Total grant dollars requested last cycle: $272,195
Total grant dollars awarded last cycle: $148,000
Percentage of proposals that received full funding: 45%
Percentage of proposals that received partial funding: 17%
Average grant size last cycle: $4,000
Application deadline: September 15
Rines/Thompson Fund grant application: PDF | RTF | Word Document (for Mac users)
Background
The Rines/Thompson Fund is a component fund of the Maine Community Foundation that provides funding primarily for the benefit of people of the greater Portland community. Established in 1999 by the children and grandchildren of Henry P. and Adeline B. Rines, this fund is designed to give back to the community that has supported the businesses owned by the Rines/Thompson family. Those businesses included the Congress Square Hotel, the Eastland Hotel, WCSH Radio and WCSH Television. Henry P. Rines' father, Joseph Rines, started Rines Brothers Store on Congress Street in 1883 and the family has conducted business in the area for more than 115 years.
The fund also acts as a memorial to the Henry and Adeline Rines’ two children, Mary Rines Thompson (1918-1992) and William Henry Rines (1917-1970). Their spouses and children contributed to this fund in their memory.
Fund Priorities
Grants will be awarded for projects that focus on:
- Improving the welfare of the citizens of greater Portland, with particular interest given to innovative programs that promote community and economic development, cultural enrichment, diversity, neighborhood and urban revitalization, youth, mediation, and social service
- Activities that strengthen the organization’s capacity by improving its effectiveness and prospects for long-term sustainability
- Annual appeals (Please note “for annual appeal” in the project description box and in lieu of the narrative questions describe how unrestricted funds will promote your mission for the year)
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must serve the greater Portland area.
- 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 applications are available at MaineCF offices or can be downloaded above.
Organizations applying for a capacity building grant are asked to respond to the following supplemental questions in place of question #9 found on MaineCF’s 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 Rines/ Thompson Fund that will address these challenges.
- How do you expect the organization to be different once the activity is accomplished? How would the changes improve programs and benefit the constituents served by your organization?
Proposals must be mailed to:
Rines/Thompson Fund
Maine Community Foundation
245 Main Street
Ellsworth, ME 04605
We will not accept applications via fax or e-mail.
When to Apply
Proposals must be postmarked by September 15. Applicants will be notified of the final decisions in late November.
Contact
If you have any further questions regarding the Rines/Thompson Fund, please contact Pam Cleghorn via e-mail or by phone at (877) 700-6800.