Maine Health Access Foundation Inc

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $5.5 million (approximately)
• Assets: $144.3 million
• Decision Time: Varies by programme (6-8 weeks typical for Discretionary Grants)
• Grant Range: $1,000 - $500,000
• Geographic Focus: Maine only

Contact Details

Website: https://mehaf.org

Address: 146 Capitol Street, Augusta, Maine 04330

Phone: 207-620-8266

Fax: 207-620-8269

Grants Manager: Holly Irish (hirish@mehaf.org)

Online Grant Portal: www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=mehaf

Overview

The Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) is the state's largest private nonprofit health care foundation, established in 2000 from the sale of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Maine to Anthem Insurance Companies with an initial endowment of $82 million. Now holding assets of approximately $144.3 million, the foundation awards roughly $5.5 million annually in grants to promote access to quality health care, especially for those who are uninsured and underserved, and to improve the health of everyone in Maine. The foundation's priorities include advancing health system reform, promoting patient-centred care, improving access to quality care, and achieving better health in communities. Under the leadership of President and CEO Jake Grindle (who assumed the role in January 2025), MeHAF emphasises community voice and health equity, particularly focusing on four strategic priority areas: rural health, ageing/older adults, behavioural health, and maternal and child health. The foundation operates with a 15-member statewide Board of Trustees and receives guidance from a 20-member Community Advisory Committee.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

Systems Improvement and Innovation Responsive Grants (SIIRG): Awarded annually, these grants focus on creating change responsive to community-identified health needs at the system and organisational levels. The programme emphasises that the community of focus must have a meaningful and ongoing voice in shaping improvements. Typical award amounts range from significant organisational grants up to $500,000. Applications typically open in early February.

Community Responsive Grants (CRG): $30,000 - $100,000. This programme offers either one-year planning grants up to $30,000 or implementation grants for one or two years up to $50,000 per year. Projects must be community-identified and led to address barriers to achieving health equity, with leadership from communities facing inequities. Applications typically open in July.

Health Equity Capacity Building Grants (HECB): $140,000 over four years. Provides unrestricted operating support of $30,000 annually for four years, plus an additional $5,000 yearly for capacity-building activities. Targets organisations led by and serving people from underserved communities including BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness. Letters of Inquiry typically due in December.

Discretionary Grants Programme: $1,000 - $10,000. Awards for local or regional projects typically no more than $5,000; statewide activities highly aligned with the mission may receive up to $10,000. Supports small, up to one-year health and health access related projects with specific outcomes. Applications accepted through a Letter of Interest process on a rolling basis.

Meeting Support Programme: $1,000 - $2,000 (rolling basis). Generally awards up to $1,000 for community or regional meetings and up to $2,000 for statewide meetings. Applications accepted anytime through the online portal but must be submitted at least six weeks before the meeting date.

Health Advocacy Grants: Directed funding for advocacy work related to healthcare access and policy issues in Maine.

Priority Areas

• Rural Health: Addresses healthcare access challenges in Maine's rural areas, recognising that much of Maine's population lives in rural settings and that rural residents are disproportionately older than those in urbanised areas
• Ageing/Older Adults: Supports Area Agencies on Ageing and programmes serving Maine's ageing population across the state
• Behavioural Health: Funds recovery centres and services, particularly those functioning in rural parts of the state, and promotes integration between behavioural health and primary care
• Maternal and Child Health: Addresses health outcomes and access for mothers and children
• Health Equity: Focuses on changing policies, practices, and perceptions that create barriers to health care and good health for marginalised communities
• Health System Reform: Advances patient-centred care and coordination between behavioural health and primary care services
• Community Voice: Centres community members, especially those from underserved populations, in identifying problems and developing solutions

What They Don't Fund

• Direct care costs
• Public awareness campaigns focused on a specific disease or health condition
• Fundraising efforts
• Capital expenditures
• Academic or graduate research
• Grants or scholarships to individuals
• General operations of new or current work (Discretionary Grants)
• Fiscal sponsorships (generally)
• Organisations with pending 501(c)(3) status
• Private foundations
• For-profit entities
• Organisations outside Maine
• Same annual meeting/conference for multiple consecutive years (Meeting Support)

Governance and Leadership

President & CEO: Jake Grindle became MeHAF's third President and CEO on January 1, 2025. He joined the foundation in September 2015 and served in various roles before his promotion. Grindle has demonstrated commitment to accessibility, offering open "Office Hours" via Zoom for applicants with questions.

