Rines Thompson Fund 

Purpose

The Rines Thompson Fund focuses its funding on community-based organizations that contribute to the vibrancy of Greater Portland.

Criteria

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:

• Be located in one of the following geographic areas: Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Yarmouth, and/or Westbrook
• Address one of the following issues areas: Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture

Priorities

For appropriate projects and programs, collaboration between and among organizations is encouraged. A letter from the executive director of each collaborating organization is required and should clearly explain the level of involvement and responsibility.

Types of Funding

Using the geographic and issue areas listed above, this program provides:

• Project Grants for new or expanding projects that focus on one of the required issue areas (Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture)
• General Support Grants for ongoing programs and operational needs. Your organization’s primary work must address one or more of the required issue areas (Environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture) AND your organization must:
  • Be located in and serving people in Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Yarmouth, and/or Westbrook.
  • NOT be a municipality, government agency, K-12 public and private, higher education) faith-based organization, or fiscally sponsored applicant (These organizations may be eligible for project grants.)

Additional Information

Ineligible Expenses

Funds may not be used for:

• Capital campaigns or endowments and other activities designed to increase the capital or assets of an organization
• Scholarships and camperships
• Educational institutions (K-12 public and private, higher education) and municipalities
• In order to have greater impact per request, organizations that received a grant are discouraged from submitting a request to the Rines/Thompson Fund the following year.
• See also “What we will not fund, without exception” on our eligibility and grant guidelines page.

Background

The Rines Thompson Fund is a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation that provides funding primarily for the benefit of people of Greater Portland. Established in 1999 by the children and grandchildren of Henry P. and Adeline B. Rines, this fund is designed to give back to the community that has supported the businesses owned by the Rines/Thompson family including the Congress Square Hotel, the Eastland Hotel, WCSH Radio, and WCSH Television. Henry P. Rines' father, Joseph Rines, started Rines Brothers Store on Congress Street in 1883 and the family has conducted business in the area for more than 150 years.

The fund also acts as a memorial to the Henry and Adeline Rines’ two children, Mary Rines Thompson (1918-1992) and William Henry Rines (1917-1970). Their spouses and children contributed to this fund in their memory.