Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund

2024 Grants

Afghan Community, to help unify, educate and empower Afghan women through classes, skills, events and other means to integrate them into Maine communities: $10,000
AK Health and Social Services, to promote health equity, economic justice and social wellbeing for immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and BIPOC communities in Maine: $10,000
Black Owned Maine, for a sustainable, innovative ecosystem of Black entrepreneurs: $10,000
Bomazeen Land Trust, for the rematriation, perpetual protection and healing of ancestral Wabanaki spaces: $7,500
Community Conservation Initiative, to engage Greater Portland immigrant communities in environmental conservation work: $10,000
Community Organizing Alliance, to uplift and center the voices, narratives and lived experiences of Black, Indigenous, people of color to shape and change the landscape of their community: $10,000
Djiboutian American Community Empowerment Project, to ensure that children from underserved communities in Lewiston/Auburn are born, stay healthy, and prepared for school: $10,000
Empowered Immigrant Women Unite, to help foster stability, prosperity and health to immigrant women and girls in Lewiston/Auburn: $10,000
Food for All, to provide food-insecure immigrants with access to culturally relevant food: $10,000
Generational Noor, to build awareness and access to substance use disorder and mental health services for Black, immigrant and people of color throughout Maine: $10,000
Her Safety Net, to provide advocacy for women immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and BIPOC and to focus on the health of all disadvantaged and marginalized communities: $5,000
In Her Presence, to support the empowerment and personal ambitions of immigrant women and girls and address common challenges and issues: $10,000
Indigo Arts Alliance, to support the professional development and amplification of Black and Brown thought leadership, artistic vision and practice: $10,000
Kennedy Park Football Club, to engage young adults in skill-development sessions, help them plan for their future, and navigate higher education with financial aid opportunities: $10,000
Khmer Maine, to improve the quality of life and social and economic wellbeing of Cambodians in Maine: $10,000
Ladder to the Moon Network, to educate the public about Africa and immigration and to advocate for the wellbeing of all immigrants through various multimedia platforms and events: $10,000
Land in Common, to restore land connection with and for Black, brown, Indigenous and diasporic communities: $10,000
Maine Association for New Americans, to promote social and personal empowerment of immigrants and address racial equity and health disparities in Maine: $10,000
Maine Community Integration, to integrate New Mainers into their communities while respecting and uplifting their diverse cultures, identities and traditions: $10,000
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, to support and advocate for Maine’s incarcerated citizens, their families and friends: $10,000
Maine Wabanaki Reach, to support the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices in Wabanaki and Maine communities: $7,500
Mano en Mano, to work with farmworkers statewide and immigrants in Downeast Maine: $5,000
Multi Generations for Affordable Housing, to provide stable, affordable housing solutions and supportive services to underserved communities in Southern Maine: $10,000
New England Arab American Organization, to bridge cultures, celebrate diversity and empower Arab Americans and New Mainers to build healthy, fulfilling and productive lives while preserving their heritage: $10,000
New Mainers Public Health Initiative, to identify and address health inequities in marginalized communities: $10,000
Nibezun (Wabanaki Cultural Preservation Coalition), to provide an inclusive space for healing and to promote sustainability for all people and future generations: $5,000
Niweskok, to restore the Penobscot Bay region as a Wabanaki food hub: $5,000
Pleasant Point Health Center, is provide high-quality health care to those we serve, and improve the health and wellbeing of the Sipayik community: $10,000
Portland Empowered, to ensure the voices of immigrant families reflected in policy and practice in public schools: $10,000
Presente! Maine, to empower displaced Afro/Indigenous and Latinx peoples of Maine through survival programs, community power building, cultural celebration and transformative healing practice: $10,000
Quality Housing Coalition, to support and create quality housing opportunities for those in need in Maine: $10,000
Racial Equity and Justice, to advocate for BIPOC community members and host annual retreats for BIPOC families: $10,000
Sipayik Resilience Committee, to foster climate resilience and make energy efficiency technology more accessible to members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point following community-directed goals: $5,000
Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine, to provide vital transitional services, advocacy and food production that empowers members of the refugee community to uphold cultural identity and economic wellbeing: $10,000
Southern Maine Workers Center, to promote worker justice through anti-racist education, organizing and advocacy among non-unionized, low-wage workers, prioritizing immigrants, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and disabled workers: $10,000
Tender Table, to engaging and uplifting BIPOC community members across Maine through activities that center experiences and connections to food, identity, collective liberation, and each other: $10,000
Third Place, to connect Maine's Black professionals, students and entrepreneurs to social, professional, and economic opportunities: $10,000
Trinity Jubilee Center, to address unmet needs of underserved people in the Lewiston-Auburn area through comprehensive services that bridge critical service gaps and help patrons persevere, maintain dignity and overcome barriers: $10,000
United Youth Empowerment, to provide services that empower the will of the immigrant youth and their families: $10,000