Former Leadership: Barbara A. Leonard, MPH, served as President and CEO from 2016 to 2024. Under her leadership, MeHAF simplified application processes based on grantee feedback. Leonard noted that "in the Foundation's first surveys in 2004 and 2009, it became apparent that MeHAF's grant forms were far too complicated." She emphasised making processes "as low-lift and low-burden as possible on the organisations" they fund. Dr. Wendy J. Wolf served as founding President and CEO from 2001 to 2016 and is honoured through the Dr. Wendy J. Wolf Health Leadership Award.

Board of Trustees: A 15-member statewide Board governs the foundation, bringing expertise and experiences from leaders who represent Maine's diversity. Members include Beth Bordowitz, JD, Dr. Grace Odimayo, DMD, and Dr. Evans.

Community Advisory Committee: A 20-member statewide committee provides guidance and input to the Board on the foundation's work.

Key Staff:

• Margo Beland (Finance Manager)
• Dania Bowie (Programme Officer)
• Emily Creamer, MSW (Programme Officer)
• Lelia De Andrade, PhD (Chief Strategy Advisor)
• Charles Dwyer (Senior Programme Officer)
• Holly Irish (Grants Manager)
• Frank Martinez Nocito (Senior Programme Officer)

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

Discretionary Grants: Submit a Letter of Interest (LOI) electronically through the grants management system (accessible via "Manage Your Grant" link at mehaf.org). After review, applicants receive an email either declining the proposal or requesting a structured conversation with the programme lead. If moved through the discussion phase, applicants complete a final application.

Community Responsive Grants and SIIRG: Applications submitted through the online portal at www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=mehaf. These programmes have fixed annual deadlines.

Health Equity Capacity Building: Submit Letter of Inquiry through the online portal by the specified deadline.

Meeting Support: Apply anytime through the online grant portal via "Manage Your Grant" link. Applications must be submitted at least six weeks before the meeting date.

All programmes require applicants to be Maine-based 501(c)(3) organisations, local/state/tribal government entities, or educational institutions. Organisations unable to apply independently may use a fiscal sponsor after contacting MeHAF beforehand.

Decision Timeline

Discretionary Grants: Decisions typically made within 6-8 weeks of final application submission.

Community Responsive Grants: Applications typically due in July; decisions announced several months after the deadline.

SIIRG: Applications typically due in February; decisions announced several months after the deadline.

Meeting Support: Rolling decisions; must apply at least six weeks before event.

Success Rates

Specific success rate percentages are not publicly available. However, the foundation participates every five years in a Center for Effective Philanthropy (CEP) Grantee and Application Perception Survey, which allows applicants and grantees to provide anonymous feedback about their experiences at every stage of the grant process. The foundation is developing plans to ensure grant applicants have clear and precise information to support their understanding of their likelihood of success for a given funding opportunity.

Recent award announcements include:

• $1,250,000 for 17 Community Responsive Grants
• $714,231 through the first SIIRG programme awards

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication waiting period policy was found in publicly available materials. However, organisations can receive only one Discretionary Grant per calendar year (this refers to awarded grants, not application attempts). For clarification on reapplication after unsuccessful applications, contact the Grants Manager or relevant programme officer.

Application Success Factors

Foundation Philosophy on Accessibility

The foundation has systematically worked to reduce application burden based on grantee feedback. Former CEO Barbara Leonard stated that they looked at "how they could make everything as low-lift and low-burden as possible on the organisations they would be funding." During COVID-19, for directed grants, MeHAF reached out directly with "no application process" and collected only "a minimal set of information necessary to make payments," recognising they had "more flexibility and capacity than direct service organisations responding to immediate community needs."

Key Success Factors

Community Voice is Central: The foundation emphasises that "the community of focus has a meaningful and ongoing voice" in shaping solutions. For Community Responsive Grants, "those closest to a given problem often have the best ideas about potential solutions." Projects must demonstrate authentic community leadership and engagement, not just consultation.

Focus on Systems Change: Rather than funding isolated programmes, MeHAF seeks proposals that address policies, practices, and perceptions creating barriers to health care and good health. The SIIRG programme specifically targets "system and organisational levels" of change.

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: Proposals must clearly connect to one or more of the four priority areas (rural health, ageing/older adults, behavioural health, maternal and child health) or demonstrate how they address health equity barriers.

Integration Across Issues: The foundation thinks about "how rural interacts with many of their other strategic priorities ranging from workforce to racial equity to ageing populations, maternal health, et cetera." Strong proposals show understanding of intersecting challenges.

Evidence of Community Leadership: Particularly for Community Responsive Grants and Health Equity Capacity Building, organisations led by and serving underserved communities are prioritised. This includes BIPOC communities, LGBTQ+ individuals, people with disabilities, and people experiencing homelessness.

