2024 Grants

 

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