As part of its 25th anniversary celebration, the Maine Community Foundation is launching the 25/25 Nonprofit Endowment Challenge. Through a competitive process, MaineCF will award challenge grants up to $25,000 and technical assistance to Maine-based nonprofits in Oxford, Franklin, Somerset, Piscataquis, Aroostook, Washington and Hancock Counties to establish new or expand existing permanent endowment funds.

“An endowment fund is forward thinking and assists an organization working toward securing long-term financial sustainability,” said Henry Schmelzer, MaineCF president. The challenge recognizes the community foundation’s origins in rural Maine and in Hancock County where MaineCF headquarters have been located since its founding in 1983. Up to nine challenge grants will be awarded.

The 25/25 Nonprofit Endowment Challenge is a one-to-one matching opportunity that will require selected organizations to raise $25,000 in new funds to secure the $25,000 challenge grant, resulting in $50,000 of new or additional endowment dollars for the nonprofit. Selected nonprofits will also receive technical assistance from MaineCF to help them develop a case for support for their endowment-building campaigns and to explore new advancement opportunities, such as bequests and other planned gifts.

The challenge grants will be awarded on a competitive basis. Deadline for application and related material is June 15, 2008.

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If applicants need additional space when completing the application form, please use a separate document and submit electronically along with the completed form. Applicants are encouraged, however, to use the allotted space provided for each question. More information will be requested from finalists as needed.

Questions about application procedures should be directed to Bethany Murray, competitive grants associate, or to Peter Taylor, director of grantmaking services.