FundersMaine

Elmina B Sewall Foundation

Freeport, ME · EIN 01-0387404. Reported 1,128 grants totalling $50.8M to 458 organizations across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.

Yesaccepts unsolicited requests
$30,000median grant
$50.8Mgranted, 2021-2024
458organizations funded
73%of grantees funded again the next year
$164.8Massets, latest filing

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. Elmina B Sewall Foundation did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.

This is the foundation's own statement to the IRS, not our judgement, and it says nothing about whether they have a form, a deadline, or an appetite for new grantees. Treat it as the reason this foundation is worth your research time, not as an invitation. Many small foundations of this kind have no website and no application process -- a letter of inquiry is the normal first step.

How big are its grants?

The median grant is $30,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $15,000 and $50,000; the smallest was $150 and the largest $580,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.

Under $1,000
4 grants
$1,000 - $5,000
3 grants
$5,000 - $10,000
56 grants
$10,000 - $25,000
393 grants
$25,000 - $50,000
336 grants
$50,000 - $100,000
215 grants
$100,000 and Up
121 grants

Every organization it funded

All 458 recipients appear in its filings; the 250 largest are listed here. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which this organization received money -- the clearest signal of who this foundation actually has a relationship with.

OrganizationLocationTotal receivedGrantsYears fundedLast
Sunrise County Economic CouncilMachias, ME$1,810,000442024
Maine AudubonFalmouth, ME$1,085,000442024
Our KatahdinMillinocket, ME$907,500442024
Cooperative Development InstituteNorthampton, MA$759,700442024
Maine Environmental Education AssociationBrunswick, ME$746,800442024
United Somali Women of MaineLewiston, ME$699,200442024
New Learning JourneyWaitsfield, VT$695,000442024
Wabanaki Health and Wellness IncBangor, ME$664,000442024
Maine Development FoundationHallowell, ME$650,000442024
Outdoor Sports Institute IncCaribou, ME$640,000442024
Maine Initiatives IncPortland, ME$637,100442024
Sunrise OpportunitiesMachias, ME$622,500442024
Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant PointPleasant Point, ME$595,000442024
Four Directions Development CorporationOrono, ME$550,000442024
Millinocket Regional HospitalMillinocket, ME$510,000442024
Kennebec Valley Humane SocietyAugusta, ME$501,000442024
Maine Farmland Trust IncBelfast, ME$440,000442024
Aroostook Band of MicmacsPresque Isle, ME$435,000442024
Rural Aspirations ProjectSwanville, ME$425,000442024
Millinocket Memorial LibraryMillinocket, ME$400,000442024
Resources for Organizing and Social ChangeAugusta, ME$400,000442024
St Mary's Regional Medical CenterLewiston, ME$400,000222023
Maine Immigrant Rights CoalitionPortland, ME$380,000442024
Center for An Ecology-Based EconomyNorway, ME$372,000442024
Hand in Hand Mano En ManoMilbridge, ME$370,356442024
Maine People's Resource CenterPortland, ME$353,000442024
Downeast Community Partners IncEllsworth, ME$350,000442024
Paws - Protection of Animals Wandering the StreetsCalais, ME$317,500222022
Third Sector New England IncBoston, MA$313,600332024
Chewonki Foundation IncWiscasset, ME$310,000332023
Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and EducationBeals, ME$300,000222024
Maine Immigrant & Refugee ServicesLewiston, ME$300,000442024
Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (mmsa)Augusta, ME$300,000332024
Maine Federation of Farmers MarketsFreeport, ME$290,000332024
Halfway Home Pet Rescue IncCaribou, ME$289,500442024
Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce FoundationLewiston, ME$280,000442024
Midcoast HumaneBrunswick, ME$280,000332024
Maine Community IntegrationLewiston, ME$275,125442024
Preble StreetPortland, ME$275,000442024
