Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $1,300,936 (2025)
• Grant Range: $5,000 - $20,000
• Average Grant: $10,000
• Decision Time: Staff review October; board review November; decisions announced late November, awards by end of December
• Geographic Focus: Maine only

Contact Details

Website: https://www.morton-kelly.org/

Mailing Address:
Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust
PO Box 4510
Portland, Maine 04112

Program Advisor: Lissa Widoff
Phone: (207) 322-6553
Email: programs@morton-kelly.org

Secretary: Michael J. Quinlan
Phone: (207) 775-7271

Pre-Application Contact: New applicants or organisations that have not received a grant in the last 3 years should contact Lissa Widoff to discuss proposal ideas before applying.

Overview

The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust was established in 1988 by Joan Morton Kelly and her mother, Mildred Duncan Morton. Joan was a 1942 Wellesley College graduate with a Ph.D. in Zoology from the University of Michigan who was instrumental in creating the Children's Zoo at the San Diego Zoo, serving as its superintendent from 1958. An early admirer of Rachel Carson, Joan became a dedicated environmentalist and worked to protect Higgins Beach and surrounding areas in Maine. Since Joan's death in 2012, the foundation's board of directors has carried on her philanthropic legacy. The Trust distributed $1,300,936 in grants in 2025. The Trust's overarching interest is to connect people and place through the arts, culture and the natural environment in Maine. For the 2023-2024 cycle, the Trust updated its grantmaking guidelines to broaden its support and address the evolving needs of the Maine community, shifting from exclusive support for past grantees to wider eligibility criteria.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

The Trust offers grants ranging from $5,000 to $20,000, with an average grant of $10,000. Applications may request either project support or operating support. The Trust focuses on two main programme areas:

Arts, Culture & Historic Preservation

• Organisations that increase access to the arts, including performances, libraries, museums, and arts education for urban and rural children and adults in Maine
• Supporting expressions of Maine's diverse cultural heritage
• Public programming in Maine's libraries, museums, and schools
• Facility improvements for community cultural centres, including structural improvements, health and safety, and technology upgrades (prioritising small venues in rural or underserved areas)
• Historic preservation projects

Environmental Initiatives

• Land conservation and stewardship
• Watershed protection and restoration
• Protecting critical natural resources
• Science research into ecosystem management and climate change impact, prioritising efforts that use science, policy and community engagement to improve and restore natural resources
• Environmental outdoor learning and education

Priority Areas

The Trust gives preference to proposals demonstrating:

• Equitable access
• Community representation
• Collaboration
• Responsiveness to diverse voices
• Connections between people and place

Projects should articulate clear goals, partnerships, timelines and outcomes for the project. Requests should align with at least one of the Trust's stated goals and priorities.

What They Don't Fund

• Organisations that have received grants in each of the last two years must take a one-year hiatus before applying again (note: this does not apply to recently-funded Wabanaki-led projects)
• Organisations outside of Maine
• Endowments or annual campaigns
• Internships or scholarships
• Organisations primarily focused on social services, unless arts, culture or environment-focused with dedicated staffing

Governance and Leadership

Board of Directors:

• Douglas Henry, President
• Marilyn LaLumiere, Trustee
• Janet Henry, Trustee (retired President of the Maine Philanthropy Center)
• Mari Jones, Trustee
• Tyler Kidder, Trustee
• Erik C. Jorgensen, Trustee
• Michael Quinlan, Secretary

The board is committed to thoughtful stewardship of Joan Morton Kelly's philanthropic legacy, focusing on her values of environmental conservation, cultural preservation, and community connection. Joan valued privacy and anonymity in her philanthropy and was involved with multiple nonprofit boards in Greater Portland during her lifetime.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust accepts grant applications only from June 1 to October 1 each year using an online grant application portal. Updated guidelines and the application portal are posted each year by June 1.

Application Requirements:

• Online application through their Grant Application Portal
• First-time applicants must create an account
• All attachments should be in PDF format
• Application deadline is strictly midnight on October 1 (no extensions granted)
• All submitted applications receive email acknowledgment

Pre-Application Contact: New applicants or organisations that have not received a grant in the last 3 years are encouraged to call Lissa Widoff at (207) 322-6553 to discuss proposal ideas before applying. Potential applicants should review the Application FAQ on the website before applying.

Decision Timeline

• Application Period: June 1 - October 1
• Staff Review: October
• Board Review: November
• Decision Notifications: Late November
• Grants Awarded: By end of December

Reapplication Policy

Organisations that have received a grant in each of the last two consecutive years must take a one-year hiatus before applying again. This restriction does not apply to recently-funded Wabanaki-led projects. There is no waiting period for unsuccessful applicants to reapply.

Application Success Factors

Based on the Trust's stated priorities and recent grantmaking patterns, successful applications demonstrate:

1. Clear Connection to Mission: Projects must explicitly show how they "connect people and place through the arts, culture and the natural environment" in Maine.

2. Community-Centred Approach: The Trust prioritises proposals that demonstrate equitable access, community representation, responsiveness to diverse voices, and collaboration with community partners.

3. Rural and Underserved Communities: Special attention is given to projects serving rural or underserved areas of Maine, particularly for facility improvements for small cultural venues.

4. Measurable Outcomes: Projects should articulate clear goals, partnerships, timelines and outcomes. Be specific about what you will accomplish and how you will measure success.

5. Maine-Specific Focus: All projects must serve Maine communities and clearly demonstrate their Maine focus and impact.

6. Pre-Application Engagement: New applicants should contact Program Advisor Lissa Widoff before submitting to ensure alignment with Trust priorities and discuss proposal ideas.

7. Diversity and Inclusion: Recent policy changes show the Trust's commitment to Wabanaki-led projects and broader community representation, indicating that projects demonstrating cultural diversity and equitable access are valued.

The Trust's founder, Joan Morton Kelly, was influenced by Rachel Carson and deeply committed to environmental conservation, suggesting that environmental projects demonstrating strong scientific grounding and community engagement may resonate with the Trust's values.

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• Contact them first: New applicants or those not funded in the last 3 years should call Lissa Widoff at (207) 322-6553 before applying to discuss proposal ideas and ensure alignment.
• Mark your calendar: The application window is strictly June 1 - October 1, with no extensions. Plan ahead to meet the midnight October 1 deadline.
• Average grant size matters: With an average grant of $10,000, structure your request realistically within the $5,000-$20,000 range based on your organisation's size and project scope.
• Emphasise "connecting people and place": This is the Trust's core mission language. Explicitly articulate how your project creates connections between Maine communities and their cultural or natural environment.
• Highlight equity and collaboration: The Trust prioritises equitable access, community representation, and partnerships with diverse voices. These should be central to your narrative.
• Two-year limit: If you've been funded two years in a row, you must take a one-year break (exception: Wabanaki-led projects).
• Rural focus for facilities: Small cultural venues in rural or underserved areas are specifically prioritised for facility improvement grants.

References

• Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust official website: https://www.morton-kelly.org/ (accessed May 2026)
• How to Apply page: https://www.morton-kelly.org/how-to-apply/ (accessed May 2026)
• About page: https://www.morton-kelly.org/about/ (accessed May 2026)
• Past Grants page: https://www.morton-kelly.org/past-grants/ (accessed May 2026)
• Contact page: https://www.morton-kelly.org/contact-us/ (accessed May 2026)
• Inside Philanthropy profile: https://www.insidephilanthropy.com/find-a-grant-places/maine-grants/morton-kelly-charitable-trust (accessed January 2026)
• ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10442078