Aroostook County Fund

25 Years of Grantmaking

About 60 people gathered to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Aroostook County Fund. Since its establishment, the fund has given more than $450,000 in grants to county nonprofits. Among the attendees were (front row, left to right) advisor George Dumond, MaineCF Foundation Officer Pam Scheppele, advisors Fran Gendreau and Kari Wells-Puckett, community foundation President & CEO Meredith Jones, advisors Lori Weston and John Pelletier, and community foundation board member Brian Hamel; (back row, left to right) Steve Towle of the Nordic Heritage Sport Club, advisor Tim Crowley, Aroostook County Committee Chair Jon McLaughlin, advisors Pete Huntress and Linda Alverson, and committee vice chair Gregg Collins.

Total grant dollars requested last cycle: $77,669
Total grant dollars awarded last cycle: $55,100
Percentage of proposals that received full funding: 58%
Percentage of proposals that received partial funding: 42%
Maximum grant award last cycle: $10,000
Average grant size last cycle: $4,592
Application deadline: February 15

In 1986, Aroostook County businesses and individuals established the Aroostook County Fund to ensure the county would have local charitable resources to address community issues and challenges. Over the years, the fund has grown to almost $1,000,000 and the Aroostook County Committee has awarded more than $450,000 in grants.

The Maine Community Foundation manages the Aroostook County Fund, and local leaders, knowledgeable about their communities, help review grant applications.

Recent grants from the Aroostook County Fund

• Catholic Charities of Maine, Portland, to stock the warehouse in order to distribute non-perishable food to pantries in Aroostook County
• Northern Lighthouse, Mars Hill, to provide classes for community members, employees, and special-needs clients that encourage team building and self-esteem, and programs that stop bullying
• Presque Isle Historical & Genealogical Society, Presque Isle, to establish a pilot Non-Profit Management Training Certificate Program by partnering with Northern Maine Community College

Complete list of 2011 Aroostook County Fund grants

Other ways the community foundation is
serving the region

• Since 2002, the foundation has generated more than $143,300 in additional grant support for projects serving Aroostook County from its network of donors through proposals submitted to the foundation’s competitive grant programs.
• The Maine Community Foundation manages more than $97,000 in endowments for several nonprofit organizations in Aroostook County, which provide support for the arts, youth, the environment and economic growth.
• Aroostook County Scholarships

To make a donation or to learn more about the Aroostook County Fund

Please contact the Maine Community Foundation by phone, toll-free, at (877) 700-6800, or by e-mail at grants@mainecf.org.