2026 Equity Fund

Purpose

The Equity Fund grant program strengthens lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) organizations and supports projects that serve the LGBTQ+ community in Maine.

Criteria & Types of Funding

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 guidelines for competitive grant programs.

General support grants for flexible funding of any type such as new/expanding/ongoing programs and operational needs including capital expenses. To apply for a general support grant, an organization must meet ALL three of the following criteria:

• Be LGBTQ+ focused, defined as 80% or more of the population served across ALL of your organization's programs,
• Be LGBTQ+ led, defined as serving as board and staff for the organization, and
• Have previously received an Equity Fund project grant.

Project grants for new or expanded projects that serve the LGBTQ+ community in Maine. Projects are activities with a clear start and end date, with goals and objectives related to but different from the organization’s mission. Project grants may include staff time dedicated to supporting proposed activities and administrative overhead, up to 20% of the requested funding. To apply for a project grant, the project must:

• Serve LGBTQ+ people in Maine as the primary recipients

AND/OR

• Involve LGBTQ+ people in Maine in the design, delivery, and evaluation of the project

Priorities

Priority will be given to proposals that:

• Address the needs of an underserved geography or population
• Increase access to health care or reduce health disparities
• Reduce violence and/or harassment
• Promote respect and understanding.

 *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 any questions about your organization’s eligibility to apply for general support or project grants, please contact Lane Sturtevant, lsturtevant@mainecf.org, 207-412-2019.

Additional Information

Eligible Expenses

Project grants may be used for:

• Staff time dedicated to the proposed project
• New equipment or materials that are necessary to achieve the goals or outcomes of the proposed activities
• Training for staff, volunteers, or board members
• Administrative overhead (up to 20 percent of the requested funding).

Ineligible Expenses

Project grants may not be used for:

• Capital campaigns, endowments, or other activities designed to increase the capital or assets of an organization (This includes costs related to verbal or written requests for financial support such as appeal letters or fundraising events.)
• Scholarships and camperships (funding for admission, enrollment, tuition, or other costs related to individual or group attendance at a short-term recreational or educational program)
• Capital expenses including the purchase of equipment or building materials
• See “What we will not fund, without exception” on our eligibility and grant guidelines page.

Selection Process

Staff reviews grant proposals received to determine if they are eligible for funding. Staff assign all eligible proposals to a community advisor for review. The community advisor contacts the grant proposal contact by email to schedule a brief telephone call. A community advisory committee reviews all the proposals and decides which proposals to fund. This committee identifies the strongest proposals that meet the grant program criteria and priorities.

Background

The Equity Fund was established in 1996. Originally funded with a two-year matching grant to the Maine Community Foundation from the National Lesbian and Gay Community Funding Partnership, the Equity Fund became a permanent fund of the foundation in December 2000.  A community assessment and forum were conducted in 2003 to clarify the criteria and priorities of the Equity Fund.