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The Bill And Joan Alfond Foundation

Annual Giving
$2.3M
Grant Range
$10K - $5.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $2.34 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Rolling basis (no fixed deadlines)
  • Grant Range: Varies significantly (from smaller grants to multi-million dollar capital projects)
  • Geographic Focus: Maine (emphasis on Portland and Waterville areas) and Massachusetts

Contact Details

Address: Two Monument Square, Portland, ME 04101

Phone: (207) 828-7999

Website: No public website

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a dedicated public website. Inquiries should be directed to the address and phone number above.

Overview

Founded in 1986 by Bill and Joan Alfond, The Bill And Joan Alfond Foundation is a private family foundation with $30.9 million in assets as of 2023. The foundation distributed $2.34 million in charitable grants in 2023, making 48 awards to nonprofit organizations. Bill Alfond, son of Harold Alfond (founder of Dexter Shoe Company), inherited substantial wealth when his father's company was exchanged for Berkshire Hathaway stock. Joan Loring Alfond has a longtime commitment to youth education, beginning in Eastport, Maine, and including service as a former director with the Red Sox Foundation. The foundation takes a strategic approach to funding by focusing primarily on higher education (particularly athletically oriented capital projects and scholarship endowments), healthcare and medical research, economic development, and youth education programs. The foundation has been particularly instrumental in supporting downtown Waterville's revitalization and building national models for early childhood education in central Maine. For major grants, the foundation requires matching funds from other organizations and individuals, demonstrating a commitment to leveraging their support for maximum community impact.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grantmaking program with no fixed application deadlines (rolling basis). Grants are generally made to:

  • Higher Education Institutions: Public and private colleges and universities, and private secondary schools

    • Focus: Athletically oriented capital projects and scholarship endowment funds
    • Examples: Multi-million dollar capital projects to smaller scholarship funds

  • Healthcare Organizations: Public hospitals and healthcare institutions

    • Focus: Medical research and healthcare delivery improvements

  • Economic Development Initiatives: Business innovation and community development

    • Examples: Innovation hubs, business accelerators, workforce development

  • Youth Education Programs: Early childhood education and K-12 educational initiatives

Priority Areas

Geographic Priorities:

  • Maine-based organizations, with emphasis on Portland and Waterville areas
  • Limited support for Massachusetts organizations

Programmatic Priorities:

  • Athletic facilities and programs at educational institutions
  • Scholarship endowment funds for students
  • Capital projects for higher education institutions
  • Healthcare infrastructure and medical research
  • Downtown revitalization and economic development
  • Innovation ecosystems and business accelerators
  • Early childhood education programs
  • Community development initiatives that serve Maine residents

Specific Interests:

  • Projects that require and can secure matching funds from other sources
  • Initiatives with measurable community impact
  • Long-term institutional capacity building
  • Programs serving youth and students

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish a comprehensive list of exclusions, based on their funding patterns:

  • Organizations outside Maine and Massachusetts
  • Individual requests (focus is on institutional giving)
  • General operating support appears less common than project-specific or capital support
  • Programs without clear connection to their core focus areas

Note: The foundation operates primarily through direct relationships rather than open solicitation, suggesting they may prioritize organizations they already know or have been referred to them.

Governance and Leadership

The Bill And Joan Alfond Foundation is governed by family members, with no reported officer compensation:

Leadership Team:

  • William (Bill) Alfond - President and Director
  • Joan Alfond - Vice President, Treasurer, and Director
  • Kenden Alfond - Director
  • Justin Alfond - Director (former Maine State Senator and Senate President)
  • Reis Alfond - Director
  • Gregory Powell - Secretary

About the Founders:

Bill Alfond is an American investor and philanthropist whose father, Harold Alfond, founded the Dexter Shoe Company. The family's wealth grew substantially when Dexter Shoe was exchanged for Berkshire Hathaway stock. Bill has continued his father's philanthropic legacy with a focus on Maine institutions.

Joan Loring Alfond earned a degree in elementary education from the University of Cincinnati and has demonstrated longtime commitment to youth education starting from her childhood in Eastport, Maine. She was a former director with the Red Sox Foundation, reflecting the family's interest in sports and athletics.

The foundation operates alongside the related Harold Alfond Foundation, which makes larger transformational gifts to Maine institutions. Both foundations share the same address and phone number at Two Monument Square in Portland.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Application Method: Written letter of inquiry (1-3 pages)

Required Components:

  1. Brief description of the project
  2. Statement of need demonstrating why the project is necessary
  3. Number of people who will benefit from the project
  4. Geographic area to be served
  5. Total fundraising goal for the project
  6. Fundraising strategy
  7. Specific amount requested from the foundation
  8. Copy of IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter
  9. Other supporting materials as relevant

Additional Requirements for Capital Campaigns:

  • Detailed project budget
  • Timeline for completion
  • Evidence of other funding sources or commitments

Matching Funds Requirement: When considering major grants, the foundation normally requires that the grantee raise matching funds from other organizations and individuals. Applicants should be prepared to demonstrate their fundraising capacity and strategy.

