Maine Community Foundation Inc - Grant Information & Application Details

Quick Stats

Annual Giving: $58,980,423 (2023)
Total Assets: $811 million+ (managing 2,300+ funds)
Success Rate: ~50% (Community Building program receives 400+ applications, awards 200+ grants)
Decision Time: 10-12 weeks for competitive grants
Grant Range: $500 - $50,000 (varies by program)
Geographic Focus: Statewide across all 16 counties in Maine

Contact Details

Website: www.mainecf.org Phone: (207) 667-9735 Email: info@mainecf.org Address: 245 Main Street, Ellsworth, ME 04605 Fax: (207) 667-0447 Grant Application Portal: mainecf-grants.smapply.io

Overview

Founded as Maine's largest community foundation, Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) manages over $811 million across 2,300+ funds with a staff of 48 employees. In 2023, the foundation distributed $58,980,423 in grants and made 1,119 awards across all 16 Maine counties. The foundation's mission is to bring people and resources together to build a better Maine, with a vision of creating a vibrant and equitable place where people and communities thrive. Since 2016, MaineCF has focused on five strategic priorities: early childhood education, access to education, racial equity, seniors, and entrepreneurs. President and CEO Deborah Ellwood joined in July 2022, bringing extensive experience leading CFLeads, the national network of community foundations. Under her leadership, MaineCF rebranded in 2023 to emphasize its commitment to being "boldly invested in Maine." The foundation promotes active philanthropy by stewarding charitable funds and making effective grants, with equity serving as a through-line for all issues they address.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

MaineCF offers more than 20 competitive grant programs serving communities throughout Maine:

Community Building Grant Program: $500 - $10,000 (rolling deadlines vary by county) - Supports a broad range of projects and organizations across arts, education, environment, economic development, and human services. This is one of the only grant programs in Maine supporting such diverse work statewide. In 2024, awarded record $2.3 million with $1.97 million specifically through county and regional committees.
Maine Women's Fund: Up to $15,000 per year - Provides two-year general support grants to organizations transforming the lives of Maine women and girls. Accepts applications biennially (2025, 2027). Has made 525+ investments totaling over $3 million historically.
Land for Communities: Up to $50,000 - Supports community land acquisition projects that increase relationships to land for underserved geographies and populations in Maine.
Maine Expansion Arts: Up to $10,000 - Provides general support grants to arts organizations focused on underserved geographies or populations with limited access to arts programming including dance, music, theater, visual, and/or traditional arts.
Maine Theater: Grant amounts vary - Supports nonprofit professional and community theaters in the production and presentation of live theater.
Equity Fund: Grant amounts vary - Supports projects and organizations serving the LGBTQ+ community of Maine.
Rines Thompson Fund: Grant amounts vary - Supports organizations and projects in Greater Portland working in environment/conservation, early childhood programming, youth programming, and arts/culture.
Investing in Leaders of Color: Program details on website - Supports leadership development for people of color in Maine.
Scholarships: Over $5.1 million annually - Thousands of scholarships furthering college educations and boosting job prospects for Maine residents.

Application Method: Online portal via SurveyMonkey Apply (mainecf-grants.smapply.io), with applications opening approximately three months prior to deadlines. Most programs operate on fixed deadlines that vary by fund and county.

Priority Areas

Five Core Strategic Priorities (since 2016):

Early childhood education
Access to education for all Mainers
Racial equity
Seniors/elders quality of life
Entrepreneurial innovation

Emerging Community Priorities (2023-24 needs assessment):

Housing
Mental health and substance abuse
Climate resilience
Early childhood development
Access to healthcare
Equity and economic opportunity

General Interest Areas:

Arts and culture
Child welfare and youth development
Community development
Education at all levels
Environment and sustainable development
Health and wellness
Services for disadvantaged populations
Support for rural communities
Services for and by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC)

What They Don't Fund

Universal Exclusions (apply to all grant programs):

Religious activities, including religious services, promotion of religious beliefs, or activities restricted to church or religious group membership
Past expenses (requests must be for future expenses only)
Payment of pledges or other legal obligations
Grants to individuals (from donor-advised funds)
Capital campaigns, endowments, or activities designed to increase capital or assets
Fundraising activities, including costs for appeal letters or fundraising events
Scholarships and camperships in most grant programs (funding for individual attendance at programs)
Capital expenses including purchase of equipment or building materials (varies by program)

Note: Each grant program may have additional specific exclusions. Consult individual program pages for complete eligibility requirements.

