Maine Grants

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 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.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to arts organizations in Maine to help cover essential operational costs and strengthen their infrastructure and creative workforce.

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 City of Bangor Commission on Cultural Development in Maine is offering grants ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 to individual artists and non-profit arts and cultural organizations, requiring a 1:1 match, to support projects that enhance the city's cultural vitality and directly serve the Bangor community.

This grant provides financial support to Maine municipalities, tribal governments, and nonprofit organizations for tourism marketing initiatives aimed at increasing visitor traffic to their destinations.

This grant provides funding to Maine municipalities, tribal governments, and non-profits for tourism-focused marketing projects and events that promote community engagement.

This grant provides funding for tax-exempt organizations and local government agencies to support community-focused projects and activities in Coös County, NH, and neighboring areas in New Hampshire, Maine, and Vermont.

The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the field of public art in New England by providing professional development support directly to artists. Donor Name: New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 09/16/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Less than 1 Year Details: Through the Public Art Learning Fund, NEFA intends to foster the continued development of more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England. The Public Art Learning Fund aims to strengthen the public art field in the region by supporting artists in further developing the skills, resources, and connections they need to build a more vibrant and equitable community of practice in the region. Learning in partnership with grantees, NEFA strives to learn how we may be able to better support a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem throughout the region. Funding Priorities Public Art Learning Fund equips artists with skills, resources, and connections to strengthen public art practices that contribute to more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout New England. The Public Art Learning Fund gives priority to timely opportunities that are: Specifically expanding an artist’s public art practice. NEFA will look for clarity on desired learnings and application to artist’s public art practice. Equitably contributing to more just and inclusive public artmaking in the region. Artists at various stages in their public artmaking practice from urban, suburban, and rural communities across all six states in New England are welcome to apply. NEFA values diverse cultural and artistic expressions as essential to more equitable and vibrant public spaces and recognizes that some artists may experience barriers to accessing professional development opportunities due to race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography. The Public Art Learning Fund intends to prioritize equity in funding opportunities. This may include but is not limited to prioritizing artists who self-identify as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and/or are rooted in rural communities. Funding Information The Public Art Learning Fund provides grants of $500 to $ 3000. For opportunities that take place January 1, 2025 – December 31, 2025. Eligibility Criteria Applicant must be an artist who resides full-time and makes work in one of the six New England States (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) Applicant must be an artist whose artistic practice engages the public realm or who can demonstrate that they are in the process of expanding their artistic practice towards public artmaking Applicant must have a Creative Ground profile. Proposed professional development opportunity must: specifically relate to strengthening the applicant artist’s own public art practice take place during the grant period For more information, visit NEFA.

This grant provides funding to New England nonprofit organizations for touring projects that feature regional, national, or international artists, with a focus on community engagement and expanding access to the arts, particularly in rural and BIPOC communities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to nonprofit organizations focused on improving their services for low- to moderate-income and historically underserved communities through strategic investments in planning, staff development, and technology.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations and public entities in implementing programs that benefit low- to moderate-income individuals and historically underserved communities.

The Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) announces the availability of funds through the New Dairy Processor Start-up Grant program to support new dairy processing projects throughout the Northeast. Donor Name: Northeast Dairy Business Innovation Center (NE-DBIC) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant | Matching Grants Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 09/05/2024 Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: The goal of this program is to help develop competitive dairy processing businesses with long-term viability, supporting operations of all sizes in successfully launching and sustaining their products in the marketplace.  This program is for:  Dairy farmers ready to begin processing,  Value-added entrepreneurs with proven experience in dairy processing and/or value-added business startups, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market, or  Dairy processors established after January 1, 2023, who are in the start-up phase of business development. Funds are intended to support start-up operations, focusing on tangible implementation rather than research and development, concept development, or initial planning. Funding Information Total available funds: $500,000 Minimum: $15,000  Maximum: $75,000 Project Period Grant periods will range from 12 – 18 months, depending on the project.  Eligibility Criteria This grant is open to applicants from all Northeast states: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Applicants must fall into one of the following categories:  Dairy farmer that:  Produces milk within the Northeast  Is a licensed dairy operation in compliance with all required state and federal standards  Value-added business entrepreneur that meets the following requirements:  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components  Has a business entity prior to applying  Can demonstrate experience in dairy processing and/or related value-added business startup, including any relevant work experience, business ventures, products developed, and products brought to market  Dairy processor established after January 1, 2023 that:  Has a business entity and milk processing license prior to applying  Sources milk or dairy components from within the Northeast and has evidence of a committed partnership with a farm or processor for sourcing these components.  Is in the start-up phase of business operations All applicants must also:  Be headquartered or based in the Northeast  Provide Proof of Concept demonstrating the viability of the business idea and product  Have a plan for new value-added dairy processing that includes market research, financial projections, a branding and marketing strategy, and a facility location  Obtain licenses to sell dairy products across state lines by the end of the grant period Launch their products in the marketplace or have a Letter of Commitment from a buyer, distributor, or retailer indicating plans to sell the product by the end of the grant period For more information, visit NE-DBIC.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community and non-profit public water systems in Maine for implementing security measures to protect essential water infrastructure.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to community and non-profit public water systems in Maine for projects that protect and enhance the quality of drinking water sources.

