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Lunder Foundation

Annual Giving
$21.8M
Grant Range
$2K - $50.0M

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $21.8 million
  • Success Rate: Not publicly available
  • Decision Time: Not publicly available
  • Grant Range: $2,000 - $50,000,000 (wide range from small scholarships to transformational gifts)
  • Geographic Focus: Maine and Massachusetts

Contact Details

Address: 2 Monument Square, Suite 530, Portland, ME 04101

Phone: (207) 775-7676

Website: No official website available

Email: Not publicly available

Note: The foundation does not appear to have a public application portal or website. Grantees are typically organizations with existing relationships to the foundation or its founders.

Overview

The Lunder Foundation was established in 1988 by Peter and Paula Lunder to support educational, arts, and healthcare organizations, with scholarship support of Maine students at the core of their philanthropy. As of 2024, the foundation distributed $21,842,691 in grants across 147 awards, despite holding relatively modest assets of $817,638, suggesting it operates as a pass-through grantmaking entity. Peter Lunder, a 1956 Colby College graduate and nephew of Harold Alfond, served as co-chairman, president, and CEO of Dexter Shoe Company before dedicating himself to philanthropy. The foundation has made transformational gifts exceeding $100 million to institutions including Colby College Museum of Art (two separate $100 million art donations), a $50 million gift to Colby College for financial aid, and a $50 million gift to Massachusetts General Hospital for healthcare education. The Lunders' strategic approach emphasizes matching grants for major gifts, preferring project support over building campaigns, and maintaining strong connections to Maine institutions and communities, particularly those connected to the former Dexter Shoe Company.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Lunder Scholars Program: $2,000 - $8,000 per student annually

  • Established at multiple Maine institutions including Maine College of Art & Design (2002), University of Southern Maine (2002), and Thomas College
  • Provides need-based financial aid to undergraduate and graduate students from Maine
  • First preference given to former Dexter Shoe Company employees and their children; second preference to Maine residents
  • More than 150 scholarships awarded at MECA&D alone since inception
  • In 2018-19, 83 students at USM received support through the program

Higher Education Grants: $1,000,000 - $50,000,000

  • Major institutional gifts for financial aid, endowments, and program support
  • Recent examples include $50 million to Colby College (2024) for financial aid, $3 million to Maine College of Art & Design for scholarships and operations
  • $5 million to Lesley University for Maine student scholarships in teaching and mental health counseling
  • $1 million gifts to University of Southern Maine and Kennebec Valley Community College for scholarship endowments

Healthcare Grants: $500,000 - $50,000,000

  • $50 million to Massachusetts General Hospital for healthcare education initiatives
  • $35 million to MGH in 2010 for facilities named after Peter and Paula Lunder
  • $5 million initial investment in Lunder-Dineen Health Education Alliance of Maine (paid over 10 years)
  • $500,000 to The Cedars Portland for memory care programs

Arts and Culture Grants: $500,000 - $100,000,000

  • Two separate art collection donations to Colby College Museum of Art, each valued at over $100 million (2007 and 2017)
  • $500,000 to Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine for Lunder Arts and Culture Gallery
  • Support to Portland Museum of Art and Maine College of Art & Design
  • The 2007 collection included over 500 works; the 2017 donation included approximately 1,500 works

Application Methods: No public application process. The foundation operates through direct relationships with institutions, particularly in Maine and Massachusetts. Major grants typically structured as challenge grants requiring matching funds.

Priority Areas

Education

  • Higher education institutions in Maine and Massachusetts, with strong preference for Colby College (Peter Lunder's alma mater)
  • Need-based financial aid and scholarship programs for Maine students
  • Special consideration for former Dexter Shoe Company employees and their descendants
  • Support for art colleges and programs (Maine College of Art & Design, Lesley University)
  • Community colleges in Maine (Kennebec Valley Community College)

Arts

  • American art collections and exhibitions
  • Museum support, particularly college art museums
  • Children's arts education programs
  • Regional museums where art can be accessible to students and the public
  • Preference for institutions that keep donated art on public display rather than in storage

Healthcare

  • Healthcare workforce education and training
  • Academic medical centers with teaching missions
  • Memory care and senior services in Maine
  • Health education initiatives addressing Maine's critical health issues
  • Partnerships between major medical institutions and Maine communities