Land in Common IncGreene, ME$268,500442024
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners AssociationUnity, ME$265,000442024
Maine Conservation AllianceAugusta, ME$262,500442024
Marians Dream Philanthropy for Animal Advocates IncBrunswick, ME$260,000442024
Cumberland County Food Security Council (ccfsc)Portland, ME$254,000442024
Wayside Food ProgramsPortland, ME$254,000442024
Bangor Humane SocietyBangor, ME$250,000332024
National Trust for Local NewsEnglewood, CO$250,000112023
Nature ConservancyArlington, VA$245,000442024
Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian TownshipIndian Township, ME$245,000442024
The Trust for Public LandLos Angeles, CA$245,000442024
Bomazeen Land TrustPortland, ME$240,000442024
Maine Association for the Education of Young ChildrenAugusta, ME$240,000222024
Medical Care Development (aka Mcd Global Health)Hallowell, ME$240,000332024
Maine Coast Heritage TrustTopsham, ME$238,000332024
Animal Welfare Society IncW Kennebunk, ME$230,000222022
Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox CountyRockland, ME$225,000442024
Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust IncBrunswick, ME$222,000442024
Hospice of Southern MaineScarborough, ME$220,000442024
The Friends of Veterans' Memorial LibraryPatten, ME$220,000332024
Blue Hill Heritage Trust IncBlue Hill, ME$217,500332024
Healthy Communities of the Capital AreaGardiner, ME$217,000442024
Maine Coast Fishermen's AssociationBrunswick, ME$210,000442024
Penobscot NationIndian Island, ME$210,000442024
Somali Bantu Community Lewiston of MaineLewiston, ME$207,500442024
Maine State Chamber of Commerce Education FoundationAugusta, ME$205,000332024
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program IncBrunswick, ME$202,500442024
Androscoggin Valley Council of GovernmentsAuburn, ME$202,000442024
Central Aroostook Humane SocietyPresque Isle, ME$200,000112023
Coastal Enterprises IncBrunswick, ME$200,000442024
Friends of Katahdin Woods and WatersPortland, ME$200,000442024
Greater Androscoggin Humane SocietyLewiston, ME$200,000332024
Land Peace FoundationMonroe, ME$200,000222024
Maliseet Community Development AuthorityLittleton, ME$200,000222024
The Opportunity AllianceSouth Portland, ME$197,500442024
Presente MainePortland, ME$195,383332024
Healthy AcadiaEllsworth, ME$195,000442024
The Northern Forest Center IncConcord, NH$190,000442024
New England Grassroots Environment FundNewmarket, NH$186,000442024
Eastern Maine Development CorporationBangor, ME$185,000332024
In Her PresencePortland, ME$185,000442024
Wabanaki AllianceStillwater, ME$185,000442024
Community Concepts IncorporatedLewiston, ME$181,000222024
Cobscook Institute (aka Cobscook Community Learning Center)Trescott Township, ME$180,000332024
Maine Philanthropy CenterPortland, ME$180,000442024
ResistBoston, MA$180,000442024
Portland Museum of ArtPortland, ME$179,000442024
Houlton Humane SocietyHoulton, ME$176,500332024
Abbe MuseumBar Harbor, ME$175,000332024
Houlton Band of Maliseet IndiansLittleton, ME$175,000332024
Maine Equal Justice Partners IncAugusta, ME$175,000442024
Somerset Humane SocietySkowhegan, ME$175,000442024
Wabanaki Youth in ScienceIndian Island, ME$175,000332024
Good Shepherd Food BankAuburn, ME$172,400442024
Humane Society Waterville AreaWaterville, ME$171,000442024
Maine Center for Economic PolicyAugusta, ME$170,000442024
Maine Community FoundationEllsworth, ME$170,000442024
The Ark Pope Memorial Animal ShelterCherryfield, ME$170,000222024
Wabanaki Cultural Preservation CoalitionPassadumkeag, ME$165,000442024
York County Shelter Programs IncAlfred, ME$164,000442024
Animal Refuge League of Greater PortlandWestbrook, ME$163,000332024
Maine Seacoast MissionNortheast Harbor, ME$160,000442024
Mission Working DogsOxford, ME$160,000222023
Whyhunger IncNew York, NY$160,000332024
Spirits PlaceNewport, ME$159,000442024
Eastern Maine Community CollegeBangor, ME$155,000332024
St Mary's Health SystemLewiston, ME$155,000442024