From donor-advised funds:

Bomazeen Land Trust, for the rematriation, perpetual protection and healing of ancestral Wabanaki spaces: $2,500
Four Directions Development Corporation, to improve the social and economic conditions of Native American tribes in Maine through education and investment in affordable housing, tribal business ventures and Native entrepreneurship: $5,000
Her Safety Net, to provide advocacy for women, including immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers and BIPOC and focus on the health of all disadvantaged and marginalized communities: $5,000
Indian Township School, to provide and foster a culturally integrated education which encourages a desire for learning in a safe, respectful and nurturing environment: $10,000
Maine Wabanaki Reach, to support the self-determination of Wabanaki people through education, truth-telling, restorative justice, and restorative practices in Wabanaki and Maine communities: $2,500
Mano en Mano, to work with farmworkers statewide and immigrants in Downeast Maine: $5,000
Nibezun (Wabanaki Cultural Preservation Coalition), to provide an inclusive space for healing and to promote sustainability for all people and future generations: $5,000
Niweskok, to restore the Penobscot Bay region as a Wabanaki food hub: $5,000
Sipayik Resilience Committee, to foster climate resilience and make energy efficiency technology more accessible to members of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point following community-directed goals: $5,000
Sunlight Media Collective, to document and present stories affecting Wabanaki people and highlighting Wabanaki perspectives, with a particular emphasis on the intersection between environmental issues and tribal rights: $10,000
Tree Street Youth, to provide programs that support social-emotional development, academic success, leadership skills, workforce development and college/career prep for Lewiston youth: $10,000
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, to provide community-driven, culturally centered public health and social services to all Wabanaki communities and people while honoring Wabanaki cultural knowledge, cultivating innovation, and fostering collaboration: $10,000
Wabanaki Youth in Science, to inspire and support persistence in the sciences for Native youth by providing long-term educational opportunities that integrate Indigenous ecological knowledge with western science: $10,000

