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 2024, the Sam L. Cohen Foundation awarded 74 responsive grants totaling $1,583,600. In total, the Foundation considered 143 proposals requesting $3,362,670. The average grant award was $21,400; the smallest grant was $5,000; 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 |
Yarmouth
|
Greater Portland Music Education Partnership
Arts and Culture
|
$ 15,000
|
Portland
|
Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 35,000 |
Portland
|
Red Cross Disaster Services
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Brunswick
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services - Youth Development
|
$ 7,500
|
Portland
|
Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 40,000 |
Casco
|
Camp Sunshine Family Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Sanford
|
Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 25,000 |
Portland
|
Immigration Legal Services
Civic and Community
|
$ 15,000
|
Portland
|
Portland Bach Experience 2024 - Shalom/Peace
Arts and Culture
|
$ 5,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 30,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 30,000
|
Biddeford
|
General Operating Support (Multi-year)
Jewish Culture and Traditions
|
$ 75,000
|
Portland
|
Community Led Needs Assessment
Civic and Community
|
$ 30,000 |
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 35,000
|
Camden
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 10,000
|
Portland
|
Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 20,000 |
Westbrook
|
Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 20,000 |
Gorham
|
Camp Sunshine Family Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Portland
|
Homelessness Prevention and Housing Stabilization
Health and Human Services
|
$ 25,000
|
Ocean Park
|
Program Expansion in Portland
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 20,000
|
Portland
|
Volunteer Coordination and Programmatic Support
Jewish Culture and Tradition
|
$ 50,000
|
Portland
|
Bikes for All Mainers Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Lake Region Senior Services
Bridgton
|
Healthcare Access Transportation Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 12,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Education
|
$ 15,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 20,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Arts and Culture
|
$ 10,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 30,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 15,000
|
Augusta
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 35,000
|
Brunswick
|
Increasing Financial Stability for Older Mainers
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Augusta
|
Improving Access to Abortion Care in Rural Maine
Health and Human Services
|
$ 41, 600 |
Freeport
|
Portland Farmers’ Market Nutrition Incentives & Senior
Farmshare
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000
|
Augusta
|
Advocacy
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 45,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 10,000
|
Portland
|
Oral Health Care in Cumberland/York Counties
Health and Human Services
|
$ 20,000
|
Augusta
|
ReEntry and ReEmployment
Civic and Community
|
$ 15,000 |
Portland
|
Integrated Behavioral Health Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 20,000
|
Brunswick
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 20,000
|
Portland
|
Operating Support
Health and Human Services - Youth Development
|
$ 15,000 |
Brunswick
|
Meeting Essential Needs for Older Adults
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000
|
Windham
|
Operating Support
Health and Human Services - Youth Development
|
$ 5,000 |
Vermont
|
Southern Maine Sliding Fee Scale Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 50,000
|
Portland
|
Expanded Arts Access for Young Mainers
Arts and Culture
|
$ 20,000
|
Portland
|
Vision Care Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Portland
|
Community Ballet
Arts and Culture
|
$ 5,000 |
Portland
|
K-12 Education Programs
Arts and Culture
|
$ 20,000
|
Portland
|
"Clarinet Genius" David Krakauer
Arts and Culture
|
$ 25,000
|
Portland
|
Preble Street Food Security Hub
Health and Human Services
|
$ 50,000
|
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Education
|
$ 40,000
|
Standish
|
Supporting Women Leaving Incarceration
Civic and Community
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
City Sailors
Health and Human Services - Youth Development
|
$ 10,000 |
Topsham
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000
|
New York, NY
|
Maine Seeds Program
Health and Human Services - Youth Development
|
$ 15,000 |
Senior Needs Committee of Wells & Ogunquit
Wells
|
Capital request - new generator
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
Basic Needs Fund
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Lewiston
|
Culturally Relevant Food Access - Cumberland County
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
Expanding Behavioral Health Care in York County
Health and Human Services
|
$ 30,000
|
Brunswick
|
Case Management & New Emergency Housing
Health and Human Services
|
$ 30,000
|
Portland
|
Intercultural Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 10,000
|
Portland
|
Low-Income Fund for Tools
Health and Human Services
|
$ 5,000 |
South Portland
|
Creating a Stronger East Bayside Neighborhood
Health and Human Services
|
$ 25,000
|
South Portland
|
Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Arts and Culture
|
$ 15,000 |
Portland
|
United 4 Child Care
Education
|
$ 35,000 |
Yarmouth
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 25,000
|
Portland
|
Maine Stitching Academy
Civic and Community
|
$ 15,000 |
Westbrook
|
K- 5 Transportation Program
Education
|
$ 12,500
|
Sanford
|
Acclimating New Mainers in York County
Health and Human Services
|
$ 35,000
|
Alfred
|
Street Outreach Program
Health and Human Services
|
$ 50,000 |
Biddeford
|
General Operating Support
Health and Human Services
|
$ 30,000
|
Foundation-initiated Grants
Organization/Location
|
Project/Funding Category
|
Amount |
Portland
|
A Place of Growth Capital Campaign
Health and Human Services
|
$1,000,000 |
Education Funders Network
Portland
|
Education Funders Network 2024 membership
Education |
$ 500 |
Kennebunk
|
Weatherization/Aging in Place
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
Addressing Antisemitism
Jewish Culture and Traditions
|
$ 10,000 |
Portland
|
Director of Community Relations
Jewish Culture and Traditions
|
$ 375,000 |
Augusta
|
Right from the Start Coalition
Education
|
$ 65,000 |
Maine Early Childhood Funders Group
Portland
|
2024 Membership
Education
|
$ 6,000 |
Portland
|
Maine Asylum Seeker Crisis Support
Civic and Community
|
$ 20,000 |
Portland
|
MJFF Operating Support 2025 - 2028
Jewish Culture and Traditions
|
$ 60,000 |
Portland
|
The Delet Program
Jewish Culture and Traditions
|
$ 50,000 |
Maine Oral Health Funder's Group
Statewide
|
MOHF Consultant 2024
Health and Human Services
|
$ 3,000 |
Portland
|
Heating Assistance and Weatherization
Health and Human Services
|
$ 15,000 |
Portland
|
Keep ME Warm! 2023
Health and Human Services
|
$ 10,000 |
Lewiston
|
General Operating Support - Southern Maine focus
Health and Human Services
|
$ 7,500 |
Sanford
|
Heating Assistance
Health and Human Services
|
$ 7,500 |