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Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation

Annual Giving
$4.5M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.1M
Decision Time
2mo

Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $4,529,900 (2023)
  • Total Assets: $21,035,932
  • Success Rate: Not publicly disclosed
  • Decision Time: Up to 8 weeks after deadline
  • Grant Range: $500 - $50,000 (typically); occasional grants of $1 million+
  • Geographic Focus: Maine (exclusively)
  • Awards Made: 219 grants in 2023
  • Median Grant: $20,000

Contact Details

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 855, Bangor, ME 04402

Phone: (207) 990-2910

Email: info@stkfoundation.org

Website: www.stkfoundation.org

Important Note: Messages are not received by or sent to Stephen or Tabitha King directly.

Overview

Founded in 1986 by renowned horror author Stephen King and his wife Tabitha, the Stephen & Tabitha King Foundation is a private family foundation dedicated to strengthening and supporting Maine communities. With assets of approximately $21 million, the foundation distributes around $4.5 million annually through its grant programs. The foundation's mission draws upon the values and spirituality of its founders, focusing on projects that address both the underlying causes and consequences of social and environmental problems. With a particular emphasis on literacy, community services, and the arts, the foundation prioritizes organizations and projects that serve the most community members possible. The Kings both attended the University of Maine and met at Raymond H. Folger Library, experiences that shaped their lifelong commitment to supporting education, libraries, and their home state of Maine.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

The foundation operates a single grant program with two annual deadlines:

  • General Grant Program: $500 - $50,000 (standard range)
    • Applications reviewed twice annually (April 15 and October 15 deadlines)
    • One-time grants that improve organizational capacity or function
    • Occasional grants exceeding $50,000 for exceptional projects
    • Recent examples include $1.4 million to City of Bangor for pool renovation and $1 million to Northern Light Acadia Hospital for pediatric wing

Priority Areas

The foundation actively funds projects in the following areas:

Education & Literacy

  • Public schools and school districts
  • Libraries (public, academic, and community)
  • Educational infrastructure improvements
  • Books and learning materials
  • Literacy programs

Community Services

  • Fire departments and emergency services
  • Community centers and recreational facilities
  • Youth programs
  • Community building projects serving multiple constituencies

Arts & Culture

  • Arts organizations
  • Historic preservation
  • Cultural programming

Healthcare

  • Hospitals and medical facilities
  • Mental health services
  • Geriatric and pediatric care

Environment & Conservation

  • Conservation organizations
  • Environmental projects
  • Historic preservation

Community Infrastructure

  • Equipment purchases for public safety
  • Facility renovations and improvements
  • Capacity-building projects

What They Don't Fund

The foundation explicitly excludes:

  • Grants to individuals for personal use
  • Annual operating support or recurring operational costs
  • Funding gaps or emergency funds
  • Organizations without 501(c)(3) status (except Maine towns, fire/emergency departments, or school systems with tax-exempt status)
  • Organizations outside of Maine
  • Endowment grants (rare exceptions only)
  • Matching or challenge grants (rare exceptions only)
  • Projects that do not serve multiple community members

Governance and Leadership

The foundation is governed by an administrator and board of trustees who review all grant requests. The foundation maintains privacy regarding specific names of trustees and board members beyond the founders, Stephen and Tabitha King.

Founding Philosophy

Stephen King has been vocal about his philanthropic beliefs, notably writing "Tax Me, for F@%&'s Sake!" for The Daily Beast, expressing strong views on wealth and taxation. The foundation reflects the Kings' desire to give back to their home community, focusing on community-building and projects addressing systemic issues rather than just symptoms.

The foundation's approach centers on:

  • Addressing underlying causes of social and environmental problems
  • Supporting projects that serve the most community members
  • One-time capacity-building grants rather than ongoing support
  • Strong commitment to Maine communities

Application Process & Timeline

Current Status

IMPORTANT: The Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation announced it will not be accepting any more grant applications for calendar year 2025.

How to Apply (When Applications Reopen)

Eligibility:

  • Any 501(c)(3) organization in Maine
  • Maine towns, fire departments, emergency aid departments, or school systems with tax-exempt status

Application Methods:

  • Online submission through foundation website
  • Mail to: P.O. Box 855, Bangor, ME 04402
  • Hand delivery

Application Deadlines:

  • Spring deadline: April 15
  • Fall deadline: October 15
  • Applications may be submitted at any time but will only be reviewed after these deadlines

Required Materials:

  • Completed application form (available on foundation website)
  • Project description and budget
  • Proof of 501(c)(3) status or tax-exempt status
  • Information about how the project serves the community

Decision Timeline

  • Applications reviewed twice annually following deadlines
  • Decisions may take up to 8 weeks after the deadline
  • Notification sent directly to applicants
  • Decisions made at the sole discretion of the foundation's board
  • Decisions are not subject to review or appeal

Reapplication Policy

For Funded Organizations: Must wait two years before applying again after receiving a grant

For Unsuccessful Applicants: May reapply in subsequent years (once per calendar year)

General Rule: Organizations may only submit one application per calendar year

Application Success Factors

Foundation-Specific Priorities

Community Impact: The foundation explicitly states it is "particularly interested in organizations and projects that will affect or serve the most members of a community." Applications should clearly demonstrate broad community benefit.

Capacity Building Over Operating Support: The foundation's stated preference is "to award one-time grants that improve the capacity or function of an organization." Focus on equipment purchases, infrastructure improvements, renovations, or other capacity-enhancing projects rather than ongoing operational costs.

Maine Connection: The foundation makes grants "solely in the Maine community." Strong ties to Maine and demonstration of local community service are essential.

Recent Successful Project Types

The foundation has funded:

  • Fire department equipment (turnout gear, thermal imaging cameras, auto extrication equipment, training props)
  • Library renovations and book purchases
  • Hospital facility improvements (pediatric wings, geriatric care)
  • Community infrastructure (pools, recreational facilities, green spaces)
  • Educational technology and learning materials
  • Historic preservation projects
  • Conservation initiatives

Key Success Factors

Special Relationships: The foundation's website notes that "grants for education prioritize the institutions and organizations with which they have a special relationship in Maine." Previous funding relationships or connections to the Kings' personal history may be advantageous.

Clear Project Scope: Since the foundation prefers one-time grants, successful applications clearly define a specific, achievable project with concrete outcomes rather than open-ended requests.

Avoid These Common Pitfalls:

  • Requesting operating support or funding gaps (explicitly excluded)
  • Exceeding the $50,000 request limit without exceptional justification
  • Failing to demonstrate broad community benefit
  • Applying more than once per year or before the two-year waiting period (for previous grantees)

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Maine-only funding: The foundation exclusively supports Maine organizations—do not apply if based outside the state
  • Community breadth matters: Emphasize how many community members will benefit; the foundation prioritizes projects serving the most people possible
  • One-time capacity building: Frame requests around specific improvements to capacity or function, not ongoing operations
  • Respect the limits: Standard requests should not exceed $50,000; larger grants are rare and require exceptional circumstances
  • Timing is strategic: Two annual deadlines (April 15, October 15) allow organizations to plan accordingly; submit by the deadline that best aligns with project timeline
  • Patience with decisions: Allow up to 8 weeks after deadline for review; foundation reviews hundreds of applications
  • Literacy, arts, and community service: These three areas receive particular attention, with fire departments, libraries, and educational institutions frequently funded
  • Application currently closed: Monitor the foundation website for announcement of when applications will reopen after the 2025 pause

References

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