Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research
At a glance
Key takeaways
- If your work is field research that documents oral literature or traditional ecological knowledge among Indigenous peoples, especially community-based, long-term projects that train local participants, the Foundation's stated focus fits closely, and its geographic focus is given as worldwide.
- Most of its grants are modest: about 8 in 10 of its grants to organisations fall between $9,000 and $395,000, with a median of about $100,000, so a request in that range is typical rather than a limit.
- For the Laura W. R. and George N. Appell Research Grant, send a short inquiry form first, since only approved inquiries are invited to a full application; applications are reviewed twice a year, with deadlines of January 15 and June 15 and submission windows opening two weeks earlier.
- Because 92% of its grant dollars to organisations went to organisations it had already funded, the filing suggests that continuing relationships matter, so a first approach may be better judged as the start of a longer connection.
- The Foundation does not fund publishing costs, tuition, conference travel, institutional support, personal needs, postage or incidental expenses, so organisations seeking those should look elsewhere.
Overview
Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research is a US private foundation based in Phillips, 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 funds field research to document and preserve disappearing oral literature and traditional ecological knowledge among Indigenous peoples. Its research grants are available to anthropologists, linguists, other scholars and community members; educational level is not a factor. It favours community-based, long-term projects that train local participants to continue documenting oral literature. The Firebird Supplemental Research Grant supports the collection of oral literature and knowledge within a broader project or as a stand-alone study, while the Laura W. R. and George N. Appell Research Grant supports long-term, community-based programmes intended to become self-sustaining. Its wider interests include culture, language and the environment, with particular interest in environmental preservation, the arts, sciences, humanities, and efforts to preserve the dignity of all peoples.
Themes
- Oral literature
- Traditional ecological knowledge
- Culture and language
- Environmental preservation
- Arts, sciences and humanities
- Human dignity
Geographic Focus
Worldwide.
What They Don't Fund
- Publishing costs
- Incidental expenses
- Postage
- Personal needs
- Tuition
- Travel to conferences
- Institutional support
How to apply
For the Laura W. R. and George N. Appell Research Grant, applicants first submit a short inquiry form. If it is approved, they are invited to submit a full application.
Deadlines: Applications are reviewed twice each year; deadlines are January 15 and June 15, with submission windows opening two weeks beforehand.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 92% 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 33 grants to organisations were about $100,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- The Foundation prefers community-based, long-term projects that train local participants to continue documenting oral literature.
- Successful proposals often plan for extended community residence, local-language fluency or collaboration, community training, multiple versions of major texts, and ethical handling of sensitive materials.
- For the Appell grant, the Foundation values applicants who share the founders’ philosophy and demonstrate a long-term commitment to a community.
- Supplemental grant recipients must submit a final report and a list of expenses incurred.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
3 other states: <1%
Outside the US or with no state on the filing: 2%
- The largest single recipient received 80% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 92% of grant dollars went to organisations Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research had funded in earlier filings.
- 2% of grant dollars went directly to organisations outside the US (Australia).
- 80% of grant dollars went to intermediaries that regrant to other organisations.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 9 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $50,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust · General operating support$333,3332024 tax year
- Northeast Wilderness Trust · General operating support$195,0002024 tax year
- Maine Coast Heritage Trust · General operating support$125,0002024 tax year
- University of Sydney · f/b/o Center for Cultural Linguistic Diversity & TRICL$105,6442024 tax year
- Maine Media Workshops College · General operating support$50,0002024 tax year
- Fidelity Charitable · Contribution to donor-advised fund of disqualified person$24,2912024 tax year
- Oceanarium & Education Center · General operating support$20,9022024 tax year
- Phillips Public Library · General operating support$10,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Laura P Appell-Warren — President / Director
- Steven G Hoch — Secretary / Director
- Charity R Appell — Executive Director / Treasurer
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $2,949,167 | $2,056,095 | $60,520,966 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $19,701,754 | $18,613,776 | $54,756,698 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $2,073,430 | $1,125,846 | $57,612,543 | 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
Registers and filings
Other sources
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At a glance
Applying to Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (207) 639-3939
- firebird@firebirdfoundation.org
- Phillips, ME
- firebirdresearchgrants.org
Applying to Firebird Foundation for Anthropological Research?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (207) 639-3939
- firebird@firebirdfoundation.org
- Phillips, ME
- firebirdresearchgrants.org