Frequently Asked Questions

The Quimby Family Foundation is committed to growing human wholeness by fostering stronger relationships between people and nature. We prioritize funding to organizations whose work demonstrates the shared value of movement and nourishment, accessible to all, as a key component to human wholeness. We look for organizations that weave human connection into their program. We look for organizations that have an active effort to serve under-resourced populations through programming that’s equitable and inclusive, and the specific issues that come with Wabanaki sovereignty. The Quimby Foundation tends to fund smaller organizations and start ups. For a complete list of projects and organizations that we have supported please visit our grantees page.
Yes. We do not fund:
- Non-Maine based projects
- Organizations without a 501(c)(3) certification (We will accept fiscal sponsors)
- Direct donations or grants to individuals
We are unlikely to fund:
- Nonprofits with an organizational budget over $2,000,000
- Organizations based outside the state of Maine
- Scholarships/Internships/Fellowships
- Local, State, and National Government Agencies
- Medical Research
- Public or Private Educational Institutions
- Hospitals & Clinics
- Large Human Service Organizations
- Religious and/or faith-based institutions or programs that include religious activities
- Animal Agriculture
- Organizations that are working on a project which may be aligned with one of our focus areas, but whose primary mission is not
In rare instances we will fund an organization that is not based in Maine if their work is being done in the state of Maine. We do not currently fund projects outside of Maine.
In order to apply, we ask you to complete a very basic form which you will find on our apply tab. When you complete the form your organization is registered for consideration. We then begin the review process. We have two cycles per year including one for Movement and one for Nourishment. Learn more about our application process here.
Applications and form entries are due by 11:59PM on the final open application date.
In the event that a due date lands on a weekend or holiday, form responses are due by 5:00 PM EST on the next normal business day.
We prioritize relationships with the nonprofit community in Maine and do our very best to be accessible and have face-to-face contact. You can reach out to us at any time to schedule a meeting and depending on our availability, we will either set up a time to meet in person or schedule a brief phone conversation. During our two grant cycles, we have limited time and generally need to respond to inquiries/questions via email or by setting up a brief phone call. Due to our small staff size and open process, we receive more requests than we can accommodate, and may not always be able to honor your request to talk. If you are a new applicant, it is very likely that we will contact you to schedule a meeting and/or site visit so we can get to know you better. Please carefully review our website and FAQ page, and if you can’t find what you’re looking for, submit questions to questions@quimbyfamilyfoundation.org. We will do our best to get back to you in a timely fashion. If we are not able to connect, rest assured your application will still get the same level of attention and consideration.
No. We will review only one request per organization grant cycle. You may apply in either 2026 Nourishment or 2026 Movement, but not both within a grant year. So consider carefully which is the best fit for your mission or project.
The Quimby Family Foundation awards grants from $2,000 up to $20,000.
Qualifying organizations are required to have a current tax-exempt status 501(c)(3) designation or a fiscal sponsor with 501(c)(3) status who can act as a pass through for any funding received. We often work with organizations that do not have a 501(c)(3) destination and use a fiscal sponsor.
For more information about fiscal sponsorship and a directory of options in Maine, visit this page from the Maine Association of Nonprofits.
Yes! In fact, we end up receiving and funding more general operating requests than anything else. We definitely understand the need for general operating expenses so that your organization can continue to do great work.
Not in a traditional sense. For our open application process, there is no limit to the number of consecutive years that you can apply and/or be funded. We may occasionally provide a multi-year grant commitment and this only occurs on an invitation only basis.
When an organization receives a grant we always enjoy hearing more about successes and challenges throughout the year as well as the impact of the grant. We also do not want to burden anyone with excessive reporting. Therefore, we appreciate being included on mailing lists for newsletters, event invites, and casual updates in person, by phone or through a brief email but do not require written reports. Formal details for reporting will be shared via our Grant Agreement on the date of award notification.
You may apply for a grant by making an entry in a brief form on the apply page of our website during the period that’s stated as open for receiving entries.
We love to hear from you and we also try to reduce the amount of paper we send and receive. Please continue to share news and updates via email – this also allows us to easily share with all of our board members.
For twelve years, the Quimby Family Foundation made grants to art organizations. In late 2016, a separate foundation was created, The Roxanne Quimby Foundation, which focuses on the arts in Maine. The Quimby Family Foundation no longer funds arts nonprofits. For more information on the RQ Foundation, please write: roxannequimbyfoundation@gmail.com