Governance and Leadership

President and CEO

Deborah Ellwood (joined July 2022) - For the past dozen years before joining MaineCF, Ellwood led CFLeads, the country's network of community foundations, working together to increase their effectiveness and impact. She holds a B.A. from Bowdoin College and a Master's of Public Policy from Harvard's Kennedy School.

Key Quotes from Deborah Ellwood:

"I am thrilled to join the Maine Community Foundation as its seventh president and CEO. I am humbled to be part of an organization with such an impressive track record of success and look forward to building on and growing the relationships, partnerships, and collaborations needed to help MaineCF fulfill its mission to bring people and resources together for a strong Maine."

"We are boldly invested in Maine. As we build on our amazing history and a new strategic plan, we're also investing today in all of Maine's tomorrows."

"We've got an amazing history of doing work in this area, but we're not only looking back, we are looking forward. We're going to be engaging more and more people in how we can improve the resilience of communities across the state. We're really optimistic about what the future looks like in Maine."

"We have thousands of donors and a real democratization of philanthropy."

Senior Staff

Michele Camarco - Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
Vice President of Community Impact
Vice President of Donor Engagement
Vice President of Marketing & Communications
Vice President, Chief Investment Officer

MaineCF employs 48 staff members working from the main office in Ellsworth, a second office in Portland, and remote locations throughout the state.

Board of Directors

The foundation maintains a Board of Directors with information available at www.mainecf.org/about-us/board/

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Online Application System: All applications are submitted through MaineCF's online portal powered by SurveyMonkey Apply at mainecf-grants.smapply.io.

Preparation Steps:

Review grant program eligibility and guidelines at www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/available-grants-deadlines/
Download the Microsoft Word version of Application Questions and Guidance, which includes additional information in red text to help draft proposals (this guidance won't appear in the online application)
Access the online application form where work can be saved and resumed at any time
Applications typically open approximately three months prior to the deadline

Application Rules:

MaineCF will only accept one application per organization per grant program
Organizations should check with other personnel about collaborating on a single application to avoid multiple submissions
Applications must be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the deadline date
Applicants can apply regardless of previous application history or current award progress

Review Process Stages:

Intake: Grants administrative staff cross-checks legal name and address, verifies required signatures and forms
Prescreening: Program staff reviews proposals to determine if they meet required grant program criteria
Giving Together Process: Staff forwards qualifying proposals to donors who may decide to fully or partially support a proposal
Community Review: Volunteer community reviewers read and recommend proposals, sometimes making calls to applicants

Decision Timeline

Competitive Grant Programs: Notification typically occurs within 10-12 weeks from the deadline date
Timeline Varies by Program: Check specific grant program pages for exact timelines
Applications open approximately 3 months before deadlines

Success Rates

For the Community Building Grant Program specifically: MaineCF receives more than 400 applications annually and awards over 200 grants, representing approximately a 50% success rate. This is one of the foundation's most competitive programs.

Success rates for other specialized programs vary and are not publicly disclosed. The foundation made 1,119 total grants in 2023 across all programs.

Reapplication Policy

Any eligible organization may submit one application per grant program, regardless of previous application history or current award progress. There are no waiting periods or restrictions preventing unsuccessful applicants from reapplying to the same or different programs in future cycles.

Organizations should check specific grant program pages for any program-specific exceptions to this policy.

Application Success Factors

Direct Advice from the Foundation

Application Quality Tips:

Watch the video resource with community partner Katie Howard that explains differences between general and project support funding and provides helpful grant application tips
Use the Microsoft Word version of Application Questions and Guidance as it includes additional information in red to help draft proposals
Start early and impose your own deadline at least two weeks prior to the official deadline
Type your application whenever possible for neatness
Proofread carefully - don't rely only on spell-check tools, read with your own eyes looking for misspelled words or grammatical errors
Ask someone else to proofread your application

Alignment Factors:

Demonstrate clear connection to one or more of MaineCF's five strategic priorities (early childhood education, access to education, racial equity, seniors, entrepreneurs)
Show how your work advances equity, which serves as a "through-line for any issue they seek to address"
Emphasize service to underserved geographies (rural Maine) or populations (BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ community, low-income residents, seniors)
Highlight community engagement and partnerships
For county/regional grants, demonstrate strong local impact and community connections

Recent Grant Examples

Community Building 2024 Awards:

Piscataquis County: $66,000 to strengthen local communities, with $57,000 to six organizations
Waldo County: $76,000 total, with $70,000 to eight organizations
Knox County: $90,000 total, with $80,453 to nine organizations

