Rural Futures Fund | Foundation Profile

GrantBay analyzes IRS Form 990-PF data to help grant seekers find fit funders like Rural Futures Fund. Data shown is extracted from Form 990-PF filings.

EIN: 20-8797462

Foundation Overview

Based in Portland, ME, Rural Futures Fund has awarded 71 grants totaling $4,996,597 to organizations in Maine. Individual grants range from $1,000 to $283,118, with a median award of $72,498.

Latest Tax Year
2023
Total Giving (all years)
$4,996,597
Total Assets
$1,319,650
Median Grant (all grants)
$72,498

Latest Form 990-PF Snapshot

Total Grants
10
Median Grant
$50,000
% Median Grant Decline
-57% (vs previous year)
Data extracted from IRS Form 990-PF filings. Last filing year: February 2026

Foundation Intelligence

Advanced analytics and strategic insights to help nonprofit organizations assess grant opportunities and optimize their application strategies

New Applicant Friendliness
Balanced Approach: 40%

4 of 10 recipients (40%) were new grantees. Foundation maintains loyal partnerships while remaining open to qualified new applicants with strong proposals.

Geographic Focus
Maine

100% of all grants are concentrated in Maine, demonstrating highly focused geographic giving. This foundation prioritizes deep community impact in its primary service area. Within Maine, funding concentrates in Orono (14%), Belfast (13%), Old Town (11%).

Funding Trajectory
-5%

Stable funding levels with 5% change over 8 years indicate consistent grant-making capacity and predictable philanthropic resources. This stability suggests reliable ongoing funding opportunities.

Program Areas
Community Projects + 2 others

Diversified giving across multiple program areas with primary emphasis on community projects (36%). This broad approach suggests openness to various causes and innovative cross-sector solutions.

Where is The Money Going?

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Grants & Funding

Analyzing past grantees provides valuable insights into Rural Futures Fund's funding preferences, organizational priorities, and grant making patterns. This historical data helps potential applicants understand the foundation's strategic focus and identify successful funding approaches.

Name Amount Location Purpose Year
Center For Rural Youth Development $7,704 Portland, ME, US Startup Costs 2023
Maine Youth Alliance $50,000 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
Midcoast Youth Alliance $85,000 Bath, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
Old-town Orono Ymca $20,000 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
University Of Maine $50,000 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
Center For Rural Youth Development $7,704 Portland, ME, US Startup Costs 2023
Maine Youth Alliance $50,000 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
Midcoast Youth Alliance $85,000 Bath, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
Old-town Orono Ymca $20,000 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
University Of Maine $50,000 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2023
Chewonki Foundation Inc $116,101 Wiscasset, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Maine Seacoast Mission $159,050 Bar Harbor, ME, US Funding Support For The Edge Program; Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Maine Youth Alliance $97,380 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Old-town Orono Ymca $207,560 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
University Of Maine $102,977 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Chewonki Foundation Inc $116,101 Wiscasset, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Maine Seacoast Mission $159,050 Bar Harbor, ME, US Funding Support For The Edge Program; Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Maine Youth Alliance $97,380 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Old-town Orono Ymca $207,560 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
University Of Maine $102,977 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Chewonki Foundation Inc $116,101 Wiscasset, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Maine Seacoast Mission $159,050 Bar Harbor, ME, US Funding Support For The Edge Program; Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Maine Youth Alliance $97,380 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Old-town Orono Ymca $207,560 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
University Of Maine $102,977 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2022
Apex Youth Connection $54,000 Biddeford, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2021
Chewonki Foundation Inc $123,946 Wiscasset, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2021
Maine Seacoast Mission $138,691 Bar Harbor, ME, US Funding Support For The Edge Program; Aspirations Incubator Program 2021
Maine Youth Alliance $89,904 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2021
Old-town Orono Ymca $94,903 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2021
University Of Maine $109,022 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2021
Apex Youth Connection (formerly Known As The Community Bicycle Center) $89,710 Biddeford, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2020
Chewonki Foundation Inc $119,038 Wiscasset, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2020
Maine Seacoast Mission $72,498 Bar Harbor, ME, US Funding Support For The Edge Program; Aspirations Incubator Program 2020
Maine Youth Alliance $96,263 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2020
Old-town Orono Ymca $71,211 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2020
Trekkers Inc $25,000 Thomaston, ME, US Funding To Fund The Capacity Building 2020
University Of Maine $107,056 Orono, ME, US Funding Support For The Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center; Aspirations Incubator Program 2020
Chewonki Foundation $75,436 Wiscasset, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2017
Community Bicycle Center $114,387 Biddeford, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2017
Kieve-wavus Education $126,403 Nobleboro, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2017
Maine Youth Alliance Dba The Game Loft $126,306 Belfast, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2017
Old-town Orono Ymca $79,871 Old Town, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2017
Seeds Of Independence $129,697 Brunswick, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program 2017
The Maine Sea Coast Mission $75,500 Bar Harbor, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program For Edge Program 2017
Trekkers Inc $283,118 Thomaston, ME, US Trekkers Training Institute Seed Funding 2017
University Of Maine $97,025 Orono, ME, US Aspirations Incubator Program For Bryant Pond 4-h Camp And Learning Center 2017
Aroostook Mental Health Dba Aroostook Teen Leadership Camp $10,000 Caribou, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Community Bicycle Center $10,000 Biddeford, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Hardy Girls Healthy Women $30,000 Waterville, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Harpswell Coastal Academy $5,000 Harpswell, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Herring Gut Learning Center $5,000 Port Clyde, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Island Institute $5,000 Rockland, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Lubec Community Outreach Center $5,000 Lubec, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Maine Academy Of Modern Music $5,000 Portland, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Maine Immigrant And Refugee Services $35,000 Lewiston, ME, US General Operating Support And Capacity Building 2015
Maine Philanthropy Center $1,000 Portland, ME, US Program Support 2015
Maine Robotics $10,000 Orono, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Maine School Administrative District 44 $5,000 Bethel, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Maine Youth Alliance Dba The Game Loft $10,000 Belfast, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center $10,000 Orono, ME, US Program Support 2015
Pihcintu $15,000 Windham, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Rsu #1 $5,000 Bath, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Rsu #10 Mountain Valley Middle School $5,000 Mexico, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Rsu #10 Mountain Valley Middle School $5,000 Mexico, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Safe Space Radio $2,000 Portland, ME, US Program Support 2015
Seeds Of Independence $5,000 Brunswick, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
The Maine Sea Coast Mission Dba Edge $10,000 Bar Harbor, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
The Telling Room $10,000 Portland, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Tree Street Youth $10,000 Lewiston, ME, US General Operating Support 2015
Une Office Of Citizenship & Civic Engagement $10,000 Biddeford, ME, US General Operating Support 2015

