Total grant dollars requested last cycle: $129,336
Total grant dollars awarded last cycle: $39,938
Percentage of proposals that received full funding: 19%
Percentage of proposals that received partial funding: 19%
Average grant size last cycle: $4,992
Application deadline: September 15
Equity Fund grant application: PDF | RTF | Word Document
Background
The Equity Fund's mission is to strengthen lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) organizations in Maine and support community-based initiatives that address LGBTQ issues and needs. The vision driving the fund is one of inclusive, diverse, prejudice-free communities for the LGBTQ population and for all people in Maine
Priorities
The Equity Fund currently encourages two types of grant proposals: project grants and capacity building grants.
Project grants: The Equity Fund encourages grant proposals to support a wide variety of projects, particularly those serving people living in rural and underserved communities in Maine. The Equity Fund committee has identified the following priority areas:
- Access to health care and reduction of health disparities
- Support for LGBTQ elders
- Education to promote respect and understanding of LGBTQ people
- Equality for LGBTQ families and individuals
- Reduction of anti-LGBTQ violence
- Social and cultural community-building activities
- Support for LGBTQ youth.
The Equity Fund normally will focus its support on projects that use the following strategies:
- Collaboration (building inclusive and diverse coalitions among LGBTQ organizations and between LGBTQ organizations and other sectors)
- Marketing and public relations efforts to improve the visibility of LGBTQ issues
- Activities that strengthen local leadership
- Efforts that are sustainable and have a lasting impact after grant funding is complete.
Capacity building grants: The Equity Fund encourages proposals for capacity building grants from organizations whose primary mission is to serve Maine’s LGBTQ community. Successful applicants will be able to describe how enhancing their organizational capacity will ultimately benefit the communities they serve.
The Equity Fund will support an array of capacity building activities that result in:
- Improved governance and leadership
- Improved staff skills
- Creation and implementation of outcomes-based strategic and business plans
- Improved services and programs
- Improved financial management
- Expanded strategic assets, including financial and human resources such as staff and volunteers.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be nonprofit, 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations, public schools, public agencies working for the State of Maine, or Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior or have a fiscal sponsor that is a 501(c)(3) organization, public school or public agency (click here for more information on applying with a fiscal sponsor).
- Grants cannot be made for lobbying or religious activities.
- Grants cannot pay for program expenses that have already been incurred.
Project Progress Report
All grant recipients will be required to submit a Project Progress Report (PDF | RTF | Word Document) approximately 10 months after receiving payment of the grant.
How to Apply
Grant application forms are available from the MaineCF offices or can be downloaded above. Organizations applying for a capacity building grant are asked to respond to the questions below in place of narrative question #9 found on our common application:
- What are the major challenges your organization faces? How do those challenges affect your ability to accomplish your mission?
- Please describe the capacity-building activity your organization proposes to undertake with support from the Equity Fund that will address these challenges.
- How do you expect your organization to be different once the activity is accomplished? How would those changes improve programs and benefit the LGBTQ community?
When to Apply
Proposals must be postmarked by September 15 and mailed to:
Equity Fund
Maine Community Foundation
245 Main Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605
We will not accept applications via fax or e-mail. Applicants will be notified of the final decisions in late November.
Contact
If you have any further questions regarding the Equity Fund, please contact Lelia DeAndrade by e-mail or by phone at (877) 700-6800.