Where to Send: Applications should be mailed to: The Bill And Joan Alfond Foundation Two Monument Square Portland, ME 04101

Decision Timeline

  • Application Cycle: Rolling basis - no fixed deadlines
  • Decision Timeline: Not publicly disclosed; varies by project size and complexity
  • Notification Method: Direct communication with applicant organization

The foundation reviews proposals on an ongoing basis throughout the year. The lack of fixed deadlines allows for flexibility but may also mean longer review periods as proposals are considered as they arrive.

Success Rates

Specific success rate data is not publicly available. However, based on IRS filings:

  • 2023: 48 grants awarded
  • 2022: 30 grants awarded
  • 2021: 26 grants awarded

The foundation appears to be increasing its grantmaking activity over recent years. The relatively modest number of annual grants suggests selectivity in funding decisions.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation does not publish a formal reapplication policy. However, several observations from their funding patterns:

  • Multiple grants to the same institutions over time (e.g., Colby College, Thomas College) suggest that past grantees can and do receive additional support
  • The foundation appears to build ongoing relationships with successful grantees
  • For unsuccessful applicants, no specific waiting period is mentioned, but organizations should carefully consider feedback and strengthen their proposals before reapplying

Application Success Factors

Based on analysis of the foundation's funding patterns and grant recipients, the following factors appear to enhance application success:

Strong Institutional Partnerships: The foundation's major grants often involve partnerships with well-established Maine educational and healthcare institutions. Organizations with strong track records and institutional stability are favored.

Clear Connection to Athletic Programs: Given the foundation's explicit focus on "athletically oriented capital projects," proposals that incorporate athletic facilities, programs, or scholarships appear particularly competitive. The Alfond name is synonymous with athletic support across Maine.

Matching Funds Commitment: The foundation explicitly requires matching funds for major grants. Successful applicants demonstrate:

  • Commitments from other funding sources
  • A realistic and well-developed fundraising plan
  • Capacity to execute a capital campaign
  • Community support and buy-in

Geographic Relevance:

  • Strong preference for Portland and Waterville area projects
  • Must serve Maine residents (or occasionally Massachusetts)
  • Projects demonstrating deep community roots and local impact

Capital Projects Over Operating Support: The foundation's emphasis on capital projects and endowments (rather than annual operating support) suggests they prefer investments that create lasting infrastructure and institutional capacity.

Recent Funded Projects Include:

  • Colby College: Bill & Joan Alfond Main Street Commons (approximately $25.5 million mixed-use project in downtown Waterville)
  • Thomas College: Housing for student entrepreneurs and scholarship programs
  • Dirigo Labs: Business accelerator infrastructure and innovation ecosystem building in Waterville
  • MaineGeneral Health System: Child care support during COVID-19 pandemic ($350,000 in partnership with Harold Alfond Foundation)
  • Waterville Community Development: Multiple grants supporting downtown revitalization and economic development

Language and Values: Based on their funded projects, the foundation values:

  • "Innovation" and "entrepreneurship" (particularly in Waterville)
  • "Capital projects" and "endowments" (building lasting capacity)
  • "Athletic" programs and facilities
  • "Scholarships" and educational access
  • "Community betterment" and "downtown revitalization"
  • "Workforce development" and "economic opportunity"

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Focus on capital projects and endowments: The foundation strongly prefers funding permanent improvements (buildings, facilities, endowments) over annual operating support. Frame your request as building lasting institutional capacity.

  • Demonstrate matching funds strategy: Don't apply without a clear plan for securing matching funds. The foundation wants to leverage its support, not be the sole funder. Include letters of commitment from other funders when possible.

  • Emphasize athletic connections when relevant: If your educational institution has any athletic component, highlight it prominently. The foundation's focus on "athletically oriented capital projects" is explicit and consistent.

  • Build the relationship first: With only 30-48 grants made annually and no public website, this foundation appears to work primarily through established relationships. Consider having a board member or community leader make an introduction if possible.

  • Geographic specificity matters: Being based in Portland or Waterville (Maine) significantly strengthens your application. If you're elsewhere in Maine, clearly articulate your connection to the state and its residents. Massachusetts organizations appear to be secondary priorities.

  • Think long-term impact: Successful proposals demonstrate how the foundation's investment will create lasting change - whether through scholarships that support students for years, facilities that serve communities for decades, or economic development that creates sustainable job opportunities.

  • Keep it brief but complete: The 1-3 page letter requirement suggests the foundation values concise, well-organized proposals. Include all required elements but avoid unnecessary elaboration.

References

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