Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund Grant Program

The Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund is a competitive grant program administered by the Maine Community Foundation. It was established in 1943 by Mabel Stewart Daveis to honor her father, Edward H. Daveis. Mr. Daveis was a prominent figure in Portland, Maine, with notable careers in banking and law, and he served as president of the Portland Gas Light Company. The fund was created to support nonprofit organizations that serve the Greater Portland area, in keeping with the Daveis family's long-standing civic engagement. The grant program focuses on two primary areas: early childhood and youth engagement. The fund's purpose is to bolster the efforts of those working to ensure school readiness and lifelong success for children, as well as support programs that foster the aspirations and development of middle and high school students. The fund specifically values the roles of both families and educators in early childhood education and the importance of meaningful youth programming for older children and teens. Funding is available in two forms: general support grants and project-specific grants. General support grants provide flexible funding for an organization's operations, capital needs, or ongoing programs, provided that the organization's primary mission aligns with the fund’s two focus areas. Project grants, on the other hand, are intended to support new or expanding programs related to early childhood or youth engagement. In both cases, the organization must demonstrate its alignment with the grant's priorities. If applying for general support, responses must reflect how the overall organizational work matches the fund's goals. Applicants must be based in one of the following municipalities in the Greater Portland area: Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Falmouth, Gorham, Portland, Scarborough, South Portland, Westbrook, or Yarmouth. The organization must also fall within the two issue areas described—early childhood (serving children from birth to age eight, their families, or teachers) or youth engagement (focusing on middle or high school students). A notable eligibility limitation is that organizations cannot receive a grant from this fund for four consecutive years. Collaboration among organizations is encouraged. If multiple organizations are working together on a project, a letter from the executive director of each partner organization must be submitted, describing their roles and responsibilities. When partnering with schools, a letter of support from a school official is also required. Additionally, large organizations with multiple program areas are advised to request project funding rather than general support. The application opens on July 15, and the deadline for submission is September 15 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants will be notified of decisions by December 30. In the 2024 funding cycle, 53 applications were received, requesting a total of $454,247. Twelve grants were awarded, totaling $95,487, with an average award of $7,957. The staff contact for the fund is Katie Howard, who can be reached via email at khoward@mainecf.org or by phone at 207-412-0832.

Large organizations with multiple program areas are advised to apply for project grants rather than general operating support.