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 Maine Department of Labor (MDOL), referred to in the following as the Department, is  grounded in the belief that a career is a major building block of prosperity and is vital to helping Mainers chart their economic future. Donor Name: Maine Department of Labor State: Maine County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: (mm/dd/yyyy) 08/19/2024 Size of the Grant: $100,000 to $500,000 Grant Duration: 2 Years Details: MDOL is seeking applications for pilot projects or approaches that support tribal communities in connecting to employment, training opportunities, and/or to support workers to retain jobs. The Department is releasing this Request for Applications (RFA) to support tribal communities to address basic needs, connect with individuals disengaged from the workforce, and support employment or training opportunities. The MDOL Bureau of Employment Services seeks to partner with tribal communities and partners that support tribal communities to:  Address basic needs not effectively met by existing Division of Indian and Native American Programs (DINAP), Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult, Dislocated, Youth, National Emergency Grant (NEG) or related programs to support job placement and job retention. This could include, but is not limited to, help with car repairs, childcare, resolution of a housing-related problem, uniforms, broadband access, or other items necessary to assist an individual in obtaining or retaining employment. Connect with individuals disengaged from the workforce not currently supported by existing DINAP, WIOA or Department of Labor (DOL) programs. Funding Information The total grant funding available for this initiative is $500,000. The Department anticipates making two (2) to four (4) awards. The maximum award amount $250,000, and the minimum is $75,000. The anticipated period of performance is September 2024 – September 2026. Eligibility Criteria Eligible organizations include Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized) or Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments) or non-profits with demonstrated experience and success in serving tribal communities. Applications that demonstrate partnership with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation are preferred. For more information, visit MDOL.

Applicants are invited to apply for the New England States Touring Grant Program. Donor Name: New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) State: Selected States County: All Counties Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: 1 Year Details: There are three distinct grant opportunities for New England nonprofit organizations: NEST 1, NEST 2, and NEST 3. Organizations serving rural communities and/or deeply engaging Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities are encouraged to apply. NEST 1 Funds the public presentation and engagement of a New England artist presented by a New England nonprofit organization based in a different New England state from the artist’s home state. Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee and range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee. The artist must be listed as NEST-Eligible on the CreativeGround directory. NEST 2 Funds the public presentation and community engagement activities of a New England artist presented by two New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include one presenting organization based inside of the artist’s home state and one other organization from outside of the artist’s home state. Both presenting organizations must submit their own application and both applications must be submitted at the same deadline. There are three application deadlines each year. They are the first business days of August, December, and March. Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee and range from $500 to a maximum of $5,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee. The artist must be listed as NEST-Eligible on the CreativeGround directory. NEST 3 Funds tours, including public presentation and community engagement activities, of regional, national, or international artists presented by New England nonprofit organizations. Tours must include a minimum of three New England organizations in different communities presenting the same artist. The organizations applying must be from at least two different New England states. Each organization is responsible for reviewing the program goals and criteria, negotiating the terms of the engagement with the artist, and completing a NEST 3 application. Organizations may submit up to three NEST 3 applications. The annual deadline is the first business day of March. Grants provide up to 60% of the artist fee to a maximum of $10,000. Applications with artist fees under $2,000 may request the full artist fee. New England artists must be listed as NEST-eligible on Creative Ground. For non-New England artists, an artist work sample must be submitted by one of the touring partners. Grant period: Touring projects must occur between June 1, 2024 and August 31, 2025. Funding Criteria The amount of funding awarded is based on the extent to which the project meets the criteria. NEST 3 projects will be assessed on the individual strength of each partner’s application and the collective strength of the tour. The funding criteria are: Clear rationale for how the project aligns with the organization’s arts programming goals and its significance for the community. Collaborative planning among tour partners and artists to provide a meaningful experience for the artist and partner organizations and their communities. The featured artist(s) should be included in project planning. (Applicable for NEST 2 & 3 only). Additional activities beyond the performance, which provide opportunities for the artist(s) in this engagement to meaningfully connect with various sectors of the community. Cross-sector exchanges (connecting arts and non-arts organizations) and collaboration are strongly encouraged. Expands access to the arts for all New England communities, including rural and/or Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) communities. NEFA acknowledges structural inequities that have excluded individuals and communities from opportunity based on race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, language, culture, and geography, and strives to counter those inequities in our work. NEFA strongly encourages charging admission to performances and events for the following reasons: Admissions are a vital source of income to help pay artist fees and other event expenses. Admissions remind audiences that the work of artists has distinct value and that the professionals involved must make a living from their endeavors in order to continue. Admissions purchased through advance ticket sales help ensure attendance. Admissions purchases provide patron information that can aid in marketing, fundraising, and audience development. Eligibility Criteria To be eligible for NEST funding, applicants must: Be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, school, federally recognized Indian tribal government, or unit of state or local government. (Nonprofit organizations do not have to be arts organizations. Organizations that do not have a federal tax identification number may apply if part of an official government agency). Fiscal agents cannot be funded through NEST. Be based in New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont). Have a Unique Entity ID in SAM.gov. For more information, visit NEFA.

The Welch Charitable Fund supports organizations in the Greater Portland area with preference given to nonprofits working with youth, education, health care, alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation, and/or arts and culture. Donor Name: Maine Community Foundation State: Maine County: Cumberland County (ME) Type of Grant: Grant Deadline: 08/01/2024 Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000 Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned Details: Focus Areas Education Health Care Youth Development Types of Funding This program provides: Grants that will increase the scope (number of people or services provided), and/or grants that will improve efficiency or effectiveness of organizations. Grants for new or expanded projects. Funding Information $10,000 Eligibility Criteria To receive a grant, a project must: Serve individuals in the Greater Portland (Cumberland County) area Focus on youth, education, health care, recovery from substance use disorder and/or arts and culture. Nonprofit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and also classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2) Municipalities Public schools Public agencies working for the State of Maine Indian tribal governments (or political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior Groups without any tax status may apply with a fiscal sponsor that is an eligible organization as described above. For more information, visit Maine Community Foundation.

The purpose of this program is to strengthen the behavioral health workforce in rural Northern Border Regional Commission (NBRC) service areas through supporting the recruitment and retention of behavioral health care providers.