2027 Community Building Program
2027 Community Building Program supports locally focused Maine organizations and funds ongoing work and new projects to advance community-level impact shaped by the people affected.
This grant was recently updated
The page now covers 2027: applications open November 16 instead of November 17 and close February 16 instead of February 17 at 11:59 p.m. Applicants must primarily serve one county; the general-support expense ceiling rises from $500,000 to $750,000, and other eligibility and application requirements also changed.
Funder: Maine Community Foundation
Due Dates: November 16, 2026 (Applications open) | February 16, 2027, 11:59 p.m. (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: Up to $10,000 for one-year general support or project support
Summary: Supports community-based and community-driven organizations and new projects primarily serving a single Maine county.
Key Information: More than half of the people served and/or activities offered must be located in one county.
Description
Maine Community Foundation’s Community Building Program supports locally focused organizations and projects across all 16 Maine counties. For 2027, the program places a stronger emphasis on community-level impact and work shaped by the people it affects. Those people must participate in designing, delivering, and/or evaluating the organization’s work or project.
The program offers flexible general support for eligible organizations and project support for new work within its first two years. General support can sustain new, expanding, or ongoing programs, operating needs, and capital expenses. Project support can fund pilot programs, one-time programming outside general operations, and one-time capital projects. The program’s geographic focus is on organizations or projects primarily serving one county, rather than expanding existing services into new areas or populations.
