Deadline: 15-Oct-21
The Maine Community Foundation is pleased to announce the Downeast Innovation to support nonprofit organizations that provide programs to support or increase entrepreneurship and innovation in Hancock and Washington counties in Maine.
Entrepreneurship and innovation are deeply ingrained in Maine culture and a critical part of the economy. Encouraging and supporting entrepreneurship and innovation will grow existing businesses in Maine and inspire new startup ventures. These in turn create the thriving local economies that they need to improve the quality of life for all Maine people.
Priorities
Priority will be given to organizations that:
- Support and/or remove barriers for entrepreneurs and innovators, especially those who are women, people of color and located in remote communities with access to fewer resources
- Build and strengthen relationships, connections, and networks to support entrepreneurs and innovators
- Increase or improve skills, opportunities, and/or willingness of community members to be entrepreneurial or innovative
- Leverage partnerships within or build upon the work of organizations participating in the Downeast Innovation Network
- Contribute to, build, and/or strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Washington and/or Hancock counties.
Types of Funding
This program provides:
- Capacity-building grants to support organizations that are actively engaged in work to support entrepreneurship and innovation. These requests can be for activities that will make such an organization stronger, more successful, or more efficient. Capacity-building activities may include but are not limited to:
- training for board, staff, or volunteers
- improving financial management or information systems
- acquiring technology to improve or expand services
- developing new sources of earned income
- strategic planning focused on achieving a specific goal
- Project grants for new or expanding projects.
Funding Information
- Maximum Award: $10,000
Eligibility Criteria
- Nonprofit, charitable organizations tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and also classified as an organization described in sections 509(a)(1) or 509(a)(2)
- Municipalities
- Public schools
- Public agencies working for the State of Maine
- Indian tribal governments (or political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior
- Groups without any tax status may apply with a fiscal sponsor that is an eligible organization.
For more information, visit https://www.mainecf.org/apply-for-a-grant/available-grants-deadlines/downeast-innovation/