Schiavi Family Foundation

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: $645,000 (2022)
• Success Rate: N/A (preselected organizations only)
• Decision Time: N/A (trustee discretion)
• Grant Range: Average ~$11,000
• Geographic Focus: Maine (primarily Portland and surrounding areas)

Contact Details

Address: Portland, ME
EIN: 010463183

Note: The foundation does not have a publicly listed website, phone number, or email for grant inquiries.

Overview

The Schiavi Family Foundation is a private family foundation based in Portland, Maine, established by the Schiavi family, who also operate Schiavi Custom Builders in Oxford, ME. The foundation has been making grants since at least 2009 and gave $645,000 across 58 awards in 2022. The foundation supports a broad range of charitable causes with a focus on education, health care, environmental initiatives, and family services primarily in Maine. The foundation operates on a preselected basis, meaning they only make contributions to organizations chosen by the trustees and does not accept unsolicited grant applications. Recent activity includes support noted in the 2023-2024 USM Foundation Donor Honor Roll, indicating ongoing philanthropic engagement with Maine educational institutions.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation does not operate formal grant programs with specific application cycles. All grants are made at the discretion of the trustees to preselected organizations.

Grant History:

• 2022: $645,000 across 58 awards (~$11,000 average)
• 2021: 48 awards
• 2020: 46 awards

Priority Areas

Based on IRS 990 filings and grant databases, the foundation has supported:

• Education: Elementary & secondary schools, children and teen materials, educational institutions
• Health Care: General hospitals, health support services
• Family Services: Children & youth services, family support programs
• Environment: Environmental causes and initiatives
• Community Services: Food banks & pantries, food programs, community improvement & capacity building
• Religious Organizations: Franciscan Family Center, faith-based programs
• International Aid: Children Without Borders (Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land program)

What They Don't Fund

While specific exclusions are not publicly documented, as a private family foundation operating on a preselected basis, they do not fund:

• Unsolicited applications from organizations
• Organizations outside their established network of beneficiaries

Governance and Leadership

Specific information about trustees and officers is contained in the foundation's IRS Form 990-PF filings, which are publicly available through Maine Attorney General's office, ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer, and Grantmakers.io. The foundation appears to be connected to the Schiavi family business interests in Maine, including Schiavi Custom Builders and Schiavi Homes, LLC, based in Oxford, Maine.

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

This foundation does not have a public application process.

According to their IRS Form 990-PF filings, the Schiavi Family Foundation "only makes contributions to preselected charitable organizations and does not accept unsolicited requests for funds."

This designation means:

• Grants are made to organizations already known to the trustees
• There is no open application process
• The foundation identifies beneficiaries through trustee discretion and family connections
• Unsolicited proposals are not accepted or reviewed

Decision Timeline

Not applicable - grants are made at trustee discretion on a rolling basis throughout the year to preselected organizations.

Success Rates

Not applicable for unsolicited applications as they are not accepted.

Reapplication Policy

Not applicable - no public application process exists.

Application Success Factors

For Organizations Already in Their Network

While the foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, organizations that have received funding in the past should:

• Maintain strong relationships with the foundation trustees and the Schiavi family
• Demonstrate impact - show clear outcomes from previous grants received
• Align with priorities - ensure programs continue to match the foundation's broad charitable interests in education, health, environment, and family services
• Stay in Maine - the foundation appears to focus heavily on Maine-based organizations
• Provide stewardship - acknowledge support appropriately and keep donors informed of program progress

Understanding Their Giving Pattern

Based on 2022 data with 58 grants totaling $645,000:

• Average grant size is approximately $11,000
• The foundation makes numerous smaller grants rather than a few large ones
• Grants appear to support both ongoing operations and specific programs
• Both secular and faith-based organizations receive support

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• No public application process exists - this foundation exclusively funds preselected organizations chosen by trustees
• Strong Maine focus - the foundation supports organizations primarily in Maine, with connections to the Portland and Oxford areas
• Modest grant sizes - with an average of ~$11,000, this foundation makes numerous smaller grants rather than major awards
• Broad charitable interests - the foundation supports education, health, environment, family services, and community development
• Family foundation characteristics - connected to Schiavi family business interests in Maine construction and home building
• Relationship-driven - organizations already receiving support should focus on maintaining strong relationships and demonstrating impact
• Strategic approach for new organizations - if not already in their network, building connections through shared board members, community events, or Maine philanthropy networks may be the only pathway to consideration

References

1. Grantmakers.io Profile - Schiavi Family Foundation

   • URL: https://www.grantmakers.io/profiles/v0/010463183-schiavi-family-foundation/
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of information on preselected organizations policy and EIN

2. ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer - Schiavi Family Foundation

   • URL: https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/10463183
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of IRS Form 990 filing data

3. Instrumentl - Schiavi Family Foundation Profile

   • URL: https://www.instrumentl.com/990-report/schiavi-family-foundation
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of grant amounts, number of awards, and funding focus areas

4. Cause IQ - Schiavi Family Foundation

   • URL: https://www.causeiq.com/organizations/schiavi-family-foundation,010463183/
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of organizational information and grant data

5. Maine Attorney General's Office - Charitable Trust Filings

   • 2021 Form 990-PF: https://www.maine.gov/ag/attachments/.../Schiavi%20Family%20Foundation%202021%20990-PF.pdf
   • 2020 Amended Form 990-PF: https://www.maine.gov/ag/attachments/.../Schiavi%20Family%20Foundation%202020%20%20Amended%20990-PFpdf.pdf
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of official tax filings

6. Grant Advisor - Schiavi Family Foundation

   • URL: https://grantadvisor.org/profile/01-0463183/schiavi-family-foundation
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of funder information

7. USM Foundation 2023-2024 Donor Honor Roll

   • URL: https://usm.maine.edu/foundation/2024-annual-report/2023-2024-donor-honor-roll/
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source confirming recent philanthropic activity

8. Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land - Children Without Borders Program

   • URL: https://ffhl.org/programs/humanitarian/children-without-borders/
   • Accessed: March 3, 2026
   • Source of information about one of the grant recipients mentioned in foundation priorities