2023 Grants

Action for Life, to serve as peer-support specialists and interpreters for New Mainers applying for state and health benefits: $10,000
AK Health and Social Services, to provide support to job seekers in the immigrant, refugee and BIPOC communities in Lewiston: $10,000
Bright Stars USA, to build awareness of problems caused by domestic violence, youth drug, tobacco, and alcohol abuse, and the health consequences of unhealthy, interior living spaces: $10,000
Conservation Initiative, for capacity-building events and to disseminate educational materials about environmental challenges and solutions to Black immigrant families: $10,000
Community Organizing Alliance, to support underrepresented communities in grassroots, civic activities through workshops and action strategies to overcome systemic barriers: $10,000
Congolese Brazzaville Community of Maine, to support and house immigrant teenagers who crossed the Mexican border without their parents: $5,000
Cross Cultural Community Services, to provide anti-racism training for providers serving older black, indigenous and other people of color and to conduct focus groups: $10,000
Four Directions Development Corporation, for professional development opportunities for its director of operations and grants manager: $10,000
Gateway Community Services Maine, to build its operations to maintain current programs and grow: $10,000
Generational Noor, to engage community members in important multigenerational cultural dialogs related to substance use disorder and mental health: $10,000
Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, to help New Mainers acquire skills needed for workplace integration, social interaction economic self-sufficiency and citizenship: $5,000
Indigo Arts Alliance, to grow as an incubator for professional development and amplification of Black and brown thought leadership, artistic vision and practice: $10,000
Intercultural Community Center, to expand education, health and social services for New Mainers: $10,000
Kennedy Park Football Club, to engage new and returning young adults in skill development sessions, help plan for their future and navigate higher education financial-aid opportunities: $10,000
LA Family Support Services, to increase employment opportunities for New Mainers by learning work culture and job skills: $10,000
Ladder to the Moon Network, to reach deeper into BIPOC communities and serve those who are accustomed to receiving information through audio and video platforms: $10,000
Lewiston Auburn Youth Network, to engage underserved girls of color and address systemic barriers for underserved women, and those who are at risk of injustice: $10,000
Living with Peace, to promote young adults into higher-earning jobs and into long-term, satisfying careers: $10,000
Maine Community Integration, to expand the Parent Leadership program to include 10 women from Afghanistan to navigate the school system and advocate for their children: $10,000
Mano en Mano, to support the area’s community of farmworkers and immigrants to overcome barriers and thrive in Maine: $10,000
Maine Environmental Education Association, for the Relearning Place Program, a collaborative of intergenerational individuals sharing ideas and learning related to land, place and people: $10,000
Maine Labor and Resource Center, to bring awareness to Maine employers about the qualifications, transferable skills and prospective contributions of refugees and asylum-seekers and to serve as an employment matchmaker: $10,000
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, to help youth navigate incarceration and reentry: $10,000
Mayo Street Arts, for a marketing workshop to provide photos, video and copy to support the promotion of traditional artists in Maine: $10,000
New England Arab American Association, to prepare and inspire Arab and Afghan newcomers to participate fully in the economic, social and civic life of their new communities: $10,000
New Mainers Public Health Initiative, to provide training and resources to improve media literacy and communication skills for health promotion and advocacy: $10,000
Poor Care Foundation, to support low-income, widowed or divorced Somali women by providing resource guides to assist each other in accessing local social-assistance benefits and job opportunities: $4,000
Presente Maine, to build equitable and sustainable infrastructure for Afro, Indigenous and majority women-led community organizations: $10,000
Racial Equity and Justice, to create safe, accessible, and inclusive support to BIPOC community members and families through cultural programming, resource distribution, and advocacy: $10,000
Somali Bantu Community of Lewiston, to increase child care certification and transportation services, one-on-one client services, summer youth meals and interpretation services: $10,000
South Sudanese Group of Friends, to build capacity for the organization: $10,000
Southern Maine Workers Center, for a series of nature-based workshops, discussions and meals inspired by Octavia Butler’s “Parable of the Sower”: $10,000
Tree Street Youth, to provide safe recreation and organized athletic opportunities for BIPOC youth ages 14-24 in Lewiston: $10,000
United Youth Empowerment Services, for its vision to end racism and discrimination in society by examining the challenge through broadcast arts: $10,000
Wabanaki Youth in Science, to provide Native youth in grades 3-8 two-eyed learning experiences with cultural knowledge sharers and western science professionals: $10,000

From donor-advised funds:

Black Owned Maine, to sustain and innovate an ecosystem for Black entrepreneurs in Maine: $10,000
Chance to Advance, to record immigrants’ stories for the 2023 Diversity Calendar: $250
Congolese Brazzaville Community of Maine, to support and house immigrant teenagers who crossed the Mexican border without their parents: $5,000
Gateway Community Services Maine, to build its operations to maintain current programs and grow: $2,000
Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, to help New Mainers acquire skills needed for workplace integration, social interaction economic self-sufficiency and citizenship: $5,000
Her Safety Net, to support to victims of domestic and sexual violence and provide preventative education and outreach to BIPOC communities: $10,000
Hope Acts, to grow the Asylum Application Resource Center to meet the urgent need: $10,000
Indian Township Tribal Government, to develop an eel aquaculture facility: $10,000
In Her Presence, to maximize the potential of immigrant women and ensure that Maine’s economic agenda includes the aspirations and needs of these women: $10,000
Intercultural Community Center, to expand education, health and social services for New Mainers: $5,000
Maine Association for New Americans, to grow its transportation program to meet demand from BIPOC communities, especially new asylum seekers/refugees and families with low incomes: $10,500
Poor Care Foundation, to support low-income, widowed or divorced Somali women by providing resource guides to assist each other in accessing local social-assistance benefits and job opportunities: $6,000
Presente Maine, to build equitable and sustainable infrastructure for Afro, Indigenous and majority women-led community organizations: $500
ProsperityME, for financial education classes, one-on-one counseling, housing support, and workforce-development programs for New Mainers: $10,000
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, to engage tribal youth in afterschool activities to improve wellbeing through youth development, art/culture, experiential learning, youth engagement/empowerment, building leadership skills and cultural activities: $10,000
Wabanaki REACH, to pilot a Foodways intern to promote community and youth engagement on medicine making and land, water and fishery restoration: $10,000
Wabanaki Youth in Science, to provide Native youth in grades 3-8 two-eyed learning experiences with cultural knowledge sharers and western science professionals: $500

