Maine Energy Grants

This grant provides funding to organizations and individuals in Maine to foster community connections through arts, culture, and environmental initiatives that promote equitable access and celebrate diverse local histories.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on empowering low- and moderate-income communities and underserved populations in New England and parts of New York.

This program provides technical assistance to small and vulnerable communities in Maine to improve energy efficiency in public buildings and enhance resilience against climate change impacts.

The Northeast SARE Professional Development Grant program aims to advance sustainable agriculture practices by enhancing the knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes of agricultural and other service providers. This directly aligns with the foundation's mission to support sustainable agriculture through education and professional development. The grant focuses on empowering professionals who work with farmers, enabling them to teach, advise, or assist in the adoption of sustainable methods. The program seeks to create a ripple effect, where trained service providers then apply their learned expertise to help farmers improve their agricultural practices, fostering a more sustainable food system within the Northeast region. The primary beneficiaries of this program are agricultural service providers, including those in non-profit organizations, colleges, universities, Cooperative Extension, and other entities that serve the farming community. Additionally, the program extends its reach to other service providers such as real estate agents, bankers, and attorneys, who can indirectly influence farmers. The overarching impact goal is to cultivate a more resilient and sustainable agricultural landscape in the Northeast by equipping these professionals with the necessary tools and knowledge. Expected outcomes include increased adoption of sustainable and climate-smart agricultural practices by farmers, improved ecological and economic resilience to climate change, and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. The program prioritizes a wide array of topics, encompassing marketing and business, crop production, raising livestock, aquaculture, social sustainability, urban and Indigenous agriculture, and traditional ecological knowledge. A significant focus is placed on climate-smart agriculture practices, which are intended to improve ecological, social, and economic resilience to climate change. This includes practices such as reduced and no-till farming, cover cropping, prescribed grazing, ruminant feed management, manure management, fertilizer management, and on-farm energy efficiency. The program's strategic priorities are clearly aligned with addressing contemporary agricultural challenges through education and practical application. Northeast SARE actively encourages projects from, or in collaboration with, women, the LGBTQIA+ community, and Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Furthermore, it encourages proposals from Minority Serving Institutions and other organizations in the Northeast that work with historically underserved communities, demonstrating a commitment to equity and inclusivity in agricultural development. The theory of change behind these priorities is that by supporting a diverse range of voices and institutions, the program can foster more innovative and equitable solutions for sustainable agriculture, leading to broader and more effective adoption of sustainable practices across the region. The expected measurable results include an increase in the number of service providers trained in sustainable agriculture, a documented increase in farmers adopting climate-smart practices, and the successful implementation of projects that demonstrate improved ecological, social, and economic resilience. Awards typically range from $30,000 to $150,000, with project lengths usually spanning 2 to 3 years, and a maximum allowed duration of 3.5 years. The program's geographical focus is exclusively on the Northeast region, which includes Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C., ensuring targeted and localized impact within this specific area.

The Island Foundation is accepting applications for a grant program, with a deadline of 10/23/2024, aimed at supporting 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Maine, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island that focus on environmental conservation, social change in New Bedford, alternative education, and addressing inequality for womxn and girls.

This funding opportunity provides financial assistance to public water systems in Maine to develop essential plans and documents that enhance their technical, financial, or managerial capabilities.

