Rapid Response Fund Grants
Forecasted
Rapid Response Fund Grants support Maine organizations and communities with emergency and time-sensitive work that advances equity and the interconnected well-being of people, animals, and the environment.
Funder: Elmina B. Sewall Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): September 2027 (Final request deadline)
Funding Amounts: Most grants no greater than $10,000; 12-month term; $400,000 available in 2026
Summary: Supports emergency and time-sensitive work advancing equity and interconnected well-being for people, animals, and the environment in Maine.
Key Information: An email inquiry is required before an invitation to apply online.
Description
The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation’s Rapid Response Fund supports organizations and communities responding to emergencies or short-term opportunities anywhere in Maine. Emergencies are unexpected, unplanned situations requiring immediate, time-limited action; time-sensitive opportunities are usually within the next few months. Requests need not fit another foundation grant program. Examples include expanding capacity to meet emergency food, fuel, or housing needs, helping an animal shelter address an unforeseen crisis, and covering unexpected legal costs that remove barriers to equity.
The fund emphasizes community voice, racial and environmental justice, and the interconnected well-being of people, animals, and the environment. Priorities include coordinated responses across communities, regions, or sectors, collaborative action, and land return and land access. For 2026, the foundation also considers stabilization work following sudden funding losses or policy changes.
