Maine Charity 

Purpose

The Maine Charity Foundation Fund has a broadly defined goal of supporting charitable and educational purposes within the State of Maine. The specific criteria and priorities (below) are defined by an advisory committee and reviewed annually.

Criteria and Priorities

All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements. Please read our eligibility and grant guidelines before submitting an application.

Criteria

To receive a grant, an organization or project must:

• Provide transportation and/or deliver essential services to under-resourced Maine people with limited or no access to transportation.

Priorities

Priority will be given to projects and organizations that:

• Provide a clearly laid out plan that is ready to implement
• Address inequities and engage a diverse range of community members
• Close gaps in services or provide service where nonexistent or lacking
• Creatively use existing resources
• Include volunteers and community partners
• Provide additional information and connections to assist riders with meeting other needs that exist beyond transportation

Types of Funding

The Maine Charity program provides two types of support: general support, and project support.

General support grants are provided to organizations whose mission or primary work serves under-resourced Maine people by:

• Transporting people,
• Distributing items, and/or
• Delivering services.

Project support grants are provided to organizations that serve under-resourced Maine people. Grants must be for new or existing transportation programs focused on:

• Transporting people,
• Distributing items, and/or
• Delivering services.

Additional Information

Ineligible Expenses

Funds may not be used for:

• Vehicles
• See also “What we will not fund, without exception” on our eligibility and grant guidelines page.

Background

The Maine Charity Foundation was established in 1921. In September 1993, its assets were transferred to the Maine Community Foundation, where it became a competitive grant program. Over the years, the grant program criteria and priorities have changed to meet the needs of Mainers. In 2018 the grant program began focusing on older people and became part of MaineCF’s strategic goal initiative on Thriving Older People.

Maine Charity Foundation Advisors

Barbara Wentworth, Chair, Saco
Steve Farnham, Mapleton
Patty Hamilton, Bangor
Tracy Harty, Farmington
Mary Beth Paquette, Monmouth