Foundations Similar to Rural Futures Fund

Discover 5 foundations with comparable assets ($1,093,988-$1,608,846), similar grant patterns, and geographic focus in ME that may also align with your organization's funding needs and grant seeking strategy.

Foundation Name Total Assets Typical Grant Size Service Area Similarity Match

EIN: 83-1231049 | 7 grants awarded
$1,202,000
(≈ Similar)
$51,000
median grant
Cape Elizabeth, ME
Same state
96%
Excellent match

EIN: 46-6418625 | 6 grants awarded
$1,171,604
(≈ Similar)
$67,500
median grant
Portland, ME
Same state
94%
Excellent match

EIN: 01-0521503 | 6 grants awarded
$1,150,030
(≈ Similar)
$38,816
median grant
Bath, ME
Same state
94%
Excellent match

EIN: 01-0483892 | 197 grants awarded
$1,093,988
(≈ Similar)
$50,000
median grant
Portland, ME
Same state
91%
Excellent match

EIN: 01-6080767 | 7 grants awarded
$1,608,846
(↑ Larger)
$81,924
median grant
Portland, ME
Same state
89%
Excellent match

Contact Information

Official contact details for Rural Futures Fund as registered with the IRS. These details are essential for grant applications, correspondence, and due diligence processes.

EIN 20-8797462
Website https://ruralfuturesfund.org/
Address PO BOX 10370 Portland, ME 04104-0370

Key People (9)

Board members, trustees, and key staff who oversee Rural Futures Fund's grant making decisions and strategic direction. Understanding leadership composition can provide insights into foundation priorities and potential networking opportunities.

Associate Director And Secretary Erin M Cinelli
Director Catharine Biddle Phd
Director Victoria Bonebakker
Director Sarah Campbell
Director Andrew Hudacs

Forms 990-PF

IRS Form 990-PF filings provide comprehensive financial information, grant details, and operational data. These documents are essential resources for understanding foundation capacity, giving patterns, and strategic priorities.

Form 990-PF Research Tips
  • Review Part XV for detailed grant recipient information and funding purposes
  • Check Part I for total assets, annual giving amounts, and payout requirements
  • Examine Part VIII for key personnel compensation and board structure
  • Look for trends across multiple years to understand giving patterns

About This Foundation Profile

This comprehensive foundation profile for Rural Futures Fund is powered by Grant Bay's advanced foundation research platform. Our system analyzes IRS Form 990-PF filings, grant histories, and philanthropic patterns to provide nonprofit organizations with actionable intelligence for grant seeking success.

Data Sources & Accuracy

All information is derived from official IRS filings and public records. Grant Bay processes thousands of Form 990-PF documents to extract grant details, financial data, and organizational information. Data accuracy depends on foundation reporting quality and IRS filing completeness.

Research Applications

Use this profile for prospect research, grant strategy development, application preparation, and relationship building. Combine this data with additional research on foundation priorities, application processes, and board member backgrounds for comprehensive grant seeking strategies.

Data Currency: Last updated February 2026 based on IRS Form 990-PF filings. Foundation information reflects most recent available tax year data.