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. In 2020, the Sam L. Cohen Foundation awarded 75 responsive grants totaling $1,368,500. In total, the Foundation considered 167 letters of inquiry and invited 84 full applications. The average grant award was $18,247; the smallest grant was $3,500; 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 |
Education Partnership Program Arts & Culture |
$ 7,500 |
|
Portland, ME |
Empowerment & Resilience Programming Health & Human Services |
$ 12,500 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Women Making Their Way Civic & Community |
$ 3,500 |
|
American Civil Liberties Union of Maine Portland, ME |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 30,000 |
|
American Red Cross of Southern Maine Portland, ME |
Disaster Cycle Services Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Biddeford, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Avesta Housing Development Corporation Portland, Maine |
Homeless to Housing Collaboration Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 30,000 |
|
Sanford, Maine |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Child Development Centers Education |
$ 35,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Intercultural Peer Program Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Children's Museum and Theatre of Maine Portland, Maine |
Community Access Initiative Arts & Culture |
$ 10,000 |
|
Brunswick, Maine |
StartSmart Civic & Community |
$ 20,000 |
|
Biddeford, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 35,000 |
|
Consumers for Affordable Health Care Augusta, Maine |
Access to Health Care in SoME Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness Portland, Maine |
Program Expansion in SoME Civic & Community |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
New American Welcome Center Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Foundation for Portland Public Schools Portland, Maine |
Hybrid Remote Support Education |
$ 45,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Friends of the Saint Lawrence Church Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Arts & Culture |
$ 5,000 |
|
Westbrook, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
Foundation for Portland Public Schools Portland, Maine |
Portland Empowered Program Education |
$ 15,000 |
|
Gateway Community Services Maine Portland, Maine |
Youth Leadership Civic & Community |
$ 10,000 |
|
South Portland, Maine |
A Place for Girls - Biddeford Health & Human Services |
$ 7,500 |
|
Auburn, Maine |
York and Cumberland Counties Health & Human Services |
$ 40,000 |
|
Goodwill Industries of Northern New England Gorham, Maine |
Workforce Development Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Boston, Massachusetts |
SOJH Museum Education Programs Arts & Culture |
$ 5,000 |
|
Scarborough, Maine |
Hospice Care at Home Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Art & Culture |
$ 5,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Distance Learning Support Education |
$ 15,000 |
|
Intercultural Community Center Westbrook, ME |
Wraparound Support for New Mainers Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Augusta, Maine |
Operating Support Education |
$ 25,000 |
|
Kennebunk, Maine |
Health Relationships Civic & Community |
$ 5,000 |
|
Lake Region Senior Service, Inc. Bridgton, Maine |
Healthcare Access Transportation Program Health & Human Services |
$ 12,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Education |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Maine Access Immigrant Network Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Maine Association of Nonprofits Portland, Maine |
Equity Initiative - Phase II Civic & Community |
$ 10,000 |
|
Falmouth, Maine |
Youth Stewardship Program Education |
$ 10,000 |
|
Falmouth, Maine |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 15,000 |
|
Maine Center for Economic Policy Augusta, Maine |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 35,000 |
|
Augusta, Maine |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 30,000 |
|
Augusta, Maine |
Abortion Aid Fund Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 30,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Technology/Operating Support Jewish Culture & Traditions |
$ 25,000 |
|
Falmouth, Maine |
Backstage at the Nutcracker Arts & Culture |
$ 7,500 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Maine Youth Justice Campaign Civic & Community |
$ 5,000 |
|
Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program Brunswick, Maine |
Food Pantry Program Health & Human Services |
$ 18,000 |
|
Westbrook, ME |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 25,000 |
|
Brunswick, ME |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Olympia Snowe Women's Leadership Institute Portland, Maine |
York and Cumberland Counties Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
McAuley Residence Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Colchester, VT |
Deepening Impact in SoME Health & Human Services |
$ 50,000 |
|
Portland Community Free Clinic Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland Museum of Art Portland, Maine |
PMA School Experience Initiative Arts & Culture |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland Recovery Community Center Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
K-12 Education Programs Arts & Culture |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
School-Time Performance Series Arts & Culture |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, ME |
Emergency Food Programs Health & Human Services |
$ 45,000 |
|
Portland, ME |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 30,000 |
|
South Portland, Maine |
STRIVE Worldwide Program Education |
$ 25,000 |
|
Whiting, Maine |
Southern Maine Programming Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Community Conversations Arts & Culture |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Access to Care and Basic Needs Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Saco, Maine |
Residential Program COVID-19 Expenses Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Brunswick, Maine |
