Maine Humanities Grants

This funding opportunity supports tax-exempt nonprofits, public schools, and municipalities in southern York County, Maine, and Strafford & Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire, focusing on innovative and sustainable programs in health, community advancement, arts, education, and environmental welfare.

This program provides over $1.5 million in unrestricted funding to nonprofit organizations in Maine that are led by and serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, focusing on dismantling racial injustice and promoting racial justice initiatives.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofits dedicated to helping at-risk youth thrive through essential programs like mentoring, after-school activities, and mental health services.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations in Maine that address basic human needs, promote humane animal care, expand healthcare access for underserved populations, and support public media initiatives.

This grant provides funding to U.S.-based non-profit organizations to support projects that promote Japanese arts and culture, particularly in areas with limited access to such events.

This grant provides funding to Maine-based organizations and communities for projects that celebrate and educate about the state's historical contributions in honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.

The Arts and Humanities Grants program, a collaborative effort between the Maine Humanities Council and the Maine Arts Commission, is designed to support organizations in Maine that actively present the state's stories and cultural expressions. This initiative aligns with the foundation's mission by fostering cultural understanding and engagement within Maine communities. The grants specifically target innovative community projects that integrate both arts and humanities components, reflecting a strategic priority to bridge these disciplines for broader cultural impact. The primary beneficiaries of this grant are organizations with 501c3 status, government organizations (including federally recognized Indian tribal governments, state/local/city governments), churches, and education organizations (such as schools, school districts, or public/private institutions of higher education) operating within Maine. Organizations serving and/or led by communities traditionally under-resourced in the arts and humanities are particularly encouraged to apply, underscoring an impact goal to promote equity and access within the cultural landscape of the state. The program prioritizes projects that demonstrate strong and clear arts and humanities content, well-defined project goals and impact, a sound project design, effective outreach and engagement strategies, and a realistic budget. These evaluation criteria highlight the focus on projects that are not only creatively rich but also strategically planned to achieve meaningful community engagement and measurable results. The expected outcome is to support projects that effectively share Maine's diverse cultural narratives and artistic expressions with its people. While specific measurable results beyond the project's impact are not explicitly detailed, the emphasis on "strength and clarity in... project goals and impact" suggests that successful applicants will be able to articulate how their projects will achieve tangible benefits for the community. The grants, providing up to $1,000, are a strategic investment by the Maine Humanities Council and Maine Arts Commission to stimulate local cultural activity and ensure that a wide array of voices and stories from across all counties in Maine are heard and celebrated.

The Leonard and Renee Minsky Fund for Arts Education aims to enhance arts education by enabling professional artists to collaborate with teachers in developing arts programs for grades 3-5 in public schools within Penobscot and Washington counties. This grant supports projects that integrate visual and/or performing arts into the curriculum, aligning with Maine Learning Results standards. Eligible applicants include schools meeting these criteria, with a focus on collaborative proposals involving arts teachers. Applications are accepted via email and must adhere to specific budgetary requirements, primarily allocating funds to professional artists' fees. Grant renewed every year. Grant Annual opening/closing deadlines: September 15th to December 16th

This program provides funding to organizations in New England for projects that preserve and share the diverse histories of their communities through the conservation of buildings, landscapes, and collections.

Grant Opportunity: City of Lewiston Community Development Block Grant (Maine) The City of Lewiston is offering the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to assist in developing viable urban communities by providing decent housing, a suitable living environment, and expanded economic opportunities for low-moderate income individuals. The grant funds are specifically designated for activities associated with preparing for, responding to, or recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Eligible activities include public services, public facilities and infrastructure improvements such as building rehabilitation, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, installation of public works and facilities. Additionally, eligible expenses covered by the CDBG-CV funds include labor, supplies, materials and operation/maintenance of the facility where a public service is located. Applicants are required to provide detailed documentation including activity descriptions, client demographics and project budgets. For more information on eligibility and application process, visit City of Lewiston's website.

