Lunder Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Lunder Foundation, based in Portland, ME, funds higher education, the arts and health care, with Maine and Massachusetts as its priority geographic focus.
- Most grants are modest, as half of its 479 grants were $1,000 or less, so pitching a modest request is sensible, though grants up to $335,000 do occur and one grant of about $4,850,000 has been made.
- For major grants, be ready to show matching funds raised from other organisations and individuals, as the foundation normally requires this.
- The IRS filing gives no deadlines, and applicants should submit a brief one-to-three-page letter covering the need, the number of people who will benefit, the geographic area served, the total fundraising goal and the amount requested.
- With 96% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had already funded in the two prior filings, this looks like a relationship-led funder, so new applicants should recognise the field is tilted towards existing grantees.
Overview
Lunder Foundation is a US private foundation based in Portland, ME.
What they fund
Profile based on the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings (TY2024, TY2023, TY2022) only: no website or other web source for the foundation was found. Every statement is checked against the filings. Sources read on 7 October 2026.
Priority Areas
The foundation contributes to organisations in higher education, the arts and health care, and to worthy charities within its principal geographic interest of Maine and Massachusetts. For major grants, it normally requires grantees to raise matching funds from other organisations and individuals. Its recorded grantees include colleges and universities, art museums and hospitals, and records name purposes such as scholarships, art purchases and learning initiatives. This describes the foundation's field-based giving alongside charitable support in its stated principal area of interest.
Themes
- Higher education
- Arts
- Health care
Geographic Focus
Priority: Maine; Massachusetts.
How to apply
Applicants submit a brief one-to-three-page letter describing the project, drive or campaign, including the need, number of people who will benefit, geographic area served, total fundraising goal and amount requested.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 96% 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 479 grants to organisations were $1,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- For major grants, the foundation normally requires grantees to raise matching funds from other organisations and individuals to qualify.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
6 other states: <1%
- The largest single recipient received 29% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 96% of grant dollars went to organisations Lunder Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
- <1% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 148 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $1,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Massachusetts General Hospital · Learning initiative$4,826,4952024 tax year
- Colby College · Endowment fund$2,385,7152024 tax year
- Hebrew SeniorLife · Project support$2,200,0002024 tax year
- Colby College Museum of Art · Art purchase fund$1,249,2882024 tax year
- Colby College Museum of Art · Art purchase fund$1,116,6902024 tax year
- Maine Public Broadcasting · Programming fund$1,001,7752024 tax year
- Lesley University · Annual fund$1,001,2072024 tax year
- Maine College of Art and Design · Lunder scholarship fund$717,2912024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Marjorie J Lunder — Director
- Marc F Lunder — Director
- Alan E Lunder — Director
- Steven W Lunder — Director
- Kevin M Gillis — President
- John B Emory — Director
- Paula Lunder — Chair & Director
- Peter Lunder — Treasurer & Director
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $21,069,646 | $20,756,031 | $5,466,732 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $18,875,581 | $18,553,059 | $8,357,391 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $22,187,307 | $21,842,691 | $7,274,788 | Filing 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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At a glance
Applying to Lunder Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (207) 775-7676
- Portland, ME
Applying to Lunder Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (207) 775-7676
- Portland, ME