    No compensation reported

Former officers (13)
  • Former: Elizabeth Conrad (2021–2024) — Vice Chair
  • Former: Rebecca Smith (2021–2024) — Trustee
  • Former: Clare Loxterkamp (2024) — Mat Prescriber
  • Former: Kelli Wedgewood (2024) — Clinical Supervisor
  • Former: Colette Twigg-Rowse (2021–2023) — Past Chair
  • Former: Katherine Pelletreau (2021–2023) — Past Trustee
  • Former: Marie-Christine Simbizi (2021–2023) — Past Trustee
  • Former: Angela D Hansen (2023) — Vice President of Human Resources
  • Former: Richard A Entel (2021–2022) — Mat Prescriber
  • Former: Denise Gay-Mathisen (2021) — Senior Vice President of Quality Improvement
  • Former: Larry Kaplan (2021) — Past Trustee
  • Former: Steve Poulos (2021) — Past Trustee
  • Former: Yueying LaFleur (2021) — Past Trustee

Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2021–2025. "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

Joseph R Everett — President & CEO: $186KJoseph R EverettPresident & CEO$186KDawn A Ouellette — Chief Financial Officer: $159KDawn A OuelletteChief Financial Officer$159KLouise M Marsden — VP of Children & Family Services: $155KLouise M MarsdenVP of Children & Family Services$155KSarah D Maxwell — Chief Operating Officer: $137KSarah D MaxwellChief Operating Officer$137KKaren A Turgeon — VP of Programs: $121KKaren A TurgeonVP of Programs$121KKristin Ricciardone — VP of Residential Programs: $118KKristin RicciardoneVP of Residential Programs$118KAshley Goulet — VP of Operations: $113KAshley GouletVP of Operations$113K

The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $186K, to Joseph R Everett (President & CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.

Frequently asked questions about The Opportunity Alliance

How much does The Opportunity Alliance give each year?

The Opportunity Alliance gave $696K across 12 grants in 2025, according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. In 2024 it gave $525K across 8 grants.

What is The Opportunity Alliance's typical grant size?

The Opportunity Alliance's median grant in 2025 was $44,404, and its average grant was $57,968, across 12 grants on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Organizations receiving their first grant from The Opportunity Alliance that year got $54K on average.

Where does The Opportunity Alliance give grants?

The Opportunity Alliance gives mostly in Maine: 95% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2025 IRS Form 990 went to recipients there. The most frequent recipient cities were Portland, ME (4 grants), Augusta, ME (2 grants) and Bangor, ME (2 grants).

Does The Opportunity Alliance give general operating support?

Not in 2025: none of the 12 grants with a stated purpose on The Opportunity Alliance's 2025 IRS Form 990 were described as general or operating support.

Who are The Opportunity Alliance's largest grantees?

The Opportunity Alliance's largest 2025 grantees include OUT Maine ($106,244), Yellow Tulip Project ($98,125) and University of Southern Maine ($95,162), according to its 2025 IRS Form 990. Together they received 43% of its itemized 2025 grant dollars.

How large is The Opportunity Alliance?

The Opportunity Alliance reported $21.0M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $40.3M.

What does The Opportunity Alliance fund?

TOA’s mission is “to build better lives and stronger communities across Maine” by supporting people with programs and resources to improve their health, safety, and stability. See mission & focus areas ↑

How do I apply for a grant from The Opportunity Alliance?

The Opportunity Alliance has no public application process in the sources Grantable reviewed. Check opportunityalliance.org for current guidelines, or contact the foundation directly before submitting a request.

What is The Opportunity Alliance's EIN?

The Opportunity Alliance's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 01-0274725. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2021–2025.

Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.

Data update history

(6)

When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable

  1. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2021 (received by the IRS November 11, 2021)
  2. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS March 29, 2023)
  3. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2023 (received by the IRS May 13, 2024)
  4. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS April 24, 2025)
  5. Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS February 25, 2026)
  6. IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2021–2025

Explore Open Grants

Browse active grant opportunities in The Opportunity Alliance's focus areas in our free grants database

Similar Funders

Funders that support many of the same organizations

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.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$807.6M

Grants

1,161

Total Given

$57.6M

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.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$223.5M

Grants

154

Total Given

$7.5M

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.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$7.0M

Grants

156

Total Given

$1.2M

The Celia Lipton Farris and Victor W

Boston, MA

The foundation funds community mental health and wellness, underserved communities, and efforts addressing racial and economic inequities, including capacity-building for behavioral health organizations. Its 2024 grants ranged from $5,000 to $525,000, with a median of $25,000, supporting organizations in multiple regions, including Florida, New Mexico, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Maine; it does not accept unsolicited requests and considers only invited 501(c)(3) organizations.

Assets

$80.8M

Grants

60

Total Given

$4.4M

United Way Inc

Portland, ME

United Way Inc funds community programs addressing youth opportunity, financial security, housing, health, and related needs, with recent awards ranging from $5,074 to $518,397 and a median of $19,500. Its community investment funding focuses on York and Cumberland Counties, Maine, excluding Brunswick and Harpswell. It uses application-based processes, but does not state whether it accepts unsolicited requests.

Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking

Assets

$19.5M

Grants

78

Total Given

$3.4M

Maine Health Access Foundation Inc

Augusta, ME

Maine Health Access Foundation supports nonprofit, government, and educational projects that improve health care access and health equity in Maine, with priorities including rural health, behavioral and oral health, and children’s and older adults’ health. Its 2024 grants had a median of about $25,000, though awards ranged widely; it also offers smaller project grants of up to $5,000 locally or $10,000 statewide.

Health

Assets

$154.4M

Grants

126

Total Given

$5.0M

More similar funders

More Funders in Maine

Cite this profile

Grantable. (2026). The Opportunity Alliance funder profile. GrantGraph. Retrieved October 13, 2026, from https://grantable.co/funders/the-opportunity-alliance-morg_2dd7041b900b4ea9a04485c422eef0a6

BibTeX
@misc{grantable_010274725_2026,
  author       = {{Grantable}},
  title        = {{The Opportunity Alliance funder profile}},
  howpublished = {GrantGraph},
  year         = {2026},
  url          = {https://grantable.co/funders/the-opportunity-alliance-morg_2dd7041b900b4ea9a04485c422eef0a6},
  note         = {Accessed 2026-10-13. 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 Opportunity Alliance'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.

The Opportunity Alliance down — hundreds of funders to go?

Want AI to do this for you?