Open Foundations · Maine

Elmina B Sewall Foundation

Freeport, Maine · EIN 010387404. Its Form 990-PF says giving is not restricted to organizations picked in advance, which is how a private foundation files that it accepts unsolicited requests. It paid $14.4M across 296 grants in 2024, a median of $31K each.

All Maine foundations · All states

$14.4M
paid in 2024
296
grants paid
$31K
median grant
5%
to first-time recipients
$164.8M
assets on file

How to apply, as filed

Straight off Part XV of the return. Where the foundation left a line blank, this says so rather than guessing.

Send requests to
Laura Dover
Address
15 Main Street Suite 230, Freeport, ME, 04032
Phone
2073739206
Form the request should take
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
Submission deadline
2025 Applications were due by February, 2025. Grant decisions were announced in April, 2025.
Restrictions on awards
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.

As filed on the Form 990-PF for tax year 2024, IRS filing object id 202523169349102922. Printed word for word, including the entries that only say to see a website or an attachment.

What it funds, in its own words

The filing states only a general purpose, with nothing specific enough to pull out as recurring language.

Biggest grants in 2024

The 15 largest of the 296 grants paid in 2024, with the purpose the foundation wrote for each.

#RecipientStateAmountPurpose as filed
1Sunrise County Economic CouncilME$580,000General Operating Support
2Maine Environmental Education AssociationME$267,000General Operating Support
3United Somali Women of MaineME$261,200General Operating Support
4Maine AudubonME$260,000General Operating Support
5New Learning JourneyVT$225,000General Operating Support
6Center for an Ecology-based EconomyME$200,000General Operating Support
7Outdoor Sports Institute IncME$200,000General Operating Support
8Cooperative Development InstituteMA$185,000General Operating Support
9Maine Development FoundationME$185,000General Operating Support
10Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant PointME$180,000General Operating Support
11Our KatahdinME$175,000General Operating Support
12Maine Immigrant & Refugee ServicesME$172,500General Operating Support
13Sunrise OpportunitiesME$172,500General Operating Support
14Maine Initiatives IncME$157,100General Operating Support
15Aroostook Band of MicmacsME$150,000General Operating Support

Giving by year, and who received it

Grants paid by year

Every year of this foundation's grants that Civly holds
Tax yearGrantsPaid
2020266$11.9M
2021251$10.3M
2022295$12.8M
2023286$13.4M
2024296$14.4M

Where the money went

Share of 2024 grant dollars by recipient state
Maine88%
Massachusetts2%
California2%
New Hampshire1%
New York1%

Who decides

Officers, directors and trustees as filed, with the year of the return they appeared on.

Amara IfejiDirector · 2024
Autumn FitchDirector · 2024
Dale MccormickDirector · 2024
Dr Gabriela AlcaldeExecutive Director · 2024
John BanksSecretary · 2024
Jono AnzaloneDirector; Chair (start 5/2024) · 2024
Leslie HillDirector · 2024
Margaret Sewall BarbourMember Emeritus · 2024
Rotha ChanChair (end 5/2024) · 2024
Vendean VafiadesTreasurer · 2024

Every figure on this page is that foundation's own latest filed year, which is 2022 or later. This foundation is listed because its Form 990-PF says it does not restrict giving to preselected organizations and it paid at least 5 grants totaling $100K or more that year. Latest-year grants and terms per foundation from IRS 990-PF e-file returns; the newest tax year is partial until the IRS finishes releasing it. Grants are de-duplicated on funder, year, recipient and amount, so identical repeat grants collapse into one and totals can run low. Full method.

Source: IRS Form 990-PF e-file releases (public domain). Analysis: Civly.

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