John T. Gorman Foundation

Private foundation · EIN 01-0498551 · since 1995jtgfoundation.org·Maine·Updated 13 October 2026

At a glance

$7.5M

Annual giving, 2024 tax year

From the Form 990-PF filing

$9,000 to $150k

Grant range

From grants in the 990-PF filings

$20,250

Typical grant (median)

154 grants in the latest filing

Open to applications

A mix of rolling and fixed deadlines · unsolicited applications welcome

Key takeaways

The John T. Gorman Foundation is based in Portland, ME, and its priority geographic focus is Maine, so nonprofits working within Maine are the best fit for its support.
Its funding centres on child and family wellbeing, with themes spanning education, employment, social capital, physical and mental health, and wealth and asset development, so proposals should align closely with these areas.
A realistic request is modest: about eight in ten of its 463 grants fall between $9,000 and $150,000, with a median grant of $20,000, though its largest grant was about $680,000.
Organisations meeting immediate basic needs such as food and housing can apply directly to its Direct Services Grant Program, while other ideas should be raised by emailing a brief description covering the issue, approach, rationale and implementation cost.
The Foundation looks relationship-led rather than wide open, since 78% of its grant dollars went to organisations it had also funded in the two previous filings, so smaller or newer applicants should be prepared to build a relationship over time rather than expect a single large award straight away.

Overview

John T. Gorman Foundation is a US private foundation based in Portland, 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 backs comprehensive strategies and initiatives aimed at improving the well-being and resilience of children and families in Maine, particularly people experiencing poverty. Its central focus is strengthening children and families through whole-family or two-generation approaches, including work to prevent adverse childhood experiences. Its stated family-wellbeing areas are education, employment, social capital, physical and mental health, and wealth and asset development. The Direct Services Grant Program offers application-based opportunities for organisations meeting immediate basic needs, such as food and housing. The Foundation works with partners to test and evaluate strategies, learn from them, and scale effective approaches through changes in practice and policy. Its grants predominantly go to public charities and government-affiliated entities.

Themes

Child and family wellbeing
Education
Social capital
Physical and mental health
Wealth and assets
Employment navigation and supports

Geographic Focus

Priority: Maine.

How to apply

For foundation-initiated proposals, organisations may contact the Foundation by email with a brief description covering the issue, approach and rationale, and implementation cost.

Application success factors

Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 78% 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 463 grants to organisations were $20,000 or less.

What the foundation says:

The Foundation favours grantees that have demonstrated capacity for whole-family or two-generation approaches to prevent adverse childhood experiences and improve child and family wellbeing.
The Foundation welcomes ideas aligned with its strategic focus.
The Foundation values well-reasoned approaches grounded in available data and research that are measurable and can inform wider policy and practice changes.

Where grants go

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

Grant dollars by state

Maine93%

New Hampshire2%

Illinois1%

Connecticut1%

District of Columbia1%

Massachusetts1%

5 other states: <1%

The largest single recipient received 5% of grant dollars to organisations.
In tax year 2024, 78% of grant dollars went to organisations John T. Gorman Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
5% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.

Grants

154 grants in the latest filing analysed · median $20,250

How much do they typically give?

Share of 154 grants in tax year 2024 by size

Under $1k1%

$1k–$2.5k1%

$2.5k–$5k1%

$5k–$10k8%

$10k–$25k41%

$25k–$50k25%

$50k–$100k7%

$100k–$250k12%

$250k–$500k5%

Median $20,250 (tax year 2024)

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

Lewiston Public Schools · Academic and social-emotional support programs
$345,0002024 tax year
Boys and Girls Club of Bangor · Moving Families Forward; behavioral health support
$316,0002024 tax year
MaineHealth · Child and family health and support services; health care development
$310,0002024 tax year
Bangor Housing Development Corporation · Moving Families Forward; youth academic and career exporation; community events
$297,0002024 tax year
Root Cellar · Expanding physical space; provide general support
$275,0002024 tax year
Mercy Hospital · McAuley Residences; general support; professional development
$263,0002024 tax year
Maine Cancer Foundation · To support the John T. Gorman Cancer Fund; transportation costs
$250,0002024 tax year
Lurie Childrens Hospital of Chicago · To support the implementation of the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System in Maine
$240,0002024 tax year

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

Officers and directors

Martha E Greene — Secretary & Director
Shawn O Gorman — Chairman & Director
John Sullivan — Director
Rebecca Hatfield — Director
Richard W Petersen — Director
Maggie Christie Keohan — Director
Anne Dinsmore — Director
Michael Bevilacqua — CFO / Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer
Nicole Witherbee — President, CEO, & Director

From the latest Form 990-PF filing

3 years of tax filings

Year	Total expenses	Grants paid	Assets	Filing document
2022 tax year	$11,925,916	$8,663,448	$203,958,570	Filing for 2022 tax year
2023 tax year	$11,602,483	$8,467,235	$214,146,299	Filing for 2023 tax year
2024 tax year	$10,922,942	$7,535,759	$223,518,154	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.