Maine Cancer Foundation: Tobacco Prevention and Treatment Grant

The Maine Cancer Foundation is dedicated to reducing tobacco use and its related health burdens in Maine, where lung cancer rates are notably high. They invite proposals for projects focusing on tobacco prevention and treatment, particularly targeting youth and vulnerable populations. Evidence-based practices are required, and projects should aim to demonstrate measurable outcomes. This initiative addresses the critical need for effective tobacco control strategies in the state.

NOTE: We highly recommend that you contact Maine Cancer Foundation to discuss your proposal prior to submission or if you have any questions about your eligibility. We highly encourage applicants to submit a draft application to MCF for review and feedback.
Funding Criteria
Smoking is the world’s leading preventable cause of death. Tobacco is known to cause 12 different cancers, including lung cancer at the forefront, and is responsible for 40 percent of all cancers diagnosed in the US. Maine’s lung cancer rates are consistently higher than the US average, and lung cancer has the highest mortality rate of any cancer in Maine.
In Maine, 17.6% of adults currently smoke cigarettes. According to the 2021 Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey, 5.5% of Maine high school students smoked cigarettes in the last month, and 17.4% used an electronic vapor product in the last month.
With the goal of reducing tobacco use and ultimately decreasing the burden of lung and tobacco-related cancers in our state, Maine Cancer Foundation is accepting proposals for projects that seek to reduce the use of commercial tobacco in Maine.
Tobacco Treatment for Adults;
Advocacy or Policy Projects related to tobacco use and/or second- or third-hand smoke;
Projects that address Maine populations disproportionately impacted by tobacco, including but not limited to rural populations, racial and ethnic minorities, and/or the LGBTQ+ community;
A combination of the above.
Proposed projects must include clearly defined goals and measurable results and implement best practices related to reducing tobacco use.
E-cigarettes and Vaping
Maine Cancer Foundation understands the use of e-cigarettes and vaping, especially among Maine youth, remains a significant public health concern. According to the Maine Cancer Plan 2021-2025, researchers are still learning about how the use of e-cigarettes impact health long term. The aerosol from an e-cigarette contains some cancer-causing chemicals, although in significantly lower amounts than in cigarette smoke. Most e-cigarettes include nicotine, which is harmful to the developing brain, and youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to use combustible cigarettes.

Eligibility

Proposals must use evidence-based practices according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please visit The Community Guide, CDC’s Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control, and the Surgeon General Reports website, for reference. Please note, evidence-based guidelines differ between age groups and populations.We will accept applications that have components that address vaping, but please note, the majority of your request must be focused on combustible tobacco use.

Ineligibility

What We Will Not FundOrganizations 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;Business investments or loans;Programs that do not benefit the people of Maine;Capital campaigns or contributions to endowments.Please note, if your organization is a recipient of Maine CDC’s Maine Prevention Services tobacco prevention funding, project activities requested in your MCF application may not duplicate efforts funded through a Maine Prevention Services contract.