James & Betty Jacobs Family
West Bath, ME · EIN 01-0511399. Reported 345 grants totalling $1,425,000 to 98 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. James & Betty Jacobs Family did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $2,500. Half of everything it gave fell between $1,500 and $5,000; the smallest was $250 and the largest $25,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St Pauls Apostle Parish | Bangor, ME | $79,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Red Cross | Portland, ME | $72,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity | Bangor, ME | $71,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Brunswick Community Education Foundation | Brunswick, ME | $70,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Public Broadcasting Network | Lewiston, ME | $55,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sarah's House | Holden, ME | $54,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Coastal Heritage Trust | Topsham, ME | $51,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| All Saints School | Bangor, ME | $42,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Salvation Army - | Bangor, ME | $40,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Tree of Life | Blue Hill, ME | $37,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| House in the Woods | Lee, ME | $34,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Jackson Laboratory | Bar Harbor, ME | $33,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Friends of Holbrook Island Sanctuary | Brooksville, ME | $31,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Brewer Area Food Pantry | Brewer, ME | $29,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Friends of Seguin | Bath, ME | $28,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Shepherds Godparent Home | Bangor, ME | $27,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bowdoin College | Brunswick, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Coastal Care Team | Bar Harbor, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Cancer Society | Ellsworth, ME | $23,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Honor Flight of Maine | Portland, ME | $22,250 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Design Wall Housing | Hermon, ME | $22,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Casco Bay Hockey | Falmouth, ME | $20,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Dirigo Reading Program | Bangor, ME | $18,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Hospice Council | Augusta, ME | $18,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of Maine Hockey | Orono, ME | $18,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Midcoast Hunger Prevention | Brunswick, ME | $17,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Midcoast Me Community Action | Bath, ME | $17,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| New England Steam Corp | Winterport, ME | $17,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Planned Parenthood | New York, NY | $17,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| An Angel Wing | Lewiston, ME | $16,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| St George Community Center | Tenants Harbor, ME | $16,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Brewer Food Pantry | Brewer, ME | $15,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Island Community Center | Stonington, ME | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| United Mid Coast Charities | Camden, ME | $15,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Assumption University | Worcester, MA | $13,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Maine Island Trails Association | Portland, ME | $13,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Maritime Museum | Bath, ME | $12,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Downeast Rail Heritage Preservation Trust | Bar Harbor, ME | $11,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Thomas College | Waterville, ME | $11,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Me Coastal Fisherman's Association | Port Clyde, ME | $10,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Brewer High School | Brewer, ME | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bucksport Seniors | Bucksport, ME | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Midcoast Literacy Volunteers | Bath, ME | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sandy Hook Promise | Newtown, CT | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| The Apprenticeshop | Rockland, ME | $10,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Downeast Chapter Me Audobon Society | Ellsworth, ME | $9,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Hemophelia Alliance | Hampden, ME | $9,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Girl Scouts of Me | Portland, ME | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Patten Free Library | Bath, ME | $7,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Welcom to Housing Home Goods Bank | Bangor, ME | $7,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Oasis | Brunswick, ME | $6,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bangor Symphony Orchestra | Bangor, ME | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Brooks Preservation Society | Brooks, ME | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Brunswick Cares | Brunswick, ME | $6,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Greenville Junction Depot Friends | Greenville, ME | $6,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Longview Award - Bucksport High School | Bucksport, ME | $6,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Susan Komen Foundation | Rockland, ME | $5,750 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Opiate Free Island Partnership | Deer Isle, ME | $5,500 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Bath Municipal Band | Bath, ME | $5,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Island Heating Assistance | Stonington, ME | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Island Heating Assitance | Stonington, ME | $5,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Lifeflight Maine | Augusta, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Seniors Plus | Lewiston, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Ct Foodshare | Wallingford, CT | $4,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Hyde School | Bath, ME | $4,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Info Tech Exchange | Searsport, ME | $4,500 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Northport Food Pantry | Lincolnville, ME | $4,500 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Bates College | Lewiston, ME | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brunswick High School Athletics | Brunswick, ME | $4,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Bucksport High School | Bucksport, ME | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Healthy Acadia | Ellsworth, ME | $4,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| National Digital Equity Center | Wiscasset, ME | $4,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Northern Light | Bangor, ME | $4,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Owls Head Transportation Museum | Owls Head, ME | $4,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Asne No New England Section | Bath, ME | $3,700 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Bridgeport Rescue Mission | Bridgeport, CT | $3,500 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Nourish Bridgeport | Bridgeport, CT | $3,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Ww & F Ry Musuem | Alna, ME | $3,500 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Casco Bay Keepers | South Portland, ME | $3,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Maine's First Ship | Bath, ME | $3,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Holden Land Trust | Holden, ME | $2,800 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| My Friends Place | Bangor, ME | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Portland Symphony Orchestra | Portland, ME | $2,500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Boy Scouts Pine Tree Council 218 | Raymond, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brooksville Historical Society | Brooksville, ME | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Brunswick High School Garden Project | Brunswick, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Compass Project | Biddeford, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Dmax Foundation | Bryn Mawr, PA | $2,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Habitat for Humanity of Connecticut | Americus, GA | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Make a Wish | Scarborough, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| National Digital Equityy Center | Wiscasset, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Pemquid Point Lighthouse | Damariscotta, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Connecticut Food Bank | Wallingford, CT | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Lafeyette Family Cancer Center | Bangor, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Maines First Ship | Bath, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Me Center for Coastal Fisheries | Stonington, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Northeastern University | Boston, MA | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Thirteen Public Broadcasting | New York, NY | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
77 of 98 (79%) received money in more than one year over the 5 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 92%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- Maine Public Broadcasting Network
DONATION TO 501(C)(3) PROGRAMS
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 144 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 63 | $289,500 | $2,500 |
| 2022 | 62 | $212,000 | $2,500 |
| 2023 | 70 | $250,000 | $2,500 |
| 2024 | 72 | $325,000 | $2,750 |
| 2025 | 78 | $348,500 | $2,500 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Where its money goes
96% of its giving went to organizations in Maine. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $2,500. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Maine.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from James & Betty Jacobs Family's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: 300 Houghton Pond Rd, West Bath, ME, 04530. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 01-0511399 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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