Elmina B Sewall Foundation
Historical FunderFreeport, Maine · EIN 01-0387404 · Private foundation · Website
Grants paid (2024)$14.4M
Organizations funded296
Typical grant$30,000
Total assets$164.8M
Half of its grants to organizations were between $17,000 and $56,000.
From the return
How to apply
The foundation filed the following application information (Form 990-PF Part XV, tax year 2024):
| Contact | Laura Dover |
|---|---|
| Address | 15 Main Street Suite 230, Freeport ME 04032 |
| Phone | 2073739206 |
| info@sewallfoundation.org | |
| Form and materials | The Foundation will only accept applications submitted through the Foundation's online grant system. Organizations may submit an application one time per calendar year. Some exceptions may be made in the case of fiscal sponsorships and multi-organization collaborations. Organizations with active multi-year grants must wait to apply for additional funding until the year in which the current grant-term ends. The Foundation's support for animal well-being is rooted in the interests of its founder and our recognition that the health and well-being of animals, people and environment are inextricably linked. We will fund organizations working to reduce barriers to equitable pet ownership, keep pets with their owners, and humanely control pet populations. The focus of this funding is on cats and dogs. More information for the Animal Welfare Program can be found at: https://www.sewallfoundation.org/animal-welfare |
| Deadlines | 2025 Applications were due by February, 2025. Grant decisions were announced in April, 2025. |
| Restrictions | Applicants must be eligible to accept tax-deductible donations as outlined in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations, public schools, public agencies working for the State of Maine, or Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior. The Foundation limits and prioritizes grant support to charitable work in Maine that aligns with its stated priorities. This requirement may be waived for a defined group of Legacy organizations. For nonprofits based in Maine, the Foundation will check with the Maine Secretary of State's website to determine that applicants' annual report filings are up-to-date. The Foundation will only consider grants for operations, projects, or capital acquisition; the Foundation does not consider grants for endowments. |
Copied as filed. Deadlines on a tax return describe the foundation's usual process; they are not confirmation of a current open cycle.
What it funds
Share of grant lines on the latest return, classified from the purpose each grant states.
Where it gives
12% of grants went outside Maine.
Grants paid in tax year 2024
| Recipient | Location | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunrise County Economic Council | Machias, ME | General Operating Support | $580,000 |
| Maine Environmental Education Association | Brunswick, ME | General Operating Support | $267,000 |
| United Somali Women of Maine | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $261,200 |
| Maine Audubon | Falmouth, ME | General Operating Support | $260,000 |
| New Learning Journey | Waitsfield, VT | General Operating Support | $225,000 |
| Center for An Ecology-Based Economy | Norway, ME | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Outdoor Sports Institute Inc | Caribou, ME | General Operating Support | $200,000 |
| Cooperative Development Institute | Northampton, MA | General Operating Support | $185,000 |
| Maine Development Foundation | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $185,000 |
| Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point | Pleasant Point, ME | General Operating Support | $180,000 |
| Our Katahdin | Millinocket, ME | General Operating Support | $175,000 |
| Maine Immigrant & Refugee Services | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $172,500 |
| Sunrise Opportunities | Machias, ME | General Operating Support | $172,500 |
| Maine Initiatives Inc | Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $157,100 |
| Aroostook Band of Micmacs | Presque Isle, ME | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Downeast Institute for Applied Marine Research and Education | Beals, ME | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Four Directions Development Corporation | Orono, ME | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Maliseet Community Development Authority | Littleton, ME | General Operating Support | $150,000 |
| Community Concepts Incorporated | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $140,000 |
| Millinocket Regional Hospital | Millinocket, ME | General Operating Support | $140,000 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust | Topsham, ME | General Operating Support | $133,000 |
| Maine Community Integration | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Rural Aspirations Project | Swanville, ME | General Operating Support | $125,000 |
| Maine Association For The Education Of Young Children | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $120,000 |
| Wabanaki Health and Wellness Inc | Bangor, ME | General Operating Support | $118,000 |
| Hand in Hand Mano en Mano | Milbridge, ME | General Operating Support | $115,206 |
| Land Peace Foundation | Monroe, ME | General Operating Support | $115,000 |
| Lewiston Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Foundation | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $115,000 |
| Maine Farmland Trust Inc | Belfast, ME | General Operating Support | $115,000 |
| Maine People's Resource Center | Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $110,000 |
| Third Sector New England Inc | Boston, MA | General Operating Support | $110,000 |
| Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition | Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $105,000 |
| Friends of Veterans' Memorial Library | Patten, ME | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians | Littleton, ME | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Maine Federation of Farmers Markets | Freeport, ME | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance (MMSA) | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Millinocket Memorial Library | Millinocket, ME | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| The Trust for Public Land | Los Angeles, CA | General Operating Support | $100,000 |
| Maine Conservation Alliance | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $92,500 |
| Maine State Chamber of Commerce Education Foundation | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $90,000 |
| Downeast Community Partners Inc | Ellsworth, ME | General Operating Support | $85,000 |
| Penobscot Nation | Indian Island, ME | General Operating Support | $85,000 |
| Wayside Food Programs | Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $85,000 |
| Cobscook Institute (aka Cobscook Community Learning Center) | Trescott Township, ME | General Operating Support | $80,000 |
| Land in Common Inc | Greene, ME | General Operating Support | $80,000 |
| Maine Climate Action Now | Bar Harbor, ME | General Operating Support | $80,000 |
| Medical Care Development (aka MCD Global Health) | Hallowell, ME | General Operating Support | $80,000 |
| New England Grassroots Environment Fund | Newmarket, NH | General Operating Support | $80,000 |
| Presente Maine | Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $75,258 |
| Houlton Humane Society | Houlton, ME | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Katahdin Children and Families Foundation | Patten, ME | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Kennebec Valley Humane Society | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Spirits Place | Newport, ME | General Operating Support | $75,000 |
| Environmental Grantmakers Association | New York, NY | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| LA Arts | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Maine Animal Health Alliance | Augusta, ME | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Maine Philanthropy Center | Portland, ME | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Somali Bantu Community Lewiston of Maine | Lewiston, ME | General Operating Support | $70,000 |
| Blue Hill Heritage Trust Inc | Blue Hill, ME | General Operating Support | $65,000 |
| Coastal Enterprises Inc | Brunswick, ME | General Operating Support | $65,000 |
Showing the 60 largest of 296 grants to organizations.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants paid | Grant lines |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $14,366,501 | 296 |
| 2023 | $13,386,409 | 506 |
Sources
- IRS Form 990-PF, tax year 2024, filed Nov 12, 2025 - IRS e-file batch, object ID 202523169349102922
- IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search for EIN 01-0387404
- Profile updated Nov 4, 2026
Facts on this page come from the foundation's own IRS Form 990-PF filings as published by the IRS. Grantvello does not know whether a foundation is accepting proposals right now: a past grant is not an open opportunity. Always confirm current guidelines with the funder before applying.