Sam L. Cohen Foundation Grant

Sam L. Cohen Foundation Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Sam L. Cohen Foundation
Amount: Up to US $50,000
Last Updated: November 28, 2025

Summary

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation provides grants to support arts, culture, education, civic engagement, health services, and Jewish cultural initiatives in Maine. The foundation prioritizes organizations that serve underserved populations and promote community engagement. They fund projects up to $50,000, with an average grant size under $15,000. Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) nonprofits and other tax-exempt organizations serving Cumberland and York Counties. The foundation seeks to foster creativity, improve quality of life, and enhance educational opportunities.

Overview

NOTE: We welcome the opportunity to discuss your project or answer questions prior to submitting an initial inquiry, especially if you are a first-time applicant. Program Areas The Sam L. Cohen Foundation is a private, grantmaking foundation based in South Portland, Maine.  The Foundation funds in five program areas: Arts and Culture Enriching community life with music, dance, theater, visual arts, and creative writing. We invest in organizations and programs that stimulate imagination, provide access to the arts and arts education, and foster community through the arts. We are especially interested in educational programming for low-income and underserved youth audiences that celebrates creativity and provides meaningful experiences with the arts. We support organizations that create and present performances and programs in southern Maine. Civic and Community Strengthening the social and economic fabric of underserved communities. We are committed to supporting and improving the quality of life in southern Maine by ensuring individuals have access to opportunities to engage in civic life. To promote economic security and well-being, the Foundation invests in organizations that are working toward systemic change through public policy for social benefit. We are currently involved in and support the Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative. Education Because education is the single most important investment a community can make. We believe that access to educational opportunities is the key to a successful life. Our grantmaking spans the entire continuum of pre-K through college and adulthood, as we focus on providing opportunities for underserved populations in the areas of youth development, leadership, and enrichment. We collaborate with other funders, advocates, and experts in efforts that address school readiness and attendance, grade-level proficiency, high school graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment and completion. We participate in or support several collaborative initiatives including: Portland ConnectED, The Campaign for Grade Level Reading, Count ME In, Maine Early Childhood Funders Group, Summer Learning Initiative, Right from the Start, and the Maine Resilience Building Network.Health and Human Services Helping organizations expand access to help vulnerable and low-income people. We believe providing support to historically and systemically disadvantaged individuals and communities is a compelling focus. Today’s social, economic, and political challenges require it. Our goal is to assist in increasing the number of people who are self-sufficient and lead healthy, productive lives. Our giving consistently targets access to healthcare, including prevention services, health support services, and ensuring food security. We currently are involved in and support the Maine Oral Health Funders Group. Jewish Culture and Traditions "Tzedekah"- the act of giving help to others We participate in the Jewish community in southern Maine through support of institutions and programs that provide and preserve Jewish education, tradition, and culture. We partner with organizations that celebrate and promote Jewish art and creativity as well as agencies and synagogues who serve the vulnerable members of the Jewish community. Funding The Sam L. Cohen Foundation will consider responsive grant requests for amounts up to $50,000; however, the average grants size awarded is less than $15,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Applicants:Must be a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; using a fiscal agent that is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit; a church, synagogue, temple or mosque; or a political subdivision of the State of Maine that is exempt from federal taxMust be located in or primarily benefitting residents living in Cumberland and/or York Counties, Maine; or effecting people throughout MaineMust have submitted the final grant report if you received a grant previously from the FoundationMust not have received a grant from the Foundation in the previous calendar yearThe Foundation will support new programs, on-going programs, general operations in certain circumstances, and capital improvements.The Foundation will support general operations to organizations whose overall mission aligns with the Foundation's values.

Ineligibility

The Foundation will not support:The Foundation supports access to sexual and reproductive health information and services and, as a result, we do not support programs that limit access to these services.The Foundation does not support programs that conflict with the organizational values stated above.In general, the Foundation will not support annual fund appeals, endowments, and projects requiring a multi-year commitment. Typically grants will not be awarded to the same organization in two consecutive years. Organizations that have received a prior grant from the Foundation are not eligible to submit another application until the Foundation directors have received a written report of the results of previously funded projects.