2026 Grants - Sam L. Cohen Foundation

Responsive grants are awarded semi-annually in response to proposals submitted through the Foundation's grant application process. The Foundation accepts requests up to $50,000. To date in 2026, the Sam L. Cohen Foundation awarded xx responsive grants totaling $xx. In total, the Foundation considered xx letters of inquiry and invited xx full applications. The average grant award was $xx; the smallest grant was $xx; the largest grant was $50,000.

Foundation-initiated grants are awarded to projects identified by directors and staff. Applications are accepted only at the invitation of the directors. Grant amounts have no limit.

Responsive Grants

Organization/Location	Project/Funding Category	Amount
317 Main Community Music Center Yarmouth, Maine	Portland Community Access and Outreach Arts & Culture	$ 10,000
American Civil Liberties Union of Maine Portland, ME	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 40,000
Biddeford Community Gardens Biddeford, ME	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 7,500
Biddeford Cultural and Heritage Center Biddeford, Maine	Operating Support Arts & Culture	$ 5,000
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 40,000
Caring Unlimited Corp Sanford, Maine	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 25,000
Catholic Charities Portland, Maine	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 15,000
Community Dental Biddeford, Maine	Access Program Support Health & Human Services	$ 25,000
Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness Portland, Maine	Classroom Inclusion Program Civic & Community	$ 10,000
Defend Our Health Portland, Maine	Environmental Toxics Screening Health & Human Services	$ 10,000
EqualityMaine Foundation Portland, Maine	Expansion of Community Education Civic & Community	$ 25,000
Finding Our Voices Camden, Maine	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 10,000
Foundation for Portland Public Schools Portland, Maine	Families in Crisis Program Health & Human Services	$ 22,500
Frannie Peabody Center Portland, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 20,000
Furniture Friends Westbrook, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 25,000
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England Gorham, Maine	SNAP Employment & Training Health & Human Services	$ 15,000
Great Bay Services Dover, New Hampshire	York and Cumberland Counties Health & Human Services	$ 10,000
LearningWorks Portland, Maine	Operating Support Education	$ 15,000
Locker Project Portland, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 10,000
Maine Academy of Modern Music Portland, Maine	Amplify Portland Youth Development Initiative Arts & Culture	$ 10,000
Maine Access Immigrant Network Portland, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 30,000
Maine Association of New Americans Portland, Maine	Youth Community Wellness and Peer Support Program Health & Human Services	$ 10,000
Maine Boys to Men Falmouth, Maine	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 15,000
Maine Center for Economic Policy Augusta, Maine	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 35,000
Maine Historical Society Portland, Maine	America at 250 Educational and Public Programs Education	$ 15,000
Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition Portland, Maine	Member Re-Engagement and Rapid Response Projects Civic & Community	$ 45,000
Maine Jewish Museum Portland, Maine	Delet: Opening Doors Through Story, Place, and Jewish Learning Jewish Culture & Traditions	$ 40,000
Mainely Teeth Portland, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 25,000
New Ventures Maine Augusta, Maine	ReEntry and ReEmployment Civic & Community	$ 15,000
Oasis Free Clinics Brunswick, ME	Dental Clinic Support Health & Human Services	$ 20,000
Pinetree Institute Eliot, Maine	Trauma Responsive Certificate Program Health & Human Services	$ 14,400
Planned Parenthood of NNE Colchester, VT	Maine Patient Care Health & Human Services	$ 50,000
Portland Ovations Portland, Maine	Performing Arts Access for Young Audiences Arts & Culture	$ 20,000
Portland Stage Company Portland, Maine	K-12 Education Programs *Arts & Culture*	$ 20,000
Portland Symphony Orchestra Portland, Maine	PSO Explorers Early Education Program Arts & Culture	$ 20,000
Preble Street Portland, ME	Food Security Hub Health & Human Services	$ 25,000
Presente! Maine Portland, ME	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 15,000
Queerly ME Brunswick, Maine	Operating Support Civic & Community	$ 7,500
Saint Andre Home Bangor, Maine	Esther Residence Health & Human Services	$ 25,000
Shalom House Portland, Maine	Basic Needs Fund Health & Human Services	$ 10,000
South Portland School Department South Portland, Maine	Digital Skill Building for Teachers and Students Education	$ 15,000
Spurwink Services Portland, Maine	Spurwink’s Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic Health & Human Services	$ 30,000
St. Elizabeth's Essentials Pantry Portland, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 5,000
Sweetser Saco, Maine	Maine’s First Psychiatric Residential Treatment Facility *Health & Human Services*	$ 20,000
Tedford Housing Brunswick, Maine	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 35,000
The Adaptive Outdoor Education Center Brunswick, ME	Horizons Inclusion Camp Health & Human Services	$ 3,000
The Opportunity Alliance Portland, Maine	Community School Development Project Health & Human Services	$ 20,000
United Way of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	United 4 Child Care Education	$ 35,000
University of New England Biddeford, Maine	SeaBars for Community Nourishment Health & Human Services	$ 15,000
York County Community Action Corp. Sanford, Maine	Whole Family Coaching Health & Human Services	$ 35,000
York Hospital York, ME	York Hospital Transportation Services Health & Human Services	$ 15,000
Youth Full Maine Biddeford	Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 20,000

Foundation-initiated Grants

Organization/Location	Project/Funding Category	Amount
Foundation for Portland Public Schools Portland, Maine	Rapid Response Fund - Food Insecurity Health & Human Services	$ 22,500
Habitat for Humanity York County Kennebunk, Maine	2026 Weatherization - Aging in Place Health & Human Services	$ 7,500
Locker Project Portland, Maine	Rapid Response Fund - Food Insecurity Health & Human Services	$ 10,000
Maine Early Childhood Funders Group Portland, Maine	Membership Dues Health & Human Services	$ 6,000
Maine Initiatives Portland, Maine	2026 Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative Health & Human Services	$ 4,000
Maine Initiatives Portland, Maine	Rapid Response Funding to Support Immigrant Communities in Maine Health & Human Services	$ 75,000
Maine Philanthropy Center Portland, Maine	MPC 30th Anniversary Civic & Community	$ 5,000
Preble Street Portland, Maine	Rapid Response Fund - Food Insecurity Health & Human Services	$ 25,000
ProsperityME Portland, Maine	Rapid Response Fund - Emergency Rental Relief Health & Human Services	$ 40,000
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center Biddeford, Maine	Seeds of Hope Family Center Health & Human Services	$ x,500
The Opportunity Alliance South Portland, Maine	2026 Heating Assistance and Weatherization Health & Human Services	$ 12,500
The WindowDressers Rockland, Maine	General Operating Support Health & Human Services	$ 7,500
United Way of Southern Maine Portland, Maine	2026 Keep ME Warm Fund Health & Human Services	$ 15,000
University of Hawai'i Foundation Honolulu, Hawai'i	Sam L. Cohen Foundation Fellowship Civic & Community	$ 45,000
Wayside Food Programs Portland, Maine	Rapid Response Fund - Food Insecurity Health & Human Services	$ 12,500
York County Community Action Corp. Sanford, ME	2026 Heating Assistance Health & Human Services	$ 7,500
York County Community Action Corp. Sanford, Maine	Rapid Response Fund - Housing Stabilization and Rental Assistance Health & Human Services	$ 40,000
Youth Full Maine Biddeford, Maine	Rapid Response - Food Insecurity Health & Human Services	$ 15,000