University of Maine SystemBangor, ME$155,000442024
Cultivating CommunityPortland, ME$151,500442024
4-H Clubs & Affiliated 4-H OrganizationsOrono, ME$150,000332024
Gedakina IncEssex, VT$150,000442024
Harvest Hills Animal Shelter IncFryeburg, ME$150,000442024
Katahdin Children and Families FoundationPatten, ME$150,000222024
Katahdin Tourism PartnershipMt Chase, ME$150,000332024
Maine Federation of Humane SocietiesWest Kennebunk, ME$150,000222022
Maine Mathematics & Science AllianceAugusta, ME$150,000112021
MainehealthPortland, ME$150,000222022
ProsperitymePortland, ME$146,000442024
Island InstituteRockland, ME$145,000442024
Jobs With Justice Education FundWashington, DC$145,000332024
Maine-Wabanaki ReachIndian Island, ME$142,400442024
Conservation Law Foundation IncBoston, MA$140,000442024
Prevent Euthanasia Through Sterilization PetsRipley, ME$140,000442024
League of Women Voters of Maine Education Fund IncPortland, ME$130,000332024
Paws Animal Adoption CenterRockport, ME$130,000332024
Downeast Coastal ConservancyMachias, ME$125,000442024
Growsmart MaineAugusta, ME$125,000442024
Maine Coast Heritage Trust (aka Coast Rivers Conservation Trust)Topsham, ME$125,000332023
Third Sector Capital Partners IncBoston, MA$125,000112023
Oxford Hills Community GardensNorway, ME$123,000442024
New Mainers Public Health InitiativeLewiston, ME$122,000442024
Ladder to the Moon NetworkPortland, ME$120,000332024
Maine Association of NonprofitsPortland, ME$120,000442024
Maine Climate Action NowBar Harbor, ME$120,000222024
Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (mspca)Boston, ME$120,000442024
Responsible Pet Care of Oxford HillsNorway, ME$120,000442024
Sierra Club FoundationOakland, CA$120,000332024
Student Conservation AssociationArlington, VA$120,000442024
Eastern Area Agency on AgingBrewer, ME$116,000332024
Friends of Baxter State ParkBelfast, ME$115,000442024
YWCA Central MaineLewiston, ME$113,000442024
Augusta Food BankAugusta, ME$112,500442024
A Climate to ThriveMt Desert, ME$110,000332024
Black Farmer Fund IncNew York, NY$110,000332024
Environmental Grantmakers AssociationNew York, NY$110,000332024
Friends of Feral FelinesPortland, ME$110,000442024
Goodwill Industries of Northern New EnglandGorham, ME$110,000442024
Quebec Labrador Foundation IncIpswich, MA$110,000222023
SeedmoneyScarborough, ME$110,000442024
Wolfe's Neck Farm Foundation IncFreeport, ME$110,000332024
Lubec Community Outreach CenterLubec, ME$105,500442024
PassivhausmaineFreeport, ME$105,000332024
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Hancock CountyTrenton, ME$105,000442024
Gateway Community Services MainePortland, ME$102,500442024
Healthy HomeworksLewiston, ME$102,200442024
United CharitableAshburn, VA$101,500442024
Forest Society of MaineBangor, ME$100,000332023
Lewiston Public SchoolsLewiston, ME$100,000442024
Mailseet Community Development AuthorityLittleton, ME$100,000112022
Maine Animal Health AllianceAugusta, ME$100,000222024
Maine Historical SocietyPortland, ME$100,000442024
Quoddy Tides FoundationEastport, ME$100,000332024
Tufts UniversityMedford, MA$100,000442024
United Animal Nations (dba Redrover)Sacramento, CA$100,000442024
Foundation for Portland Public SchoolsPortland, ME$98,000442024
Raise-Op Housing CooperativeLewiston, ME$97,950442024
Boreal TheaterMillinocket, ME$95,000332024
Maine Women's Lobby Education FundAugusta, ME$95,000332024
Spiret FoundationWheaton, IL$95,000112021
Androscoggin Land Trust IncAuburn, ME$93,000442024
Tree Street Youth IncLewiston, ME$90,950442024
Downeast Lakes Land TrustGrand Lake Stream, ME$90,000332024
Full Plates Full PotentialBrunswick, ME$90,000332023
Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome CenterPortland, ME$90,000332024
La Youth and Family Enrichment ServicesLewiston, ME$90,000442024
Maine Access PointsBrunswick, ME$90,000332024
New Beginnings IncLewiston, ME$90,000442024
Sponsor Inc (dba Mission Earth)Framingham, MA$90,000222024
Living With PeaceLewiston, ME$87,000442024
