Non-profit Organizations benefitting Individuals in Maine

The Sam L. Cohen Foundation offers responsive grants to nonprofit organizations benefiting individuals in southern Maine, specifically Cumberland and York counties. The Foundation's mission aligns with supporting new and ongoing programs, capital improvements, and general operations for organizations whose values resonate with theirs. They are committed to improving the quality of life in southern Maine and promoting economic security and well-being through systemic change and public policy for social benefit. The foundation aims to foster imagination, provide access to the arts, ensure educational opportunities, support disadvantaged individuals, and preserve Jewish culture and tradition within the community. Target beneficiaries include low-income and underserved youth for arts and education, individuals needing access to civic engagement and economic security, underserved populations across the educational spectrum from pre-K to adulthood, historically and systemically disadvantaged individuals and communities for health and human services, and vulnerable members of the Jewish community. The Foundation's impact goals span increasing self-sufficiency, promoting healthy and productive lives, and ensuring food security. They also aim to reduce barriers to just and fair access to resources and opportunities for all, and to foster inclusion and understanding among diverse peoples. The Foundation's grantmaking focuses on five key areas: Arts and Culture, Civic and Community, Education, Health and Human Services, and Jewish Culture and Tradition. Within these areas, priorities include educational programming for low-income youth, supporting organizations working toward systemic change through public policy, providing opportunities for underserved populations in youth development and leadership, addressing access to healthcare and food security, and preserving Jewish education, tradition, and culture. They actively participate in various collaborative initiatives such as Portland ConnectED, The Campaign for Grade Level Reading, and the Maine Oral Health Funders Group. Expected outcomes involve stimulating imagination, enhancing arts education access, improving civic engagement, increasing educational attainment, fostering economic security, and ensuring access to healthcare and food for vulnerable populations. Measurable results are implied through their focus on school readiness, attendance, grade-level proficiency, high school graduation rates, and post-secondary enrollment and completion. The Foundation's strategic priorities emphasize supporting underserved populations, promoting human rights, demonstrating community support, and utilizing collaboration to strengthen networks and increase impact, reflecting a theory of change that values collective strengths and diverse perspectives to address community needs.