Maine Initiativesinc
Portland, ME · EIN 01-0484310. Reported 196 grants totalling $5,563,861 to 104 organizations across tax years 2020-2023, on Form 990 Schedule I.
Does this grantmaker accept applications?
Its tax return does not say, and we will not guess. Private foundations file Form 990-PF, which asks outright whether they fund only organizations they select themselves -- 78% say yes, and that one answer is what lets the rest of this site tell you which foundations are worth approaching. Grantmaking charities like this one file a regular Form 990 instead, and the IRS never puts the question to them. Anyone claiming to know the answer from the filing is inventing it.
Three things in the filing do bear on it:
- What kind of organization it is. For Maine Initiativesinc, the IRS classifies it under crime & legal rather than as a grantmaker (NTEE I20Z) -- it is an operating charity that also makes grants.
- How spread out its giving is. 104 distinct organizations, with 11% of the dollars going to the largest single recipient. That is genuinely spread out -- the mark of a funder making many independent decisions rather than underwriting one institution.
- How much its list changes. 55% of one year's grantees are funded again the next, across 3 year-to-year transitions. That is about the 57% median for grantmaking charities -- noticeably lower than the 67% private foundations manage. Organizations like this one rotate more of their list each year, which is where an opening for a newcomer tends to be.
How big are its grants?
The median reported grant is $15,000. Half of what it reported fell between $10,000 and $31,694; the smallest was $5,007 and the largest $216,200. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong organization.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by the EIN the filer reported, not by name, so an organization that was typed differently in two years appears once rather than twice.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine Immigrants Rights Coalition | Portland, ME | $605,800 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Resources for Organizing and Social Change | Augusta, ME | $462,929 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Maine Prisoner Advocacy Coalition | Lisbon, ME | $172,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Third Place Inc | Portland, ME | $167,143 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Maine Community Integration | Lewiston, ME | $157,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Southern Maine Workers Center | Portland, ME | $152,633 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Presente Maine | Portland, ME | $152,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Maine-Wabanaki Reach | Old Town, ME | $142,500 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Maine Association for New Americans | Portland, ME | $138,787 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Somali Bantu Community Association of Maine | Lewiston, ME | $127,300 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Hand in Hand Mano En Mano | Milbridge, ME | $116,979 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Indigo Arts Alliance | Portland, ME | $112,694 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Maine Conservation Alliance | Augusta, ME | $107,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| In Her Presence | Portland, ME | $105,200 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Wabanaki Alliance | Stillwater, ME | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Wabanaki Cultural Preservation Coalition | Passadumkeag, ME | $100,000 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Maine Inside Out | Lewiston, ME | $87,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Khmer Maine | Portland, ME | $85,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Capital Area New Mainers Project | Augusta, ME | $82,500 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Furniture Friends | Westbrook, ME | $78,360 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Bomazeen Land Trust | Portland, ME | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Healthy Acadia | Ellsworth, ME | $75,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Wabanaki Youth in Science | Old Town, ME | $75,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Prosperityme | Portland, ME | $74,022 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Maine Equal Justice Partners Inc | Augusta, ME | $67,813 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| New Mainers Public Health Initiative | Lewiston, ME | $67,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| New England Arab American Organization | Portland, ME | $65,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Hope Acts | Portland, ME | $65,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Maine Access Immigrant Network | Portland, ME | $62,127 | 4 | 4 | 2023 |
| Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services | Lewiston, ME | $61,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Immigrant Resource Center of Maine | Lewiston, ME | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Niweskok | Milford, ME | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Whyhunger Inc | New York, NY | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Intercultural Community Center | Westbrook, ME | $47,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Gateway Community Services Maine | Portland, ME | $45,264 | 3 | 3 | 2022 |
| Cumberland County Food Security Council | Portland, ME | $45,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Food for All Services | Portland, ME | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting | Hallowell, ME | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maine Youth Court | Portland, ME | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Rwandese Community Association of Maine | Westbrook, ME | $42,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Wabanaki Womens Coalition | Orono, ME | $40,100 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| City of Portland Minority Public Health Program | Portland, ME | $38,800 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Action for Life | Portland, ME | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Sustainable Livelihoods Relief Organization | Lewiston, ME | $35,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Ladder to the Moon Network | S Portland, ME | $32,500 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Creative Portland Corporation | Portland, ME | $30,300 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Alpha Legal Foundation | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Cultivating Balance | Coatesville, PA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Land in Common Inc | Greene, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Soccer Developoment | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Space Gallery | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Talent Collective Dsm | Des Moines, IA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wabanaki Commission on Land and Stewardship | Orono, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wounded Healers International | S Portland, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ak Health and Social Services | Lewiston, ME | $27,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Greater Portland Family Promise | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Center for Economic Policy | Augusta, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Humane | Auburn, ME | $24,493 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Equality Maine Foundation | Portland, ME | $24,027 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Preble Street | Portland, ME | $23,100 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Maine Animal Coalition | Portland, ME | $22,985 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Cross Cultural Community Services | Portland, ME | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center | Portland, ME | $22,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Multicultural Community and Family Support Services | Lewiston, ME | $20,135 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| American Friends Service Committee | Philadelphia, PA | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Institute for Policy Studies | Suite, DC | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Survivor Speak | Portland, ME | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Golden Opportunity | Lewiston, ME | $18,125 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Maine Audubon Society | Falmouth, ME | $17,957 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Foundation for Portland Public Schools | Portland, ME | $17,000 | 2 | 2 | 2021 |
| Catholic Charities Maine | Portland, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| State of Maine | Augusta, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Sunrise County Economic Council | Machias, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| University of Southern Maine Foundation | Portland, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness Npc | Bangor, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| York County Community Action Corp | Sanford, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Council on Aging | Brunswick, ME | $14,500 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Hardy Girls Healthy Women Inc | Augusta, ME | $13,146 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence | Augusta, ME | $12,679 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maine Hospice Council Inc | Augusta, ME | $12,674 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Bicycle Coalition of Maine | Portland, ME | $12,288 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Resist Inc | Jamaica Plain, MA | $12,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Natural Resources Council Inc | Augusta, ME | $11,973 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maine Farmland Trust Inc | Belfast, ME | $11,775 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maine Coalition Against Sexual Assault | Augusta, ME | $11,139 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association | Unity, ME | $11,121 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Atlantic Black Box | Portland, ME | $10,375 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Abbe Museum | Bar Harbor, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Afghan Community of Maine | Westbrook, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Democracy Maine | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Four Directions Development Corporation | Orono, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maine Challenge Production | Damariscotta, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| One Longfellow Square Inc | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Tree Street Youth Inc | Lewiston, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| United Youth Empowerment Services | Lewiston, ME | $9,120 | 1 | 1 | 2020 |
| Maine Womens Lobby Education Fund | Augusta, ME | $6,843 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Holocaust Human Rights Center of Maine | Augusta, ME | $6,307 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of Casco Bay | Portland, ME | $5,818 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maine Women's Fund | Falmouth, ME | $5,691 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maine Veterans for Peace | Pittston, ME | $5,558 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maine Labor Group on Health | Augusta, ME | $5,516 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Viles Arboretum | Augusta, ME | $5,166 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maine Alliance for Arts Education | Augusta, ME | $5,087 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Disability Rights Center of Maine | Augusta, ME | $5,012 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
57 of 104 (55%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold. Remember the $5,000 floor: an organization funded every year at $3,000 shows up here as never funded at all.
What kind of organizations it funds
By each recipient's own IRS classification, for the 90 of 104 recipients we could match to a registered organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses -- Schedule I reports the recipient's EIN, so this is a lookup rather than a name match.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants reported | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 33 | $1,063,949 | $18,125 |
| 2021 | 60 | $1,316,240 | $11,300 |
| 2022 | 42 | $1,561,996 | $27,500 |
| 2023 | 61 | $1,621,676 | $14,643 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- Form 990 arrives about a year after the year it covers, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a grantmaker winding down.
Where its money goes
97% of its giving went to organizations in Maine. Community foundations and federated funds are usually the most geographically bounded funders there are -- being outside the footprint is normally disqualifying in a way that a weak programme fit is not.
Down to the city
Find more funders like Maine Initiativesinc
We read newly filed IRS returns and email you the grantmakers whose giving matches your state and cause, as they are published. Free.
No spam, unsubscribe in one click. We never sell or share your address.
Funders that support the same organizations
These grantmakers and private foundations gave to organizations this one also funded. Shared grantees are the strongest signal available that two funders have overlapping priorities -- and a funder already backing your peers is a far warmer prospect than one that merely lists your cause.
How to approach this grantmaker
- Look for a published programme first. Unlike most private foundations, organizations of this kind often do run open, deadlined grant cycles with written guidelines. Its own website is the authority on that; this page is the authority on who it has actually paid.
- Check you are its size. The median reported grant is $15,000 -- and because grants under $5,000 need not be reported, it very likely writes smaller cheques than this page can see.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving concentrates in Maine.
- Read the recipient list for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer and a cheap one to get.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Maine Initiativesinc's own Form 990 Schedule I filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2020-2023). Nothing here is scraped, inferred or estimated.
On its most recent return it told the IRS it made grants to 84 section 501(c)(3) organizations and 0 other organizations. That is the filer's own count for one year; the totals above cover every year we hold.
Address of record on the latest return: 57 Exchange Street 100, Portland, ME, 04101.
EIN 01-0484310 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
Is something here wrong about your organization? Email hello@funderscope.com and we will correct it.