Third Place IncPortland, ME$86,000442024
Trinity Jubilee Center IncLewiston, ME$85,450442024
Defend Our HealthPortland, ME$85,000332024
Greater Franklin Development CouncilFarmington, ME$85,000112022
La ArtsLewiston, ME$85,000222024
Maine Association of the Education of Young ChildrenAugusta, ME$85,000112022
Sea Meadow Marine FoundationYarmouth, ME$85,000222023
ArtvanBrunswick, ME$80,000442024
Center for Regional ProsperityPortland, ME$80,000222023
Center for Wildlife IncCape Neddick, ME$80,000442024
Fair Food NetworkDetroit, MI$80,000332023
Health Care Without HarmReston, VA$80,000222022
SweetserSaco, ME$80,000442024
Pinetree InstituteEliot, ME$77,000332024
Berea CollegeBerea, KY$75,000332024
East Coast Greenway Alliance IncDurham, NC$75,000332024
Foundation for Maine's Community CollegesSouth Portland, ME$75,000112021
Maine State Society for the Protection of AnimalsSouth Windham, ME$75,000442024
Portland Maine Symphony Orchestra (aka Pso)Portland, ME$75,000332024
Safe VoicesAuburn, ME$75,000442024
The Climate InitiativeCape Porpoise, ME$75,000332024
The Root CellarPortland, ME$72,500332024
City of AuburnAuburn, ME$70,200222024
Atlantic Salmon Federation IncCalais, ME$70,000222022
Farms for Food EquityCape Elizabeth, ME$70,000222024
Maine Inside OutLewiston, ME$70,000222024
Maine Public Health AssociationAugusta, ME$70,000332024
Maine Transgender Network IncPortland, ME$70,000222024
The Ark Animal ShelterCherryfield, ME$70,000222022
Sustainable Livelihoods Relief OrganizationLewiston, ME$66,000442024
Her Safety NetLewiston, ME$65,000332024
Maine Prisoner Re-Entry NetworkAugusta, ME$65,000332024
The Kennebec Land TrustWinthrop, ME$65,000332024
Kennebunk Free Library AssociationKennebunk, ME$61,500442024
American Civil Liberties Union of Maine FoundationPortland, ME$60,000332024
Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean SciencesEast Boothbay, ME$60,000222022
Environmental Health Strategy Center (aka Defend Our Health)Portland, ME$60,000112021
Gulf of Maine Research InstitutePortland, ME$60,000222022
Kennebunk Land TrustKennebunk, ME$60,000442024
Kommunity KrittersLewiston, ME$60,000222024
Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting (aka the Maine Monitor)Hallowell, ME$60,000332024
Mainehealth Care at HomeSaco, ME$60,000222022
Riding to the TopWindham, ME$60,000442024
Wayfinder SchoolsCamden, ME$60,000332024
Western Maine Transportation Services Inc (wmts)Auburn, ME$60,000222024
Young Men's Christian Association Auburn-Lewiston MaineAuburn, ME$60,000332024
Roil (dba Maine Inside Out)Portland, ME$57,500222022
University of New Hampshire Foundation IncorporatedDurham, NH$57,500442024
Ak Health and Social ServicesLewiston, ME$55,000332024
Foundation for a Strong Maine EconomyAugusta, ME$55,000222022
Friends of the Sea Lion Inc (aka Pacific Marine Mammal Center)Laguna Beach, CA$55,000332024
Indigo Arts AlliancePortland, ME$55,000332024
Maine Huts & TrailsKingfield, ME$55,000222022
Maine Lakes Society (aka Maine Lakes)Belgrade Lakes, ME$55,000332024
Natural Resources Defense Council IncNew York, NY$55,000222022
Western Foothills Land TrustNorway, ME$53,000332024
Animal OrphanageOrono, ME$50,000112024
Boys and Girls Club of Southern MainePortland, ME$50,000332024
Coastal Mountains Land TrustCamden, ME$50,000222024
Cobscook Community Learning CenterTrescott Township, ME$50,000112021
Entrepreneurship for All IncLowell, MA$50,000112022
Fork Food LabSouth Portland, ME$50,000222024
Laudholm TrustWells, ME$50,000442024
Lewiston Auburn Youth NetworkLewiston, ME$50,000332024
Lewiston Housing AuthorityLewiston, ME$50,000112024
Pine Tree SocietyBath, ME$50,000442024
United Youth Empowerment ServicesLewiston, ME$50,000332024
University of New EnglandBiddeford, ME$50,000222022
Wolfes Neck Farm Foundation IncFreeport, ME$50,000112021
United Way of Androscoggin County IncLewiston, ME$48,000332024
Rosati Leadership AcademyTopsham, ME$47,500332024
St Andre Home IncBangor, ME$47,500332024