This grant provides funding to Maine-based agricultural producers, processors, and organizations to enhance the capacity and resilience of the food supply chain through the purchase of essential equipment.

The Libra Foundation's grant program is designed to enhance the quality of life for Maine residents by strategically deploying its financial resources to stimulate economic development, foster entrepreneurial ventures, and create employment opportunities within the state. This initiative directly aligns with the foundation's core mission to support innovative and sustainable Maine-based business initiatives and programs. The foundation's strategic approach involves leveraging its assets to achieve economic benefits for Maine and its residents, while also prioritizing the welfare and betterment of children. This reflects a dual focus on both economic prosperity and social well-being, indicating a holistic theory of change that sees economic growth as a means to improve overall societal conditions, particularly for vulnerable populations. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program are Maine residents, with a specific emphasis on children who stand to benefit from the funded initiatives. The foundation aims to achieve significant impact by supporting organizations that can develop and implement programs offering potential economic benefits across the state. This includes job creation, economic growth, and the fostering of entrepreneurial activity, all contributing to an improved quality of life. The expected outcomes are centered on measurable progress in these areas, with successful applications demonstrating clear pathways to sustainable development and positive community impact. The foundation's theory of change posits that by investing in innovative local businesses and programs, it can create a ripple effect of economic and social improvement throughout Maine. The Libra Foundation's priorities and focuses are broad, encompassing various areas of giving such as Arts, Culture & Humanities, Education, Environment, Health, Human Services, Justice, Public/Society Benefit, and Religion. This wide scope allows the foundation to address diverse needs within Maine while remaining committed to its overarching goals of economic development and child welfare. While the grant program has a general size of $10,000 to $100,000, individual grants will not exceed $25,000. This suggests a strategic allocation of resources to support a wider array of smaller, impactful projects rather than a few large ones, thereby maximizing the reach and diversity of its funding. To ensure the effectiveness and accountability of its grants, the Libra Foundation has clear eligibility criteria. Only organizations that have been determined to be tax-exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and "not a private foundation" under Section 509(a) of the Code are considered. This ensures that the foundation partners with legitimate and transparent entities, reinforcing its commitment to responsible philanthropy. The requirement for evidence of this determination at the time of application underscores the foundation's due diligence and strategic focus on supporting organizations that meet specific legal and ethical standards, thereby safeguarding its investments and maximizing the potential for positive outcomes for the residents of Maine.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations and communities in Maine for humanities projects that promote public engagement and exploration of cultural and educational initiatives.

The Margaret E. Burnham Charitable Trust, established to honor the legacy of Margaret E. Burnham, a lifelong resident of Falmouth, Maine, supports nonprofit organizations operating within Maine. The Trust is dedicated to funding projects in five main areas: Community and Social Services (40%), Medical (10%), Education (20%), Arts and Culture (20%), and Environment (10%). It awards grants annually to tax-exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, prioritizing those that do not request multi-year funding, and explicitly excluding awards to individuals or religious organizations. The Trust reviews applications once a year in December, with a submission deadline of October 1st. Occasionally, the Trust also recognizes organizations for exemplary work or significant promise in these focus areas without a formal request. Grant renewed every year. Annual deadline: October 1st

This funding opportunity provides support for professional artists to collaborate with teachers in public schools of Penobscot and Washington counties, Maine, to integrate arts education into classrooms for grades 3-5.

This funding opportunity supports Maine-based organizations in creating innovative community projects that blend arts and humanities, particularly those serving under-resourced communities.

This grant provides funding for educational scholarships for Balfour Company employees and their families, supports nonprofits serving underserved populations in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and assists educational institutions in New England focused on helping underrepresented students succeed in higher education.

This grant provides financial support to public agencies and nonprofit organizations for preservation planning and educational outreach efforts related to historic sites across the United States.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in specific states for capital projects and endowments in libraries, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities.

This grant provides financial support to nonprofit organizations in Greater Portland, Maine, focusing on projects that enhance the environment, early childhood education, youth programming, and arts and culture.