Geographic Focus

  • Strong preference for Maine institutions, particularly in Portland, Waterville, and central Maine
  • Secondary focus on Massachusetts institutions, especially Massachusetts General Hospital
  • Emphasis on regional institutions where gifts can have transformational impact
  • Support for communities connected to Dexter Shoe Company legacy

What They Don't Fund

While the foundation does not publish explicit exclusions, research suggests:

  • Organizations outside Maine and Massachusetts
  • Individual scholarship applications (scholarships distributed through institutional programs)
  • Building campaigns (stated preference for project support, "with building support considered only in special circumstances")
  • Organizations without established relationships or connections to the foundation
  • General operating support for large national organizations
  • Political campaigns or lobbying activities

Governance and Leadership

Founders: Peter and Paula Lunder established the foundation in 1988 and remain the primary drivers of its philanthropic strategy.

Peter Lunder (1933-): A 1956 graduate of Colby College, Peter is the nephew of Harold Alfond, founder of Dexter Shoe Company. He served as co-chairman, president, and CEO of Dexter Shoe Company, partnering with his uncle for approximately 45 years. An avid art collector, Peter's philosophy emphasizes giving to regional institutions where gifts can have maximum impact and be accessible to students and the public.

Paula Lunder (1934-): A 1959 graduate of Lesley University, Paula shares Peter's passion for art collecting and philanthropy. Together, they amassed one of the most significant collections of American art, including works by John Singer Sargent, Mary Cassatt, Winslow Homer, Edward Hopper, Georgia O'Keeffe, Alex Katz, Jenny Holzer, and the largest single collection of James McNeill Whistler prints ever donated to an American academic museum (200 prints).

Key Leadership Quote: Peter Lunder learned a pivotal lesson in philanthropy 25 years ago at San Francisco's de Young Museum, where he discovered that John D. Rockefeller donated art because he was assured it would be kept on public view, not in storage. This "motivated some bells to ring in our heads," Lunder said. "That's a great idea. Someday if our collection is worthy of being in a museum, let's pick a regional museum where students would enjoy studying it and seeing it."

Paula Lunder noted: "When we started to think of it as having another purpose besides our pure enjoyment, we had to think of art in a different way. What would be good for teaching? What is the level we should be collecting? It drove us to think more about art, its place in our life and what it would mean to a college."

Foundation Operations: The foundation operates with zero full-time employees and is supported by external advisors. It functions as a pass-through entity, with annual giving ($21.8 million) significantly exceeding its assets ($817,638), suggesting the Lunders continue to actively fund the foundation's grants from their personal wealth.

Board Information: Detailed board composition is not publicly available through standard nonprofit databases. The foundation maintains a private profile, with grantmaking decisions appearing to be made directly by the founders.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Lunder Foundation does not maintain a public application process, website, or online portal. The foundation operates through:

Relationship-Based Grantmaking: Grants are made to institutions with which Peter and Paula Lunder have established relationships, particularly:

  • Peter's alma mater, Colby College
  • Paula's alma mater, Lesley University
  • Maine institutions, especially in Portland and Waterville
  • Organizations connected to the Dexter Shoe Company legacy
  • Massachusetts General Hospital, where the Lunders have been long-term supporters

Institutional Approaches: Organizations seeking funding should:

  • Develop relationships with the foundation through their development offices
  • Demonstrate alignment with the foundation's core areas: education, arts, and healthcare
  • Be prepared to raise matching funds for major grants
  • Focus on project-based proposals rather than building campaigns
  • Emphasize impact on Maine students and communities

Contact: Organizations may reach out to the foundation at:

  • Address: 2 Monument Square, Suite 530, Portland, ME 04101
  • Phone: (207) 775-7676

Decision Timeline

Decision Timeframes: Not publicly available. Given the foundation's relationship-based approach and lack of formal application cycles, decision timelines likely vary significantly based on:

  • Strength of existing relationship with the foundation
  • Complexity and size of the proposed grant
  • Availability of matching funds
  • Strategic alignment with foundation priorities

Grant Cycles: The foundation does not operate on fixed grant cycles. Major gifts appear to be negotiated individually, while smaller grants through established scholarship programs follow institutional timelines.

