Libra Foundation
At a glance
Key takeaways
- Libra Foundation funds charitable organisations in Maine working on economic development, entrepreneurial activity, Maine-based business initiatives, children's welfare and significant social benefit, so a project should fit squarely into one of these themes to be worth pursuing.
- Most awards are modest: half of its grants across recent filings were $5,000 or less and its stated grant range tops out at $25,000, so a first request should be pitched small rather than large.
- The Foundation is heavily relationship-led, with 98% of its grant dollars going to organisations it had already funded in the previous two filings, so new applicants should expect this to be a competitive, trust-built-over-time environment and plan for a longer relationship rather than a single approach.
- Applications are accepted against fixed quarterly deadlines, due by the 15th of the month before meetings in March, June, September and December, so timing the request to one of these dates is essential.
- Organisations that are not tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3), or that are private foundations under Section 509(a), should not apply, and the Foundation does not normally fund supplements to annual campaigns for regular operations, multiple-year gifts, a subsequent grant for the same purpose, individuals, fellowships, travel or loans.
Overview
Libra 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 Libra Foundation makes grants to charitable organisations in Maine to improve residents’ quality of life. It seeks to spur economic development, further entrepreneurial activity and create jobs. Much of its giving is directed to organisations expected to develop innovative, sustainable Maine-based business initiatives and to programmes for the welfare and betterment of children. It also funds organisations and programmes promising significant social benefit where they may lack the ability to develop financial self-sufficiency. The Foundation describes its approach as balancing diverse giving throughout Maine and across populations, traditionally giving small grants to many organisations rather than large grants to a few. Applicants must be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) and not private foundations.
Themes
- Economic development
- Entrepreneurial activity
- Maine-based business initiatives
- Children’s welfare
- Significant social benefit
Geographic Focus
Maine.
What They Don't Fund
- Organisations not determined to be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) or that are private foundations under Section 509(a)
- Grants to supplement annual campaigns for regular operations, which it does not normally award
- Multiple year gifts, which it does not normally make
- A subsequent grant for the same purpose, which it does not generally make
- Individuals
- Fellowships
- Travel
- Loans
How to apply
Applicants use the Foundation’s grant application form, giving the project name, description and purpose, geographic area and number of people served, request amount and detailed project budget.
Deadlines: Requests are due by the 15th of the month before the Foundation’s quarterly meetings in March, June, September and December.
Application success factors
- Repeat giving: In its TY2024 filing, 98% 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 212 grants to organisations were $5,000 or less.
What the foundation says:
- It expects organisations to develop innovative, sustainable Maine-based business initiatives or programmes for children’s welfare and betterment.
- It also funds organisations and programmes promising significant social benefit where they may lack the ability to develop financial self-sufficiency.
- It proactively solicits some groups to apply alongside the formal application process.
Where grants go
From grants to organisations in the foundation’s filings for tax years 2022–2024.
Grant dollars by state
- The largest single recipient received 71% of grant dollars to organisations.
- In tax year 2024, 98% of grant dollars went to organisations Libra Foundation had funded in earlier filings.
- No grants were paid directly to organisations outside the US.
Grants
How much do they typically give?
Share of 67 grants in tax year 2024 by size
Median $5,000 (tax year 2024)
The largest grants to organisations in the foundation’s latest filing:
- Pineland Farms · Develop, operate and staff pineland farms, inc. for agricultural promotion, education and research in maine$4,400,0002024 tax year
- Foxcroft Academy · Piscataquis county ice arena operating expenses$158,5232024 tax year
- Cross Insurance Arena · Community use of civic center events$75,0002024 tax year
- MaineHealth · Raising readers program$57,9482024 tax year
- Presque Isle Community Recreation Association · General operating support$50,0002024 tax year
- Fort Kent Outdoor Center · General operating support$50,0002024 tax year
- Portland Symphony Orchestra · General operating support$20,0002024 tax year
- Farnsworth Art Museum · General operating support$20,0002024 tax year
Grants to organisations listed in the foundation’s Form 990-PF filings. Grants to individuals are not shown.
Officers and directors
- Paul Pietropaoli — Executive Vice President
- William J Ryan — Trustee
- Pendred E Noyce — Trustee
- Erik Hayward — Executive Vice President
- Jere G Michelson — President / COO / CFO
- Craig N Denekas — Chairman / CEO
- Owen W Wells — Trustee
From the latest Form 990-PF filing
3 years of tax filings
| Year | Total expenses | Grants paid | Assets | Filing document |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 tax year | $9,064,186 | $6,318,580 | $139,658,427 | Filing for 2022 tax year |
| 2023 tax year | $9,054,568 | $6,062,723 | $137,736,434 | Filing for 2023 tax year |
| 2024 tax year | $8,208,021 | $5,201,471 | $132,499,908 | 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
🎯 You've done the research. Now write an application they can't refuse.
Hinchilla combines funder's specific priorities with your organisation's past successful grants and AI analysis of what reviewers want to see.
Data privacy and security by default
Your organisation's past successful grants and experience
AI analysis of what reviewers want to see
A compelling draft application in 10 minutes instead of 10 hours
Spotted something that needs correcting? Let us know
At a glance
Applying to Libra Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (207) 879-6280
- Portland, ME
- librafoundation.org
Applying to Libra Foundation?
Hinchilla drafts your answers around this funder's priorities, using your organisation's own documents.
No credit card required
Contact
- (207) 879-6280
- Portland, ME
- librafoundation.org