2026 Maine Expansion Arts

After July 15, applicants may review a Microsoft Word version of the grant application before applying online here. 

Quick Overview

Max Award: $10,000
Interest Areas: Arts/Culture/Humanities
Geographic Area: Statewide
Types of Funding: General Support
Application Opens: July 15
Deadline: Sept. 15, 11:59 p.m.
Notification: By Dec. 15
Staff Contact: Erica McCrum, emccrum@mainecf.org, 207-227-7678
Apply: Click on the gold “Apply” button at the top right of this page.

Recent Cycle Stats

Applications received: 71
Amount requested: $632,250
Number of grants awarded: 18
Grant dollars awarded: $158,220
Average Award: $8,790
Additional Grants by donors: 6 totaling $34,500
Percentage of applicants that received grants: 33%
Recent Grants: Click here to view the last three years of grants.

Purpose

The Maine Expansion Arts grant program supports arts organizations in Maine focused on an underserved geography or population with limited access to arts programming including dance, music, theater, visual, and/or traditional arts.

Criteria

All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements and non-discrimination policy. Please read our eligibility and grant guidelines and non-discrimination policy before applying. If your organization doesn’t have a tax status and is applying using a fiscal sponsor, please read our fiscal sponsorship for competitive grant programs.

Your organization must:

  • Be located in Maine, defined as your organization has a Maine address
  • Have an organizational mission or purpose focused solely on the arts, defined as dance, music, theater, visual and/or traditional arts
  • Have most recent completed fiscal or financial year expenses BELOW $500,000
  • Expand access to the arts for an underserved geography or population
  • Engage the people served in the design, delivery, and/or evaluation of the work

Municipalities, K-12 public/private schools, higher education institutions, and faith-based organizations are not eligible to apply for this grant program.

Priorities

Priority will be given to organizations that:

  • Collaborate with local artists when possible
  • Demonstrate local support (financial or in-kind donations) for the proposed work

Types of Funding

General support grants for flexible funding of any type such as new/expanding/ongoing programs and operational needs including capital expenses. Your organization’s mission or purpose must be focused solely on the arts, defined as dance, music, theater, visual and/or traditional arts.

*NOTE: Answers to general support application questions should focus on your organization’s work (not a specific project) and how your organization meets the grant program criteria because general support awarded to an organization is not restricted to a specific project.

If you have questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply, please contact Erica McCrum, emccrum@mainecf.org, 207-412-2007.

Background

The Maine Expansion Arts Fund, a permanent endowed fund held by the Maine Community Foundation, is the result of a collaborative effort of the National Endowment for the Arts, Lillian M. Berliawsky Charitable Trust, Maine Community Foundation, and Maine Arts Commission to strengthen and ensure the future of artistic traditions in Maine. Additional funding has been provided through the Elizabeth Laughlin Anderson Memorial Fund at the Maine Community Foundation and a significant gift in 2021 from MacKenzie Scott.