Competitive Grant Programs & Deadlines

Competitive Grant Programs

All competitive grant programs only support work being done in Maine and benefitting people and communities in Maine. To start a grant application, please use the APPLY button on the top right of this page. For more information, visit our Online Application Information page. Deadlines for grant applications are listed at the bottom of this page.

Animal Welfare supports organizations and projects that advance animal welfare in Maine.

Belvedere Historic Preservation Fund proposals for 2024 will go through the Community Building program with a Feb. 15 deadline. Click here to review changes to this grant program.

Belvedere Traditional Handcrafts will not accept applications in 2023-2025.

Black, Indigenous, and People of Color Fund provides two-year general support grants to organizations helping people of color achieve greater equity across Maine.

Community Building supports projects and organizations focused on making communities stronger.

Conservation for All invests in organizations and projects that build strong connections between people in Maine and our land and water.

Edward H. Daveis Benevolent Fund supports early childhood and youth engagement programs in Greater Portland.

Equity Fund supports projects and organizations that serve the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) community of Maine.

Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund supports nonprofit organizations and projects that serve disadvantaged, underserved, and/or vulnerable communities in Auburn, Bath, Biddeford, Brunswick, Greater Portland, Lewiston, Saco, and/or Sanford.

Hospice Fund supports hospice services in Cumberland and York counties.

Investing in Leaders of Color focuses on building the field of people and organizations working to promote and increase racial equity in Maine.

John and Ellen Emery Science Grants have been moved directly to the school district. Please contact the MDIRSS superintendent’s office about how to apply to the fund.

Leonard and Renee Minsky Fund for Arts Education supports artists in residence to work with teachers to bring arts into the classrooms of grades three through five in the public schools of Penobscot and Washington counties.

Maine Charity supports community-based transportation programs and efforts for people with limited or no access to transportation.

Maine Expansion Arts supports arts organizations and arts-based programs in Maine serving rural communities and/or Black, Indigenous, and other people of color.

Maine Land Protection provides grants for land acquisition or land conservation easement projects that build strong connections between people in Maine and our land and water.

Maine Theater supports professional and community theaters in the production and presentation of live theater.

Peaks Island Fund is now a separate nonprofit organization that administers its own grant program. For contact information or to apply, please visit the Peaks Island Fund website.

PF Fund for the Baldwin Area supports projects that focus on efforts to bring residents together and improve life in the community.

Rines Thompson Fund supports organizations in Greater Portland working in the areas of environment and conservation, early childhood and youth programming, and arts and culture.

Welch Charitable Fund supports organizations in the Greater Portland area with preference given to nonprofits working with youth, education, health care, alcohol and substance abuse rehabilitation, and/or arts and culture.

Grant Deadlines

To start a grant application, please use the APPLY button on the top right of this page. For more information, visit our Online Application Information page.

Applications MUST be completed and submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the day of the deadline. If the deadline falls on a weekend or holiday, the deadline will be 11:59 p.m. of the next business day.