Recent Grantee Examples

Health Equity Capacity Building Programme (2018-2024 Cohort): Church of Safe Injection, Commonspace, Frannie Peabody Center, In Her Presence, Mabel Wadsworth Center, Maine Access Immigrant Network, Maine Association of New Americans, Maine Community Integration, Maine TransNet, Mano en Mano, Mi'kmaq Nation, New England Arab American Organisation, New Mainers Public Health Initiative, Portland Outright, Presente! Maine, Somali Bantu Community Association, Southern Maine Workers Center, Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness.

Community Responsive Grants: Aroostook County Action Programme, Defend Our Health, Hand in Hand/Mano en Mano, Healthy Peninsula, In Her Presence.

Application Tips

• Review programme-specific videos and guidance documents before applying
• Take advantage of "Office Hours" offered by programme staff to ask questions
• Contact programme officers early if unsure about eligibility or fit
• Review the foundation's formal policies on accessibility expenses, fiscal sponsorship, grants match requirements, indirect costs, and nondiscrimination
• Organisations can only receive one Discretionary Grant per calendar year
• For Meeting Support, note that MeHAF generally will not fund the same annual meeting for multiple consecutive years
• Demonstrate clear understanding of how your work aligns with MeHAF's commitment to health equity and community voice

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Community-Driven is Essential: MeHAF prioritises projects where communities facing health inequities are in leadership roles developing and implementing solutions, not just being consulted. Organisations led by and serving underserved communities have dedicated funding streams (HECB, CRG).

• Think Systems, Not Just Services: The foundation seeks proposals that change policies, practices, and perceptions at system and organisational levels, not just deliver direct services or disease-specific awareness campaigns.

• Maine-Only Focus: All applicants must be Maine-based organisations. Geographic restrictions are strictly enforced. Understanding Maine's rural context and how it intersects with other priorities strengthens applications.

• Multiple Pathways for Different Project Sizes: Match your project to the right programme - small projects under $10,000 fit Discretionary Grants; community-led equity work fits CRG; system-level innovations fit SIIRG; organisational capacity building fits HECB.

• Application Process Has Been Simplified: The foundation has intentionally reduced application burden based on grantee feedback. They value efficiency and recognise the limited capacity of community organisations. Don't over-complicate your narrative.

• Rural Health is a Priority Lens: Even if your primary focus is ageing, behavioural health, or maternal health, consider how rural access challenges intersect with your work. The foundation explicitly considers rural as both a standalone priority and a factor affecting other issues.

• Engage Early with Programme Staff: The foundation encourages questions and offers office hours. Use these resources to ensure your project aligns before investing significant time in a full application. Staff accessibility reflects organisational values around reducing barriers.

References

1. Maine Health Access Foundation Official Website. https://mehaf.org. Accessed November 2025.

2. Maine Health Access Foundation - Funding Opportunities. https://mehaf.org/grants-center/funding-opportunites. Accessed November 2025.

3. Maine Health Access Foundation - Funding Policies and Guidelines. https://mehaf.org/grants-center/fundingpoliciesandguidance. Accessed November 2025.

4. Maine Health Access Foundation - Responsive Grant Opportunities. https://mehaf.org/grants-center/responsive-grant-opportunities. Accessed November 2025.

5. Maine Health Access Foundation - Staff. https://mehaf.org/who-we-are/staff. Accessed November 2025.

6. Maine Health Access Foundation - Board of Trustees. https://mehaf.org/who-we-are/board-of-trustees. Accessed November 2025.

7. GuideStar Profile - Maine Health Access Foundation Inc. https://www.guidestar.org/profile/01-0535144. Accessed November 2025.

8. Cause IQ - Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF). https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/maine-health-access-foundation,010535144/. Accessed November 2025.

9. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Maine Health Access Foundation Inc. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10535144. Accessed November 2025.

10. Inside Philanthropy - Maine Health Access Foundation. https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/maine-grants/maine-health-access-foundation. Accessed November 2025.

11. Rural Health Information Hub - Funding Details: Maine Health Access Foundation Discretionary Grants. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/funding/3289. Accessed November 2025.

12. The Rural Monitor - Maine Health Access Foundation: Reaching Out to Organisations to Provide Directed Grants. https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/rural-monitor/maine-health-access-foundation. Accessed November 2025.

13. Maine Philanthropy Center - Maine Health Access Foundation Announces New President and CEO Barbara Leonard. https://www.mainephilanthropy.org/news/maine-health-access-foundation-announces-new-president-and-ceo-barbara-leonard. Accessed November 2025.

14. Center for Effective Philanthropy - Evolving Through Evaluation. https://cep.org/blog/evolving-through-evaluation/. Accessed November 2025.

15. TheShareWay - Maine Health Access Foundation Inc. https://www.theshareway.com/funder/maine-health-07096. Accessed November 2025.