Funding Amount

Not stated

Deadline

Deadline not published

Grant Type

Foundation

Deadline history & next window

Cycle
Rolling — applications accepted year-round
Tracked since
April 2026

From the program guidelines: “Letters of Interest may be submitted on a rolling basis throughout the year and discretionary applications are considered based on available funds.”

Can we apply?

Check your organization against each line. Taken from the listing; confirm with the funder's guidelines.

Required status

  • 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status

Other requirements

  • _You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's [website](https://mainecancer.org/apply-for-a-grant)._

Not eligible / not funded

  • Not eligible: What We Will Not Fund
  • Not eligible: Organizations that are not a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization, educational institution, government entity or other public, non-profit entity (e.g. health department, university)
  • Not eligible: Direct support to individuals for cancer prevention, detection or treatment services, equipment or supplies
  • Not eligible: Capital campaigns
  • Not eligible: Business investments or loans
  • Not eligible: Programs that do not benefit the people of Maine
  • Not eligible: Additional Information
  • Not eligible: Geographic distribution of grants will be considered and multiple grants to the same institution may be limited
  • Not eligible: Maine Cancer Foundation will not knowingly support projects that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation
  • Not eligible: A grant recipient’s work must support MCF’s mission
  • Not eligible: Funds may not be diverted to benefit any individual
  • Not eligible: The results or benefits of any Foundation supported initiative or program are required to remain in the public domain for the benefit of Maine people

Overview

_NOTE_

  • _Letters of Interest may be submitted on a rolling basis throughout the year and discretionary applications are considered based on available funds. If discretionary grant funds are no longer available._

Maine Cancer Foundation (MCF)
Maine Cancer Foundation leads a state-wide effort to promote and support the most promising and effective cancer-fighting programs available to the people of Maine through a combination of grant-based financial support and coalition building.

Discretionary Grants

In addition to publishing RFPs, discretionary grants are available for projects that fall under Maine Cancer Foundation's three main goals:

  • Foster Prevention Practices: The best cancer is the one that never occurs. Prevention strategies have a proven impact on reducing cancer incidence rates.
  • Increase Cancer Screening: Early detection saves lives. Cancer screening tests can detect cancer in its earliest stages, when it is most treatable.
  • Improve Patient Outcomes: Maine Cancer Foundation supports efforts to improve patient outcomes by increasing access to care and ensuring the best cancer care is available for all Mainers.

Maine Cancer Foundation is committed to addressing health inequities, ensuring all Mainers have access to critical cancer prevention, screening, and treatment resources. Proposals that address social determinants of health will be prioritized.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

  • Grants must be awarded to a qualifying 501c3 organization.

Ineligibility

  • What We Will Not Fund:
    • Organizations that are not a 501(c)3 tax-exempt charitable organization, educational institution, government entity or other public, non-profit entity (e.g. health department, university);
    • Direct support to individuals for cancer prevention, detection or treatment services, equipment or supplies
    • Capital campaigns
    • Business investments or loans
    • Programs that do not benefit the people of Maine
  • Additional Information:
    • Geographic distribution of grants will be considered and multiple grants to the same institution may be limited.
    • Maine Cancer Foundation will not knowingly support projects that discriminate on the basis of race, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, marital status or sexual orientation.
    • A grant recipient’s work must support MCF’s mission.
    • Funds may not be diverted to benefit any individual.
    • The results or benefits of any Foundation supported initiative or program are required to remain in the public domain for the benefit of Maine people.

What Maine Cancer Foundation actually gave

Source: IRS Form 990, 2025

Grants in 2025
46
Total given
$2.43M
Median grant
$60K
Range
$7,500–$180K
  • By dollars: Maine 93%, Massachusetts 7%. Top recipient cities: Lewiston, ME; Augusta, ME; Bangor, ME.
  • 17% of grants with a stated purpose were for general or operating support.
  • 41% of recipients were new grantees, not repeat recipients.

Example grants

  • Mainehealth - Maine Medical Center · Portland, ME

    Phychosocial Care for Cancer Survivors Training, Clinical Interventions to Promote…

    $180K

  • St Croix Regional Family Health Center (Princeton) · Princeton, ME

    Rural Cancer Patient Navigator Project

    $133K

  • Maine General Medical Center · Augusta, ME

    Preventing Secondary Cancers Related to Tobacco Use and Transportation and Lodging…

    $100K

  • Aroostook County Action Program · Presque Isle, ME

    Food is Medicine and Maine Cancer Patient Support

    $90K

  • Healthy Communities of the Capital Area · Gardiner, ME

    It's Worth the Try: A Pilot of the LGBTQ+ Youth Tobacco Quit Curriculum

    $80K

IRS Form 990, 2025. Amounts as reported by the funder. Full 990 history →

Focus Areas & Funding Uses

Fields of Work

  • Cancer
  • Nonprofits
  • Health disparities

Categories

Browse similar grants by category

Related Grants

Open grants from this funder and similar programs

Your AI grants department

Ready to apply for Maine Cancer Foundation: Discretionary Grants?

Grantable helps you assess fit, draft narratives, and track deadlines — so you can submit stronger applications, faster.

You found Maine Cancer Foundation: Discretionary Grants. Now let's win it.

Start writing