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Onion Foundation

Annual Giving
$5.4M
Grant Range
$1K - $0.5M

Onion Foundation

Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: $5,448,989 (FY 2024)
  • Total Assets: $63.6 million
  • Grant Range: $1,000 - $470,000
  • Median Grant: $13,000
  • Number of Grants: 208 annually
  • Geographic Focus: Primarily Maine, with some funding in Massachusetts and Vermont
  • Founded: 2014

Contact Details

  • Website: www.onionfoundation.org
  • Phone: 207-221-0272
  • Address: 2 Great Falls Plaza, Box 7, Auburn, ME 04210
  • Application Portal: onionfoundation.givingdata.com/portal/
  • Pre-Application Contact: Program officers are available and applicants are encouraged to discuss proposals before applying

Overview

The Onion Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation established in 2014 by Maine technology entrepreneur Frederick "Fritz" Onion (co-founder of Pluralsight Inc.) and his wife Susan Onion. With assets of $63.6 million, the foundation has made over 1,500 grants totaling more than $27 million to over 600 unique nonprofit organizations since its inception. The foundation's mission is to build a more equitable and healthy Maine by deepening the connection of all people to the arts and nature. In 2022, the foundation reached a significant milestone by appointing Diana Morris as its first executive director, signaling a shift toward more professional grantmaking operations. The foundation is recognized as one of Maine's top 25 funders and maintains an active presence in the state's philanthropic community through the Maine Philanthropy Center.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Arts Program Grants ($10,000 - $100,000)

  • For organizations or projects with budgets over $50,000: up to $20,000/year (max $60,000 over 3 years)
  • For organizations or projects with budgets under $50,000: up to $7,500/year (max $22,500 over 3 years)
  • Supports both general operating and project-specific funding
  • Application deadlines: Spring cycle (March) and Fall cycle (September)

Environment Program Grants ($10,000 - $100,000)

  • Same tiered structure as Arts Program based on $50,000 budget threshold
  • Focus on people-centered environmental work rather than land acquisition
  • Application deadlines: Typically February for main cycle

Discovery Grants ($1,000 - $5,000)

  • For small-scale pilot projects in arts or environment
  • Supports innovation, new approaches, or organizational development
  • Encourages strategic planning and equity/diversity/inclusion work
  • Designed for testing new ideas, not variants of existing work

Priority Areas

Arts Program Strategies:

  • Arts Education: Expanding access to arts learning opportunities, particularly for youth
  • Public Engagement: Connecting Maine residents to arts experiences as both audience members and makers
  • Capacity Building: Strengthening Maine's arts sector infrastructure
  • Equity Focus: Programs featuring underrepresented artists and stories, engaging historically under-resourced communities

Environment Program Strategies:

  • Equitable Outdoor Access: Enabling all Maine residents, especially in rural areas, to enjoy natural resources
  • Nature Education: Expanding high-quality environmental education opportunities
  • Climate Action: Supporting advocacy and mobilization to protect the environment and mitigate climate change
  • Conservation Stewardship: Promoting responsible management of Maine's natural resources

Cross-Cutting Priorities:

  • Rural and underserved populations
  • Diverse perspectives and underrepresented communities (including New Mainers, Wabanaki people, LGBTQ+ communities)
  • Collaborative approaches
  • Social and racial equity
  • Projects benefiting Maine's people

What They Don't Fund

While explicit exclusions are not extensively documented, the foundation focuses on:

  • Projects that must be based in Maine and benefit Maine's people
  • People-centered initiatives rather than land acquisition or capital projects in the environment sector
  • Work that aligns with their specific arts and environment strategies

Governance and Leadership

Board of Trustees:

  • Alene Onion, Board Chair
  • Frederick "Fritz" Onion, Trustee and Co-Founder
  • Susan Onion, Trustee, Director, and Co-Founder

Key Staff:

  • Diana Morris, Executive Director: Appointed in February 2022 as the foundation's first executive director. An attorney with extensive philanthropy experience, including launching the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Ford Foundation, serving as inaugural executive director of the Blaustein Philanthropic Group, and founding the Open Society Foundations' only U.S. field office. Holds A.B. from Smith College and J.D. from Boston University. Compensation: $227,747 (2024)
  • Nathaniel May, Arts Program Officer: Compensation: $126,667 (2024)
  • Rosalind Erwin, Environment Program Officer: Compensation: $103,434 (2024)
  • Holly Taylor, Program Associate
  • Sally Struever, Grants + Officer Administrator

Founders' Philosophy: Fritz Onion has stated: "We feel that philanthropy has an important role in helping address the systemic inequities in our society today. It is an odd feeling to understand that you have the ability to make change, to help others and to enable nonprofits to do the work they do." Susan Onion emphasized collaboration: "The philanthropic community in Maine is small and there's a lot of sharing of practice… a lot of collaborative work."