313 of 458 (68%) received money in more than one year over the 4 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 73%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is about typical. A high number means its list is close to settled and a newcomer has to displace someone; a low one means it is still moving money around, which is where an opening is.

What kind of organizations it funds

By the recipient's own IRS classification, for the 906 grants where we could identify the organization. These are assigned categories, not our guesses.

Environment
158 grants
Human Services
134 grants
Animal Welfare
107 grants
Community Improvement
80 grants
Education
77 grants
Arts & Culture
64 grants
Health Care
60 grants
Food & Nutrition
53 grants

Giving by year

Tax yearGrantsTotalMedian grant
2021251$10.3M$27,400
2022295$12.8M$25,000
2023286$13.4M$30,000
2024296$14.4M$30,975

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.

Already committed for future years

Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Elmina B Sewall Foundation has 220 of them, worth $10.2M. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back -- and it also tells you how much of the next year's budget is already spoken for.

OrganizationLocationApproved
Sunrise County Economic CouncilMachias, ME$420,000
Maine AudubonFalmouth, ME$270,000
Maine Environmental Education AssociationBrunswick, ME$250,000
Outdoor Sports Institute IncCaribou, ME$200,000
Cooperative Development InstituteNorthampton, MA$185,000
St Mary's Regional Medical CenterLewiston, ME$175,000
Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant PointPleasant Point, ME$170,000
Maine Development FoundationHallowell, ME$155,000
Maine Initiatives IncPortland, ME$155,000
Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and EducationBeals, ME$150,000
New Learning JourneyWaitsfield, VT$150,000
Our KatahdinMillinocket, ME$150,000
Sunrise OpportunitiesMachias, ME$150,000
United Somali Women of MaineLewiston, ME$130,000
Rural Aspirations ProjectSwanville, ME$125,000

Where its money goes

Foundations concentrate geographically far more than their mission statements suggest. 88% of this one's giving went to organizations in Maine. If you are outside its footprint, that matters more than how well your programme fits.

Maine
$44.8M
Massachusetts
$2.0M
Vermont
$870K
California
$625K
Virginia
$579K
New York
$480K
New Hampshire
$474K
Colorado
$290K

Find more foundations like Elmina B Sewall Foundation

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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 the strongest available signal 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.

Maine Community Foundation Inc303 shared recipientsFidelity Investments Charitable Gift Fund222 shared recipientsDonor Advised Charitable Giving Inc156 shared recipientsOnion Foundation115 shared recipientsJohn T Gorman Foundation113 shared recipientsBangor Savings Bank Foundation105 shared recipients

How to approach this foundation

  1. Check you are its size. The median grant is $30,000. Asking for ten times that is the most common way small organizations waste a submission.
  2. Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Maine.
  3. 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.
  4. 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 Elmina B Sewall Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Nothing here is scraped, inferred, or estimated.

Address of record on the latest return: 15 Main Street 230, Freeport, ME, 04032. 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 01-0387404 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this

This is history, not an open call. Foundation returns are published about a year after the tax year ends. Nothing on this page is a deadline. It is a record of who this foundation has actually funded, which is the best available predictor of who it will fund next -- and a much better basis for deciding whether to write to them than a mission statement.

Is something here wrong about your foundation? Email [email protected] and we will correct it.