PORTLAND — The John T. Gorman Foundation awarded 77 grants totaling $1.2 million to support nonprofits providing food, shelter, and other essential services to Mainers in need. Distributed through the Foundation’s 2025 Direct Services Grant Program, the funding will reach all 16 counties in the state.

“As conditions shift at both the state and national levels, many Mainers – and the nonprofits serving them – are facing growing uncertainty and need,” said Nicole Witherbee, President and CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation, in a news release. “At this critical moment, the Foundation is grateful for the tireless work of these organizations and proud to support their efforts to provide people across Maine with access to food, housing, and other essentials.”

This year, approximately half of the Foundation’s Direct Services Grants are supporting efforts to address food insecurity and housing instability among Mainers experiencing poverty. Other major areas of funding include transportation, physical and oral health, and household and hygiene needs. 

The John T. Gorman Foundation is a private foundation based in Portland, Maine, with a mission to make Maine a more equitable place where all children and families can thrive. This focus reflects the recognition of our founder Tom Gorman that his personal success and achievement were largely derived from the support provided to him by his family and community, as well as his desire to provide those with fewer advantages opportunities to succeed.

Grantees and grant amounts are below. Summaries of each grants are available on the Foundation's website.

• Androscoggin Head Start and Childcare dba Promise Early Education Center, Lewiston, $5,000
• Area Interfaith Outreach, Rockland, $15,000
• Aroostook County Action Program, Presque Isle, $20,000
• Ascentria Community Services, Auburn, $10,000
• Augusta Food Bank, Augusta, $10,000
• Augusta Teen Center of The Boys and Girls Club, Augusta, $15,000
• Bangor Housing, Bangor, $30,000
• Belfast Soup Kitchen, Belfast, $10,000
• Bethel Area District Exchange and Food Pantry, Bethel, $10,000
• Burlington Food Pantry, Burlington, $10,000
• Catholic Charities Maine, Portland, $20,000
• Central Maine Area Agency on Aging, Augusta, $25,000
• Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust/Twin Villages Foodbank Farm, Alna, $15,000
• commonspace -- formerly Amistad, Portland, $20,000
• Community Care, Bangor, $30,000
• Community Dental, Portland, $20,000
• Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Brewer, $20,000
• First Congregational Church of Waterville, Maine/Waterville Area Essentials Closet, Waterville, $10,000
• Footprints Food Pantry, Kittery, $15,000
• Franklin County Children’s Task Force, Farmington, $15,000
• Friends in Action, Ellsworth, $10,000
• H.O.M.E. Inc., Orland, $15,000
• Harrison Food Bank, Harrison, $10,000
• Healthy Acadia, Ellsworth, $15,000
• Healthy Island Project, Stonington, $20,000
• Heart of Maine Resource Center, Dexter, $10,000
• Hope Acts, Portland, $20,000
• Hope And Justice Project Inc, Presque Isle, $10,000
• Jefferson Area Community Food Pantry, Jefferson, $5,000
• Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine, Portland, $20,000 
• Knox County Gleaners, Union, $10,000
• Knox County Homeless Coalition, Rockland, $20,000
• Lewiston-Auburn Area Housing Development Corporation, Lewiston, $10,000
• Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, Ellsworth, $15,000
• Locker Project, Portland, $15,000
• Lubec Community Outreach Center, Lubec, $10,000
• Machias Area Food Pantry, Machias, $20,000
• Maine Association for New Americans, Portland, $20,000
• Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association, Brunswick, $20,000
• Maine Highlands Senior Center, Dover Foxcroft, $10,000
• Maine Mobile Health Program Inc, Augusta, $15,000
• Maine Multicultural Center, Brewer, $10,000
• Maine Needs, Portland, $10,000
• Mainely Teeth dba Mainely Smiles, Portland, $20,000
• Midcoast Community Alliance, Bath, $15,000
• Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter, Waterville, $25,000
• Moving Forward for Maine Reentry Sisters Corporation, Portland, $10,000
• MSAD 54, Skowhegan, $15,000
• New Beginnings, Lewiston, $20,000
• New England Arab American Organization, Portland, $20,000
• Northern Lighthouse Inc, Presque Isle, $25,000
• Oasis Free Clinics, Brunswick, $20,000
• Oxford Hills Community Gardens - Foothills Foodworks, Norway, $15,000
• Penobscot Community Health Care, Bangor, $20,000
• Penquis C.A.P., Inc., Bangor, $20,000
• Piscataquis Regional Food Center, Dover Foxcroft, $25,000
• Portland Recovery Community Center, Portland, $10,000
• Rangeley Health and Wellness, Rangeley, $20,000
• River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition, Rumford, $10,000
• Rumford Group Homes, Rumford, $20,000
• Rural Community Action Ministry, Leeds, $20,000
• Sacopee Valley Health Center, Porter, $20,000
• Safe Voices, Auburn, $20,000
• Sanford Backpack Program, Sanford, $15,000
• Seeds of Hope Neighborhood Center, Biddeford, $20,000
• Shalom House, Portland, $15,000
• St. Martin de Porres Residence, Lewiston, $15,000
• The Drop-in Center, Auburn, $5,000
• Through These Doors (formerly Family Crisis Services), Portland, $15,000
• Trinity Jubilee Center, Lewiston, $10,000
• Unitarian Universalist Association, Sanford, $10,000
• United Way of Aroostook, Presque Isle, $15,000
• Unity Barn Raisers, Unity, $15,000
• Veggies to Table, Newcastle, $20,000
• Waldoboro Food Pantry, Waldoboro, $10,000
• Winthrop Food Pantry, Winthrop, $15,000
• Women for Healthy Rural Living, Milbridge, $5,000