Island Foundation Alternative Education Grants

Island Foundation Alternative Education Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Island Foundation
Last Updated: August 12, 2025

Summary

The Island Foundation offers Alternative Education Grants aimed at supporting experiential education programs, after-school initiatives, and alternative education schools. Established in 1979, the Foundation emphasizes unconventional approaches that connect youth with their environment, promote community service, and embrace diverse learning styles. They prioritize funding for 501(c)(3) nonprofits in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island, with a focus on maritime trades and programs benefitting at-risk youth.

Overview

NOTE: Applying to the Island Foundation is a two-step process: 1) Initial Contact—To determine if your request could be considered for funding by the Foundation, you may either call or write to the Foundation. 2) Letter of Inquiry/Full Proposal—If a Letter of Inquiry or Full Proposal is requested, please submit the following information through the Foundation’s online grants management system. About the Island Foundation The Island Foundation was founded in 1979 by W. Van Alan Clark, Jr. and Mary H. Clark. They envisioned a family foundation that was capable not only of reacting to the needs of the community, but also providing leadership grants and taking chances other foundations might be unwilling to consider. Van Clark believed in solutions. He believed that the world could be managed for the better. He believed that bright people, dedicated to a common goal would inevitably achieve that goal. He was an activist who was willing to, in his own words, “Step up to the plate and make a good cut at the ball.” A restless and imaginative man, he fought for better outcomes in all of his endeavors. Over the years, the Island Foundation has alternately talked and listened, but always with the goal of motivating action and creative solutions. There is a challenge embedded in every opportunity. Alternative Education Grants The Island Foundation supports a limited number of experiential education programs, after-school programs, and alternative education schools. Drawing on its tradition of seeking alternative and unconventional approaches, the Island Foundation looks for informal and school-based programs that connect young people to their natural world, foster an appreciation for community service, and respect individuals with diverse backgrounds and learning styles. Maritime trades, hands-on marine education, and programs that increase access and opportunity for at-risk youth are of particular interest.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Island Foundation supports 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.The Board funds some groups outside of these areas when their programs relate to work the Foundation is supporting within its programmatic and geographic priority areas.On a case-by-case basis, the Foundation provides funding to groups without nonprofit status that use a fiscal sponsor.The Island Foundation accepts both general operating and project-focused grant requests and occasionally makes multi- year grant commitments to organizations it has supported for many years.

Ineligibility

The Foundation does not support proposals outside its priority areas (issue and/or geographic) or requests from individuals, for-profit businesses, or religious groups.