Welch Charitable Fund Grant

Maine Community Foundation

Predicted deadline: Aug 1, 2024 8:59pm PDT

Grant amount: Unspecified amount

Funding uses: Education / Outreach, Project / Program, Capital Project, Training / Capacity Building

Location of project: Counties in Maine: Androscoggin County, Cumberland County, Sagadahoc County, York County

Location of residency: Preferred: Counties in Maine: Androscoggin County, Cumberland County, Sagadahoc County, York County Other eligible locations: Maine

Overview:

What We Do

Founded in 1983, the Maine Community Foundation works with donors and other partners to improve the quality of life for all Maine people. MaineCF’s investment expertise supports our donors’ effective and strategic giving. We offer a range of giving options tailored to fit each donor’s financial means and charitable objectives. Our staff provides personalized service, community leadership, and a deep understanding of local issues.

Welch Charitable Fund

Background

Established as a private family foundation in 1983, the foundation was transferred to the Maine Community Foundation in 2010.

After graduating from Bowdoin in 1938, receiving a law degree from Harvard University in 1941, and serving in the United States Navy in World War II, “Vinnie” Welch went on to found one of Washington’s leading law firms. He and his wife, “Bobbe,” who graduated from Sargent College (Boston University) with a BS in physical therapy in 1940, were married 43 years. Bobbe was a trailblazer, one of few women working in the field of physical therapy (she specialized in cases involving polio and infantile paralysis). The couple returned to Maine, Vinnie’s native state, and devoted their lives to a host of Greater Portland civic activities and nonprofits, including many educational, social service, arts, and health institutions, which benefited from their generosity during their life-time and beyond. The Welches committed time and fundraising skills to community service. Vinnie’s fund-raising activities became legendary, raising the bar for Maine institutions and donors. Vinnie died in 1984 and Bobbe in 2002.

Purpose

Welch Charitable Fund supports organizations serving people in need in the Greater Portland area with preference given to nonprofits working with youth, education, health care, substance abuse recovery, and/or arts and culture.

Types of Funding

• Capacity-building grants for increasing the scope (number of people, types of communities or services), efficiency, and/or effectiveness of organizations
• Project grants for new or expanded projects.

Amount

Median Award: $10,000

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.

Eligibility:

• Who is eligible to apply:
• 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 as described above.
• Eligible organizations that have received grants from other Maine Community Foundation funds in the last 12 months are still eligible to apply to the Welch Charitable Fund.
• To receive a grant, an organization or project must:
  • Serve individuals in the Greater Portland area
  • Focus on youth, education, health care, substance abuse recovery, and/or arts and culture.

Preferences:

• The fund has particular interest in discrete capital investments, including capital campaigns.
• Preference will be given to nonprofits working with youth, education, health care, substance abuse recovery, and/or arts and culture.

Ineligibility:

• What we will not fund, without exception:
  • Expenses already incurred
  • Regranting to a secondary grantee through a competitive process
  • Political campaigns
  • Lobbying in the form of calls to action on a specific vote
  • Religious activities, including, but not limited to, religious services, promotion of religious beliefs, or activities that are restricted to church or religious group membership.