The Landfall Foundation is offering Project Grants to eligible non-profit organizations that are tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. These grants are designed to partially or fully fund projects within the categories of Health & Welfare, Education, and Arts. The foundation's mission, as evidenced by these grant categories, is to support initiatives that improve the well-being and enrichment of the community through targeted project funding. The Project Grants have a specific purpose and are expected to be completed within one or two years, indicating a focus on concrete, time-bound outcomes rather than general operational support. The primary beneficiaries of these grants are residents within New Hanover, Pender, and Brunswick counties in North Carolina. Organizations applying must demonstrate that their project's beneficiaries are located within these specific geographic areas. The impact goals are to support projects that align with the Health & Welfare, Education, and Arts sectors, leading to tangible improvements or advancements in these areas for the local community. The foundation explicitly states what it will NOT fund, such as direct aid to individuals, operating expenses, capital items already acquired, real property purchases, and start-up organizations (less than two years old), which further refines their target impact to specific, project-based interventions. The Landfall Foundation prioritizes projects that are not for political or religious promotion, do not involve transferring funds to other organizations, and are not from local branches of national organizations with internal fundraising staff. They also have a strong focus on non-discriminatory practices, explicitly stating that organizations discriminating on the basis of age, disability, ethnic origin, gender, sexual orientation, race, or religion are ineligible. Furthermore, the foundation does not support research, feasibility studies, engineering, or planning, indicating a preference for projects ready for implementation and with direct, observable community benefits. Expected outcomes include the successful completion of specific projects within the stated one to two-year duration, leading to positive impacts in the areas of arts, health and welfare, and education. While not explicitly detailed, the requirement for a "specific purpose" for Project Grants suggests that measurable results would be tied to the objectives of each individual project. The grant size, ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, with a maximum funding of $10,000, implies that the foundation is strategically investing in a range of projects, likely aiming for widespread, localized impact rather than large-scale, singular initiatives. Organizations are also ineligible if they have received a program grant in the previous year and haven't submitted a final or preliminary report by May 15, 2023, or if they received a capital grant in the current year, indicating an emphasis on accountability and preventing duplicate funding.

The Facility Start-Up/New License Grant, offered by Coastal Enterprises Inc. (CEI) in Maine, aims to support entrepreneurs in establishing new child care facilities or expanding existing ones. This grant provides funding to help new child care businesses cover up to 50% of their start-up costs, with a total award ceiling of $80,000, and a general grant size ranging from $10,000 to $100,000. CEI's mission, though not explicitly detailed in the provided text, can be inferred as supporting economic development and community well-being through strategic investments, particularly in vital services like child care. The target beneficiaries of this grant are individuals and organizations (sole proprietors, partnerships, cooperatives, nonprofit organizations, and employers) interested in starting or expanding child care facilities outside of a home environment. The impact goals are to increase access to quality child care, particularly in specific counties of Maine, and to foster business growth in this essential sector. By providing start-up capital, the program seeks to alleviate financial barriers for new and expanding child care providers, thereby strengthening the child care infrastructure. Priority is given to applications from Aroostook, Franklin, Penobscot, Piscataquis, Somerset, and Washington Counties in Maine, indicating a strategic focus on underserved or high-need areas within the state. Additionally, bonus points are awarded to applicants who commit to providing care for infants and toddlers, serving income-eligible families (those receiving subsidies), and participating in the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program. These priorities align with broader goals of supporting vulnerable populations and improving the nutritional well-being of children. The grant funds can be used for a wide range of purposes, including purchasing, renting, or renovating buildings for child care, constructing new facilities, acquiring educational materials, indoor furniture, outdoor learning environments, playground equipment, and health and safety supplies. Importantly, funds can also cover working capital for the first month, including pre-opening payroll and initial food costs. The expected outcomes include a measurable increase in the number of high-quality child care slots, particularly for infants, toddlers, and income-eligible families, in the designated priority counties. This initiative directly supports community development by addressing critical social and economic needs related to child care accessibility and quality.

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This funding opportunity provides financial support for programs that train and certify workers in Maine's residential energy efficiency sector, promoting job placement and business development in clean energy careers.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to organizations that assist Maine communities in planning and implementing climate action and energy resilience projects.

This grant provides matching funds to nonprofit organizations in Maine for various historic preservation projects, such as restoring building exteriors and upgrading safety systems.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to municipal and Tribal governments in Maine for projects that reduce energy costs, promote clean energy, and enhance community resilience against climate change impacts.