Success Rates

Success rate data is not publicly available. However, the foundation's grantmaking pattern suggests:

  • High success rate for established institutional partners (Colby College, MGH, Maine College of Art & Design)
  • Limited opportunities for new organizations without existing relationships
  • 147 grants awarded in 2024 from presumably a limited pool of applicant organizations
  • Strong preference for repeat grantees with proven track records

Reapplication Policy

Reapplication information is not publicly available. However, grant recipient history suggests:

  • Strong support for ongoing relationships with repeat grantees
  • Multi-year commitments common for scholarship programs
  • Major institutional gifts often followed by additional support (e.g., multiple gifts to Colby College)
  • Preference for long-term partnerships over one-time grants

Application Success Factors

Match the Geographic Focus: The foundation has a clear preference for Maine institutions, with secondary support for Massachusetts organizations. Location in these states is virtually essential for funding consideration.

Demonstrate Maine Student Impact: With "scholarship support of Maine students at the core of their philanthropy," proposals that benefit Maine residents, particularly those pursuing higher education, align strongly with foundation priorities.

Leverage Dexter Shoe Company Connections: The foundation gives preference to former Dexter Shoe Company employees and their families. Organizations serving central Maine communities where Dexter Shoe operated have an advantage. As foundation leadership stated: "We are happy to support students in central Maine, and particularly former Dexter Shoe Co. employees and their families for generations to come."

Secure Matching Funds: "When considering major grants, the foundation normally requires that the grantee raise matching funds from other organizations and individuals in order to qualify for the grant." This challenge grant structure is fundamental to the Lunders' philanthropic approach. Organizations must demonstrate fundraising capacity and community support.

Focus on Projects, Not Buildings: The foundation has a stated preference to "support projects, with building support considered only in special circumstances." Even the $35 million MGH building gift was paired with $5 million for an educational initiative.

Emphasize Public Access and Teaching Value: The Lunders' art philanthropy philosophy emphasizes works that can be "on public view" and serve teaching purposes. Paula Lunder asked: "What would be good for teaching? What is the level we should be collecting?" This educational focus extends across all funding areas.

Build Long-Term Relationships: The foundation's major grantees receive multiple gifts over time. Colby College has received at least four major gifts: two $100 million art collections (2007, 2017), a $50 million financial aid gift (2024), and ongoing support for endowed funds ($2.4 million in recent year). This pattern suggests the value of sustained engagement.

Recent Grant Examples:

  • Colby College: $50 million for financial aid (2024), $2.4 million for endowment fund
  • Massachusetts General Hospital: $50 million for healthcare education
  • Hebrew Seniorlife: $2.2 million for project support
  • Maine Public/MPBN: $1 million for programming fund
  • Maine College of Art & Design: $3 million for scholarships and operations
  • Lesley University: $5 million for Maine student scholarships
  • Children's Museum & Theatre of Maine: $500,000 for arts and culture gallery
  • The Cedars Portland: $500,000 for memory care programs
  • University of Southern Maine: $1 million for need-based scholarships
  • Kennebec Valley Community College: $1 million for scholarship endowment

Language and Terminology: The foundation uses terms like "transformational gifts," "challenge grants," "need-based aid," "endowment support," and emphasizes "Maine students," "public access," "teaching collections," and "regional institutions."

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Relationship is Everything: This foundation operates through established relationships, not open applications. Organizations without existing connections to Peter and Paula Lunder or their priority institutions face significant barriers to funding.

  • Maine Connection is Essential: Being located in Maine or serving Maine residents (particularly students) is virtually required. Massachusetts organizations, especially academic medical institutions, are the only significant exception to the Maine focus.

  • Prepare for Matching Requirements: Major grants require demonstrated ability to raise matching funds from other sources. Start identifying potential matching donors before approaching the foundation, and be prepared to show community support and fundraising momentum.

  • Think Long-Term Partnership: The foundation prefers ongoing relationships with repeat grantees rather than one-time grants. Position your organization for multi-year engagement and demonstrate sustained impact.

  • Emphasize Educational Impact: Whether in arts, healthcare, or education, demonstrate how your work advances learning, teaching, and workforce development. The Lunders' philosophy centers on education across all their giving areas.

  • Leverage Dexter Shoe Legacy: If your organization serves central Maine communities or families connected to Dexter Shoe Company, highlight these connections explicitly as the foundation maintains strong ties to this legacy.

  • Avoid Building Projects Unless Exceptional: With a stated preference for project support over buildings, focus proposals on programs, scholarships, educational initiatives, or operating support rather than capital campaigns. Building requests require exceptional justification and alignment with mission.

References

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