Rines Thompson Fund Grant

The Rines Thompson Fund Grant, established in 1999, supports community-based organizations in Greater Portland, focusing on projects that enhance local vibrancy. It provides project and general support grants to eligible community-based organizations (municipalities, government agencies, schools and faith-based organizations are ineligible). The fund prioritizes initiatives in environment conservation, early childhood programming, and arts and culture. Organizations must operate within specified geographic areas and meet eligibility criteria defined by the Maine Community Foundation.

Background
The Rines Thompson Fund is a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation that provides funding primarily for the benefit of people of Greater Portland. Rines, this fund is designed to give back to the community that has supported the businesses owned by the Rines/Thompson family including the Congress Square Hotel, the Eastland Hotel, WCSH Radio, and WCSH Television. Henry P. Rines' father, Joseph Rines, started Rines Brothers Store on Congress Street in 1883 and the family has conducted business in the area for more than 150 years.
The fund also acts as a memorial to the Henry and Adeline Rines’ two children, Mary Rines Thompson (1918-1992) and William Henry Rines (1917-1970). Their spouses and children contributed to this fund in their memory.
Purpose
The Rines Thompson Fund focuses its funding on community-based organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of Greater Portland.
Types of Support
Using the geographic and issue areas listed above, this program provides:
Project Grants for new or expanding projects that focus on one of the required issue areas (Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture)
General Support Grants for ongoing programs and operational needs. Your organization’s primary work must address one or more of the required issue areas (Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture) and your organization must:

• Be located in and serving people in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Yarmouth, and/or Westbrook.

Eligibility

Who is eligible to apply: Nonprofit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and also classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)
Public agencies working for the State of Maine
Indian tribal governments (or political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior
Groups without any tax status may apply with a fiscal sponsor that is an eligible organization as described above.All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements.To receive a grant, an organization or project must:Be located in one of the following geographic areas: Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Yarmouth, and/or Westbrook
Address one of the following issues areas: Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture

Ineligibility

What we will not fund, without exception:Expenses already incurred
Regranting to a secondary grantee through a competitive process
Lobbying in the form of calls to action on a specific vote
Religious activities, including, but not limited to, religious services, promotion of religious beliefs, or activities that are restricted to church or religious group membership.Ineligible for Funding:Capital campaigns or endowments and other activities designed to increase the capital or assets of an organization
Scholarships and camperships
Educational institutions (K-12 public and private, higher education) and municipalitiesIn order to have greater impact per request, organizations that received a grant are discouraged from submitting a request to the Rines/Thompson Fund the following year.General Support Grants:The applicant cannot be a municipality, government agency, K-12 public and private, higher education) faith-based organization, or fiscally sponsored applicant.These organizations may be eligible for project grants.

Community-based organizations serving Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook or Yarmouth, focused on environment/conservation, early childhood, youth programming or arts/culture. Municipalities, government agencies, K-12 schools, higher education institutions and faith-based organizations are ineligible.