Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund

Quick Overview

2025 Cycle Stats

Max Award: $20,000 annually for general support; $5,000 annually for project support Interest Areas: Education; Food Security; Health Care; Housing/Shelter Geographic Area: Lewiston/Auburn, Biddeford/Saco, Sanford, Brunswick, Bath, Greater Portland Types of Funding: General Support, Project Application Opens: March 2, 2026 Deadline: May 1 Notification: Aug. 20 Staff Contact: John Ochira Apply: Click on the orange “Apply” button at the top right of this page.

Applications received: 104 Amount requested: $1,337,721 Number of grants awarded: 26 Grant dollars awarded: $207,300 Average Award: $7,973 Percentage of applicants that received grants: 25% Recent Grants: Click here to view the last three years of grants. Additional grants by donors: None

In prior years, this grant program did not allow awards to the same organization in two consecutive years. With the transition to multiyear funding, this restriction has been removed. All applicants, including 2025 grantees, are eligible to apply to the 2026 grant program.

Purpose

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

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 submitting an application.

Your organization must:

• Serve communities in Lewiston/Auburn, Biddeford/Saco, Sanford, Brunswick, Bath, or Greater Portland. State-wide initiatives and organizations are also eligible to apply if their work impacts the communities specified above.
• Support disadvantaged, underserved, and/or vulnerable communities
• Have a broad base of community support and demonstrate effectiveness
• Focus on one or more of the following focus areas:

Education:

• Early childhood care and education
• PreK to 2^nd grade reading or math readiness
• Kindergarten to 12^th grade extended-day learning (after-school and summer learning programs)

Health care:

• Community clinics and safety net providers
• Oral health initiatives

Homelessness alleviation
Hunger prevention and food security
Legal services connected with the above areas

Types of Funding

Two-year general support grants (for flexible funding of any type such as new/expanding/ongoing programs and operational needs including capital expenses) up to $20,000 per year

To be considered:

1. Your organization must have received at least two or more previous awards from the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund.
2. Your organization’s primary work must meet the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund Criteria listed above.

Two-year project support grants up to $5,000 per year

To be considered:

1. Your organization is either a first-time applicant to the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund or has received only one prior grant from this fund.
2. Your organization is either a first-time applicant to the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation Fund or has received only one prior award from this fund.

This grant program will accept applications in 2026 and again in 2028. Multi-year grantees will be selected every two years. For either funding type, eligible organizations must submit a Letter of Inquiry (LOI) form through MaineCF’s online application portal by May 1, 2026. Letter of Inquiry decisions will be made by June 1, 2026, and selected organizations will be invited to submit the standard application form through MaineCF’s online application portal by July 1, 2026. Grantees will be notified by Aug. 20, 2026.

Ineligible Expenses

Funds may not be used for:

• Annual appeals
• Endowments
• Tickets to charitable events
• Personal expenses
• See “What we will not fund, without exception” on our  eligibility and grant guidelines page.

Additional Information

Background

David and Frances Brain established the Frances Hollis Brain Foundation in 1993 as a tangible expression of their values. Through their foundation, they sought with their family to address their social concerns and encourage future generations of the family to contribute to the well-being of their communities in Maine, Georgia, and Kentucky. In 2017, they turned to the Maine Community Foundation to manage their grantmaking in Maine.