The John T. Gorman Foundation’s 2025 Direct Services Grant Program (DSGP) will open on Monday, February 24. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 PM EST on Monday, March 24.
Please visit this page on February 24 for a link to our online grant application portal.
Questions regarding the 2025 DSGP may be sent to James Patefield.
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The 2025 Direct Services Grant Program is open to programs and organizations in Maine that excel in assisting individuals experiencing poverty. Eligible services include providing basic needs such as food, shelter, clothing, healthcare (both physical and mental), transportation, English language classes, case management, and support for domestic violence survivors, etc.
While the work of the Foundation focuses on the well-being of children and families, the DSGP is open to organizations serving the basic needs of all people in Maine who are experiencing the adverse effects of poverty. This year, the program will award a total of $1.2 million in grants to non-profit organizations who provide these supports and services.
The Direct Services Grant Program provides funding for both specific programs/projects and general operating support. However, the Foundation will only consider programmatic requests that directly provide services to clients and will not fund requests related to organizational infrastructure (e.g., database creation, strategic planning, staff training, evaluations, etc.).
Organizations applying for general operating support must have a mission exclusively focused on serving Maine residents experiencing poverty and a proven track record of addressing immediate basic needs. Organizations meeting these criteria are encouraged to apply for general operating support, as it offers the most flexible funding opportunity.
The Foundation welcomes grant requests of up to $30,000 from a wide range of nonprofit organizations that provide direct services through existing programs over a 12-month period. Each applicant organization may submit only one request for DSGP funding per year.
Eligibility Criteria
To apply, organizations will need to additionally meet the following criteria:
- Be a non-profit with 501(c)(3) status, have a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status, or be a public school, municipality, or tribal government. Applicants cannot be a private foundation under I.R.C. § 509-(a);
- Have a mission that includes serving people in Maine experiencing poverty;
- Be able to demonstrate, through data, that their proposed efforts are addressing an unmet need;
- Be able to demonstrate a track record of successfully meeting those needs; and
- For program/project funding requests, clearly define the intended results for the target population, outline a plan to achieve those results, and describe how success will be measured.
The Foundation will support:
- Existing programs
- General operating support for organizations whose missions center on serving Maine residents who are experiencing poverty
- Programmatic requests that support the provision of direct services to clients
- One-time only grants spent over a twelve-month period
The Foundation will NOT support:
- New programs or new positions unless there is guaranteed funding beyond 12 months
- Capital campaigns
- Annual fund appeals
- Endowments
- Projects requiring a multi-year commitment
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If you’ve applied for DSGP funding in past years and wish to review your submitted application(s), you may do so by clicking here to visit your John T. Gorman Foundation applicant account.
To ask questions about your organization’s eligibility, discuss your planned funding proposal (including if you should apply for programmatic or general operating support), or ask questions about applying (including webform or application portal support), contact James Patefield, Grants and Data Associate. Set up a 15-minute call. Send an email.