Nonprofit organizations in Franklin and Somerset counties may be eligible for grants from the Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Grant Program.

The program invests in local projects and organizations that help build strong communities. In 2023, 10 Franklin and Somerset county nonprofit organizations were awarded grants totaling $81,760. Donors with advised funds at MaineCF made two additional grants totaling $15,000, according to a news release from Taylor Mace with the foundation.

The program supports projects and organizations that invest in people, engage with the people served, and strengthen community resources. Applicants must identify how the organization or project invests in people’s skills, knowledge and/or well-being. They will also be asked to explain how they engage the people served in the design, delivery and/or evaluation of the work. The grantmaking committees are also interested to learn which community resources are being strengthened.

Last year’s grantees included:

• Literacy Volunteers, to educate, empower and connect adults in rural Maine, for whom literacy skills are a barrier to access;
• Rangeley Region Health and Wellness Partnership, to provide access to healthy food for rural and low-income older people; and
• Western Maine Community Action, to increase household safety, well-being and employability for community members.

For a full list of grants by county, and to learn more about Community Building Grant Program qualifications and the application process, visit mainecf.org.

This is MaineCF’s largest grant program. It is one of the only grant programs in the state that supports a broad range of interest areas, including arts, education, environment, economic development and human services.

The program offers two types of funding: project grants and general support. Project grants are only available to larger organizations for new projects. General support grants are geared towards smaller organizations and this flexible funding may support new, expanding or ongoing programs as well as operational needs.

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