Nonprofit organizations that serve Maine people most affected by the coronavirus pandemic have been awarded $1.2 million from the Maine Community Foundation ‘s COVID-19 emergency response fund and a fund for food security.
The 130 grantees include community and statewide organizations providing basic support such as food, shelter, child care, mental health care and domestic violence services, according to a news release.
Recipients are determined proactively based on needs around the state; there is no application process.
“Maine’s demographics and economic makeup place many residents in extremely vulnerable positions during this pandemic,” said Steve Rowe, the foundation’s president and CEO.
“The generosity of our donors has allowed the Maine Community Foundation to expeditiously support community-based organizations on the front lines of the crisis. Our latest round of grants provides resources to food pantries and homeless shelters as well as other social service organizations across the state.”
The COVID-19 fund began with a $500,000 transfer from an unrestricted foundation fund and has grown substantially due to transfers from donors with advised funds at the community foundation and contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations.
A complete list of grantees is available here.
In addition to the $1.2 million issued from the funds for COVID-19 relief and food insecurity, donor giving through the foundation has increased threefold compared to this period last year. Donors with advised funds at the community foundation have stepped up by making more than $6 million grants since mid-March.
Community-building
The foundation also awarded $219,800 in community-building grants to 24 nonprofits across Maine through its statewide fund.
Recipients include:
• Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland, to pilot decision-support resources for coastal communities to develop the skills, knowledge, and processes needed to implement actionable plans to respond to sea-level rise
• Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Brunswick, to create a guide for fishermen that provides information and resources about mental health, wellness and well being
• OUT Maine, Rockland, to develop training for board members at youth organizations and for school boards to educate decision-makers on how to foster safety for LGBTQ+ youth.
The foundation said it recognizes that many nonprofits are facing new challenges and making changes in their work due to the pandemic, and so the grant recipients are able to use these funds at their discretion.
The statewide fund is a permanent endowment that supports organizations that apply for multi-county projects. Applications go through the foundation’s community-building grant program and are reviewed by a committee of leaders. The next proposal deadline is Feb. 15, 2021. The application, guidelines and a complete list of 2020 grants can be found here.
The statewide fund is built through donations from the community. For more information, contact Cherie Galyean, director of strategic learning, at cgalyean@mainecf.org or 207-412-2017.