Case Management Support Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, ME |
COVID-19 Program Health & Human Services |
$ 30,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
East Bayside Community Builder Health & Human Services |
$ 25,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Arts & Culture |
$ 15,000 |
|
Saco, Maine |
Free Breakfast & Lunch Program Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Civic & Community |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, ME |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 25,000 |
|
Kennebunk, Maine |
Biddeford Ready! Network Education |
$ 35,000 |
|
Westbrook, Maine |
Family Wellness Programming Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Biddeford |
Operating Support Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
Foundation-initiated Grants
| Organization/Location | Project/Funding Category | Amount |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, basic needs Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Biddeford, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
Bath, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
| Biddeford Food Pantry Biddeford, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
| Biddeford School Department Biddeford, Maine |
COVID-10, food program (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, emergency assistance Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Biddeford, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Arts & Culture |
$ 5,000 |
|
Falmouth, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
Freeport, Maine |
COVID-19, food program Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
Friends of the St. Lawrence Church Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Arts & Culture |
$ 2,500 |
|
South Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 2,500 |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank Auburn, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 35,000 |
|
Springvale, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Education |
$ 5,000 |
|
Greater Portland Family Promise Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 7,500 |
|
Habitat for Humanity York County Kennebunk, ME |
Weatherization in York County Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Waterville, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support |
$ 5,000 |
|
Biddeford, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support |
$ 5,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support |
$ 5,000 |
| Hope Acts Portland, Maine |
In honor of Elinor Miller Health & Human Services |
$ 2,000 |
|
Jewish Community Alliance of SoME Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, diaper program Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
| Jewish Community Alliance of SoME Portland, Maine |
In honor of Elinor Miller Civic & Community |
$ 3,000 |
| Jewish Community Alliance of SoME Portland, Maine |
Support for Programs Civic & Community |
$ 2,200 |
| Locker Project Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Civic & Community |
$ 10,000 |
|
Maine Access Immigrant Network Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, basic needs/case management Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
| Maine Initiatives Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, Care Fund Civic & Community |
$ 5,000 |
|
Falmouth, Maine |
COVID-19, Safety First for Women Fund Civic & Community |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support Arts & Culture |
$ 5,000 |
| Mid Coast Hunger Prevention Program Brunswick, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, emergency shelter Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
| My Place Teen Center Westbrook, Maine |
COVID-19, food program (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
South Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, 211 Maine/Frontline Warmline Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
South Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, basic necessities Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
South Portland, Maine |
Heating assistance, weatherization Health & Human Services |
$ 15,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Cradle to Career Education |
$ 25,000 |
| Portland Public Schools Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, food program Health & Human Services |
$ 5,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 50,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, Learning Collaborative |
$ 7,500 |
|
Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center Biddeford, ME |
COVID-19, food program (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, basic need, food |
$ 10,000 |
|
South Portland Food Cupboard South Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support |
$ 5,000 |
|
Southern Maine Agency on Aging Scarborough, Maine |
COVID-19, Meals on Wheels (2) Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, basic needs |
$ 10,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
Operating Support Education |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19 Emergency Response Health & Human Services |
$ 20,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support |
$ 15,000 |
|
Rockland, Maine |
Weatherization, operating support Health & Human Services |
$ 7,500 |
|
United Way of Greater Portland Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, relief fund Civic & Community |
$ 25,000 |
|
United Way of Greater Portland Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, 211 Maine Civic & Community |
$ 5,000 |
|
United Way of Greater Portland Portland, Maine |
Keep ME Warm! 2020 Health & Human Services |
$ 10,000 |
|
Bath, Maine |
COVID-19, relief fund Civic & Community |
$ 5,000 |
|
Portland, Maine |
COVID-19, relief fund Civic & Community |
$ 10,000 |
|
Sanford, Maine |
COVID-19, emergency response funds (2) Civic & Community
|
$ 30,000 |
|
Alfred, Maine |
COVID-19, shelter/food programs |
$ 10,000 |
|
Biddeford, Maine |
COVID-19, operating support |
$ 10,000 |