Maine Expansion Arts 2023: $472,000 awarded to 59 arts organizations

Maine Women's Fund 2022: $120,000 in direct grants providing general operating support for 24+ grantee partners

Language and Terminology

The foundation uses inclusive, community-centered language including:

"Building a better Maine"
"Bringing people and resources together"
"Vibrant and equitable place where people and communities thrive"
"Democratization of philanthropy"
"Boldly invested in Maine"
"Equity as a through-line"

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Submitting multiple applications from the same organization to the same grant program
Missing required signatures or forms
Applying for past expenses rather than future work
Not clearly demonstrating eligibility for the specific grant program
Requesting funding for excluded items (religious activities, capital campaigns, fundraising, etc.)
Failing to connect the proposal to MaineCF's strategic priorities or community needs

Tips for Standing Out

Clearly articulate how your work advances equity and serves underserved communities
Demonstrate strong community partnerships and local engagement
Show alignment with multiple strategic priorities when relevant
Provide specific, measurable outcomes and community impact
For county/regional grants, emphasize local connections and community support through volunteer reviewers
Consider the "Giving Together" process - proposals that attract donor interest may receive additional funding beyond the competitive grant amount

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

Apply strategically across multiple programs: With 20+ grant programs, identify all relevant opportunities and submit one application per program (multiple programs allowed, just not multiple applications to the same program).
Equity is central: Demonstrate how your work advances equity for underserved populations or geographies. Equity serves as MaineCF's "through-line for any issue they seek to address."
High success rate for Community Building: The 50% success rate for Community Building (200+ awards from 400+ applications) is notably high for competitive grants, making this program particularly worth pursuing.
County connections matter: Many grants are reviewed by volunteer community members in each county. Local relationships, partnerships, and demonstrated community impact strengthen applications.
Timing is flexible: With rolling deadlines varying by county and program, applicants can plan strategically throughout the year rather than competing for a single annual deadline.
Additional funding opportunities: The "Giving Together" process means qualifying proposals may attract donor interest and receive additional funding beyond the competitive grant amount.
No reapplication penalties: Organizations can reapply regardless of previous outcomes, allowing persistence without waiting periods. Learn from feedback and reapply to the same or different programs.

References

Maine Community Foundation Official Website - www.mainecf.org (Accessed January 2025)
Maine Community Foundation Grant Programs - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/ (Accessed January 2025)
Available Grants & Deadlines - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/available-grants-deadlines/ (Accessed January 2025)
Eligibility and Grant Guidelines - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/help-for-applicants/grant-guidelines/ (Accessed January 2025)
Maine Community Foundation Staff - https://www.mainecf.org/about-us/staff/ (Accessed January 2025)
Maine Community Foundation Board - https://www.mainecf.org/about-us/board/ (Accessed January 2025)
Financial Information - https://www.mainecf.org/about-us/financial-information/ (Accessed January 2025)
ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Maine Community Foundation Inc (EIN 01-0391479) - https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10391479 (Accessed January 2025)
Instrumentl 990 Report - Maine Community Foundation - https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/maine-community-foundation-inc (Accessed January 2025)
Inside Philanthropy - Maine Community Foundation - https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/maine-grants/maine-community-foundation (Accessed January 2025)
"From MaineCF's President and CEO: Our Commitment" - https://www.mainecf.org/2025/02/from-mainecfs-president-and-ceo-our-commitment/ (Accessed January 2025)
"Deborah Ellwood to lead MaineCF" - https://www.mainecf.org/2022/03/deborah-ellwood-to-lead-mainecf/ (Accessed January 2025)
Recent Maine Community Foundation Grants - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/recent-grants/ (Accessed January 2025)
"MaineCF announces 2024 Community Building Grants" - Piscataquis Observer, August 26, 2024
"MaineCF grants more than $76K to Waldo County in 2024" - PenBay Pilot (Accessed January 2025)
Maine Community Foundation 2016 Strategic Plan - https://www.mainecf.org/initiatives-impact/strategic-planning/2016-strategic-plan/ (Accessed January 2025)
"Your Voices, Our Focus" - https://www.mainecf.org/2024/04/your-voices-our-focus/ (Accessed January 2025)
Maine Women's Fund - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/available-grants-deadlines/maine-womens-fund/ (Accessed January 2025)
Land for Communities - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/available-grants-deadlines/land-for-communities/ (Accessed January 2025)
Maine Expansion Arts - https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/recent-grants/maine-expansion-arts/ (Accessed January 2025)