Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 01-0387404 · since 1983sewallfoundation.org·Maine·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$14.4M
Annual giving, 2024 tax year
From the Form 990-PF filing
$10,000 to $100k
Grant range
From grants in the 990-PF filings
$30,975
Typical grant (median)
296 grants in the latest filing
Open to applications
A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

  • This foundation prioritises Maine and funds through named strands such as Animal Welfare, Food Systems, Keystone, Lewiston-Auburn, Nature-Based Education, Rural Partnerships, Wabanaki, Rapid Response and Legacy, so check which programme best matches your work before applying.
  • Typical grants run from $10,000 to $100,000, with a median grant of $30,000, so a modest request of this size is realistic, though the largest grant made was $580,000.
  • Most of its grant dollars go to organisations it has funded before, so this looks like a relationship-led funder where repeat partnerships matter, and new applicants should be prepared to build a relationship over time.
  • Applications are made online via the relevant programme page during its open window, with the main grant programme open from 5 January to 25 February and the Rapid Response Fund taking rolling inquiries from January through the end of August, so timing is important.
  • Review weighs each proposal against competing proposals, and the foundation does not fund private for-profit enterprises, cooperatives, individuals, or grants for operating endowments, so organisations or requests of that kind should not apply.

Overview

Elmina B. Sewall Foundation is a US private foundation based in Freeport, ME.

What they fund

Profile derived from the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) and its website, with every statement checked against those sources. Sources read on 7 October 2026.

Priority Areas

The foundation seeks to support a culture of equity and interconnected well-being for people, animals and the environment in Maine. It provides grants to nonprofit partners through Animal Welfare, Food Systems, Keystone, Lewiston-Auburn, Nature-Based Education, Rural Partnerships, Wabanaki, Rapid Response and Legacy, and also deploys its assets through impact investments. It aims for a healthier and more equitable Maine, building relationships across diverse groups and places and connecting organisations with resources. Programme priorities include a thriving, healthy and just food system, grassroots and community-led work addressing environmental and racial justice, collaborative nature-based education, rural community partnerships, and support for Wabanaki Tribes and Wabanaki-led and -serving organisations. The foundation emphasizes equity, community resilience and systemic change.

Themes

  • Animal welfare
  • Food systems
  • Environmental and racial justice
  • Lewiston-Auburn collaboration
  • Nature-based education
  • Rural partnerships
  • Wabanaki communities

Geographic Focus

Priority: Maine.

What They Don't Fund

  • Private for-profit enterprises, cooperatives, or individuals
  • Grants for operating endowments

How to apply

For programmes accepting open applications, use the online application link on the relevant programme page during its application period.

Deadlines:

  • The main grant programme application window runs from January 5 to February 25.
  • The Rapid Response Fund accepts rolling inquiries from January through the end of August.

Application success factors

  • Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 95% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had also funded in its TY2022 or TY2023 filing.
  • Grant size: Across its TY2022, TY2023 and TY2024 filings, half of its 877 grants to organisations were $30,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

  • Review considers how strongly a proposal advances the Foundation's goals in the context of competing proposals.
  • Keystone prioritises grassroots and community-led environmental and racial justice efforts.
  • Staff may contact applicants for clarification and may consult others familiar with the applicant or project.

Where grants go

From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.

Grant dollars by state

Maine88%
Massachusetts4%
Vermont2%
California1%
New York1%
Virginia<1%

6 other states: 2%

  • The largest single recipient received 3% of grant dollars to organisations.
  • In tax year 2024, 95% of grant dollars went to organisations Elmina B. Sewall Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
  • No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
  • 4% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

296 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $30,975

How much do they typically give?

Share of 296 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%
$1k–$2.5k0%
$2.5k–$5k<1%
$5k–$10k5%
$10k–$25k32%
$25k–$50k26%
$50k–$100k23%
$100k–$250k11%
$250k–$500k1%
$500k–$1M<1%

Median $30,975 (tax year 2024)

The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:

  • Sunrise County Economic Council · General Operating Support
    $580,0002024 tax year
  • Maine Environmental Education Association · General Operating Support
    $267,0002024 tax year
  • United Somali Women of Maine · General Operating Support
    $261,2002024 tax year
  • Maine Audubon · General Operating Support
    $260,0002024 tax year
  • New Learning Journey · General Operating Support
    $225,0002024 tax year
  • Center for an Ecology-Based Economy · General Operating Support
    $200,0002024 tax year
  • Outdoor Sports Institute · General Operating Support
    $200,0002024 tax year
  • Maine Development Foundation · General Operating Support
    $185,0002024 tax year

Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.

Officers and directors

  • John Banks — Secretary
  • Vendean Vafiades — Treasurer
  • Jono Anzalone — Director; Chair (start 5/2024)
  • Dale McCormick — Director
  • Amara Ifeji — Director
  • Leslie Hill — Director
  • Autumn Fitch — Director
  • Dr Gabriela Alcalde — Executive Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

YearTotal expensesGrants paidAssetsFiling document
2022 tax year$14,123,615$12,759,500$166,615,697Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year$16,200,018$13,386,409$170,578,667Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year$8,139,499$14,366,501$164,831,338Filing for 2024 tax year

Figures from the foundation’s IRS Form 990-PF filings. Assets are at fair market value at year end. The document icon links to each year’s filing on ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer.

Sources

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