Maine Community Foundation now covers all 16 of the state's counties

Two women with new minivan to transport people to medical appointments and social outings.

File photo Island Connections is a nonprofit transportation service that received a grant last year from the Hancock County Fund of the Maine Community Foundation. Now a similar fund has been created for nonprofits in Kennebec County.

Write a Comment

The Maine Community Foundation, which supports nonprofit groups through regional charitable funds in 15 of Maine’s 16 counties, now has a fund for Kennebec County too.

The foundation has created the Kennebec County Fund with a $250,000 pledge to match contributions made between now and Dec. 31, 2020, according to a news release Tuesday. The endowment, donated by an anonymous family, will help support local nonprofits engaged in community-building projects.

A steering committee of community leaders in Kennebec County launched efforts last year to create the fund.

“This effort is bringing the county together — from Waterville to Gardiner, from Wayne to Unity — to address the needs of the region, inspire philanthropy in Kennebec County, and strengthen nonprofit organizations that are helping to build communities,” committee member Wick Johnson said in the release.

In preparing to make allocations from the new fund, a committee of local leaders will review applications from Kennebec County nonprofits for the foundation's current Community Building Grant Program, according to the release. The next proposal deadline is Feb. 15, 2020.

In related news, the foundation said Wednesday it has issued $75,000 in grants to support professional and community theaters in their production and performances.

The MCF Theater Fund typically makes grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000. Recipients in this round of awards include:

Eastport Arts Center, to expand local interest in community theater and support two grassroots organizations;
Good Theater, Inc., of Portland, for the company's Second Stage series;
Lake Region Community Theatre, of Bridgton, to improve its sound system by replacing a variety of microphones; and
Levi Stewart Community Theatre, of Corinna, to replace the 45-year-old stage curtains and associated accessories with new, updated and flame-retardant materials.

Founded in 1983, the Maine Community Foundation operates a wide variety of charitable giving programs aimed at improving the quality of life for all Maine people. The county and regional program began in 1986.