Application Process & Timeline

How to Apply

For New Applicants:

  • Register and apply online through the foundation's portal during open application periods
  • Visit onionfoundation.givingdata.com/portal/ to access the application system

For Returning Applicants:

  • Contact the foundation via email to request an invitation to apply
  • Include: your name, organization, email address, and brief description of your proposal
  • Returning applicants are those who have previously applied for or received a grant from the foundation

Pre-Application Consultation:

  • The foundation strongly encourages applicants to discuss proposal ideas with program officers before writing applications
  • This is especially important for fiscally sponsored applicants
  • Contact program officers:
    • Nathaniel May (Arts Program)
    • Rosalind Erwin (Environment Program)

Eligibility Requirements: Organizations must meet one of the following criteria:

  • 501(c)(3) public charity designated by the IRS
  • Operating under a fiscal sponsor who is a qualified 501(c)(3) public charity
  • Public education institution
  • Maine municipality or governmental unit

The organization and/or project must be based in Maine and focused on benefiting Maine's people.

Decision Timeline

Specific decision timelines are not publicly documented, but the foundation operates on a spring/fall grant cycle system:

  • Environment Program: February deadline (e.g., February 12, 2025)
  • Arts Program: Spring deadline (e.g., March 13, 2025) and Fall deadline (typically September)
  • Discovery Grants: Rolling basis (specific timeline not published)

Success Rates

The foundation distributes 208 grants annually from among all applicants. With over 1,500 grants made to 600+ unique organizations since 2014, the foundation appears to maintain ongoing relationships with grantees. Specific acceptance rates are not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

The foundation distinguishes between "new applicants" and "returning applicants," indicating that previous applicants can reapply. Returning applicants must request an invitation to apply rather than applying directly through the portal. No specific waiting period or restrictions are documented for unsuccessful applicants.

Application Success Factors

Alignment with Strategic Priorities: The foundation has clearly articulated strategies for both arts and environment programs. Successful applications should explicitly demonstrate how they advance one or more of these strategies, particularly around equity, access, and capacity building.

Pre-Application Engagement: The foundation's strong encouragement to discuss proposals with program officers before applying suggests that relationship-building and alignment-checking are valued. Organizations that take advantage of this opportunity likely have better success rates.

Equity and Inclusion Focus: The foundation explicitly states it "values efforts to reach rural and underserved populations, foster collaborations, include diverse perspectives, learn from field experts, increase access to opportunities, and apply practices to further social and racial equity." Applications should clearly demonstrate these commitments.

Maine Focus: All funded work must be based in Maine and benefit Maine's people. The foundation emphasizes reaching rural and underserved populations within the state, not just urban centers.

People-Centered Approach: Particularly for environment grants, the foundation explicitly focuses on "people of Maine, whose lives and behaviors will continue to shape environment and climate change outcomes" rather than land acquisition or capital projects. Applications should emphasize human impact and behavior change.

Innovation and Learning: Discovery Grants specifically support "a new learning or innovative approach" and encourage trying something new. The foundation appears to value organizational development and willingness to experiment.

Multiyear Relationships: The foundation offers multiyear grants (up to three years) for both general operating and project support, indicating they value sustained partnerships rather than one-time funding relationships.

Recent Successful Grants Include:

  • Momentum Conservation: $470,000 (two years) for technical and financial support to land trusts
  • Maine Association of Nonprofits/Cultural Alliance of Maine: $75,000 for arts and culture advocacy
  • Maine Environmental Education Association: $46,000 for outdoor learning mini-grants to Maine public schools
  • Wintergreen Arts Center: $45,000 (three years) for arts programming in Presque Isle
  • Land Trust Alliance: $20,000 for regional Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice learning cohort
  • Maine Initiatives: $50,000 for Maine Outdoor Equity Fund

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

  • Pre-application consultation is crucial: The foundation strongly encourages discussing proposals with program officers before applying. This is your opportunity to ensure alignment and get valuable feedback.

  • Equity must be explicit and authentic: The foundation's mission emphasizes building "a more equitable and healthy Maine." Applications should demonstrate genuine commitment to reaching underserved populations, not just mention equity as an afterthought.

  • Know your budget threshold: The $50,000 organizational or project budget threshold determines your maximum grant amount. Structure your ask accordingly and be realistic about your capacity.

  • Consider the multiyear approach: With grants available for up to three years, think strategically about sustained impact rather than short-term projects. The foundation values ongoing relationships.

  • Maine focus is non-negotiable: Projects must be based in Maine and benefit Maine's people. Demonstrate deep understanding of Maine communities, particularly rural and underserved populations.

  • Innovation is welcome in Discovery Grants: If you're testing something new, use the Discovery Grant program rather than applying for larger amounts. The foundation explicitly wants to support new learnings and innovative approaches.

  • Engage with the philanthropic community: Fritz and Susan Onion emphasize that "the philanthropic community in Maine is small" with "a lot of collaborative work." Building relationships through events like Maine Philanthropy Center gatherings may be valuable.

References

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