2022 Grants

Al Badoo Community Association of Maine, to support the employment, education, health care, and basic needs of 255 families in the Al Badoo community: $10,000
Alpha Legal Foundation, to test the feasibility of starting a JusticeCorps program in Maine to give aspiring BIPOC attorneys more exposure to Maine's legal system: $10,000
Black Owned Maine, to promote the economic empowerment of Black people in Maine: $10,000
Bright Stars USA, to build awareness, education, and effective strategies to meet the challenges of degraded physical and mental health due to environmental risks, hazards, and exposures: $10,000
ChooseYourself, for a four-day retreat for 50 participants: $8,500
Congolese Brazzaville Community of Maine, to create awareness in a new society: $10,000
Cross Cultural Community Services, to educate the provider community on racial discrimination, refugee resettlement, and homelessness to advance social justice: $4,770
Eastern Woodlands Rematriation Collective, to rematriate Wabanaki food systems: $10,000
Gateway Community Services Maine, to develop youth leaders, improve access to educational supports, and address racial health inequity within Maine’s immigrant, refugee, asylee and asylum-seeker communities: $10,000
Ikirenga cy’Intora, to produce "Tales of Bells and Drums,” a performance of African traditional dances at Merrill Auditorium: $9,000
Indigo Arts Alliance, to grow as an incubator for the professional development and amplification of BIPOC thought leadership, artistic vision, and practice: $10,000
Intercultural Community Center, to support education, health, and social services for adult refugees and immigrants: $10,000
Khmer Maine, to connect Cambodian youth, adults, families, and older people to community resources, partnerships, and programs: $10,000
Ladder to the Moon, to expand health content distribution into BIPOC communities: $10,000
Maine Community Integration, to expand Ka Bogso, its program that addresses intergenerational trauma among Lewiston’s immigrant population: $10,000
Maine Inside Out, for arts and advocacy-based leadership development programs for vulnerable youth of color: $10,000
Maine Labor and Resource Center, to recruit qualified, skilled direct care workers for home and community settings: $10,000
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, for its peer health and reentry mentors program: $5,000
Maine State Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation, to conduct multicultural focus groups on food and seafood ecosystems in Maine: $10,000
Multicultural Community and Family Support Services, to expand education, vaccinations, boosters, testing, isolation/quarantining space, and food for immigrants living in Androscoggin and Kennebec counties: $10,000
New England Arab American Organization, to provide leadership and service opportunities for BIPOC youth, focusing on decreasing bias and fostering a more inclusive community: $10,000
Portland Empowered, to build civic, community, and professional leadership opportunities for Maine’s young-adult immigrants, or ethnic or racial minorities: $10,000
Presente! Maine, to expand leadership and capacity of BIPOC staff and community leaders to meet the needs of its Latinx community: $10,000
Rise and Shine Youth Retreat, for outdoor learning experiences that foster intergenerational community connectedness for children, adults, and families: $10,000
Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine, for its youth development and community advocacy programs: $10,000
South Sudanese Group of Friends, to develop a network of support, empowerment and liberation: $10,000
Third Place, for two sector organizers to lead network coordination for BIPOC employees in healthcare and related fields: $10,000
Wabanaki Youth in Science, to increase food sovereignty within tribal communities: $10,000
Wellness Mobile, to reach veterans and those experiencing homelessness from BIPOC communities: $10,000
Wounded Healers International, to tell stories that contribute to understanding African immigrants’ lived experience of violence and mental illness and the role of stigma during the help-seeking process: $8,200
Zambian Community of Maine, to meet the health, financial literacy, and critical needs of the Zambian community: $10,000

2022 Grants from Donor-Advised Funds

AK Health and Social Services, to support job seekers from the immigrant, refugee, and BIPOC communities in Lewiston and Auburn: $10,000
East End Community School, to develop BIPOC staff members as leaders in the school: $8,250
Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center, for essential services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum-seekers in Southern Maine: $10,000
Her Safety Net, to support victims of domestic and sexual violence and provide preventative education and outreach to BIPOC communities: $10,000
Maine Immigrants’ Rights Coalition, to support statewide efforts for immigrant resettlement, integration, migration, and emergency management: $10,000
Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition, for its peer health and reentry mentors program: $5,000
Youth-LED Justice, to divert BIPOC youth from the juvenile justice system, train youth leaders in restorative justice, and connect youth in trouble with mental health support: $10,000
New Mainers Public Health Initiative, for a health literacy outreach and education program for French- and Portuguese-speaking refugees and asylum seekers: $10,000
Passamaquoddy Indian Township Tribal Government, for an eel aquaculture facility: $10,000
Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness, to expand Wabanaki youth and cultural programming through canoe immersion experiences: $10,000