We are pleased to announce that our 2025 Direct Services Grant Program (DSGP) is now open! Applications will be accepted through 5:00 PM EST on Monday, March 24.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
For the purposes of the 2025 Direct Services Grant Program, eligible programs and organizations are those that address or connect people in Maine experiencing poverty to basic needs supports (e.g.: food, shelter, clothing, physical and mental health, transportation, English language classes, case management support, domestic violence, 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 DSGP awards both program/project funding and general operating support. The Foundation will consider programmatic requests that support the provision of direct services to clients and will not consider programmatic requests to address organizational infrastructure needs (e.g.: database creation, strategic planning, staff training, organizational evaluation, etc.). Applicant organizations applying for unrestricted general operating support must have a mission that centers on serving Maine residents who are experiencing poverty. They should also have a successful track record of providing services to address immediate basic needs. Organizations who are exclusively serving people in Maine who are experiencing poverty are encouraged to apply for operating support to access the most flexible source of funding.
The Foundation will consider grant requests of up to $30,000 from a broad spectrum of non-profit organizations who provide direct services under existing programs over a 12-month period. Applicant organizations may submit only one request for DSGP funding per year.<id=”questions”>
APPLICATION QUESTIONS AND RESOURCES
Applicants are encouraged to watch two short videos — one covering programmatic information and the other on the online application process.
If questions remain, please contact our staff. To ask questions about organization eligibility, to discuss your planned funding proposal (including if you should apply for programmatic or general operating support), or to ask technical questions about applying (including webform or application portal support), connect with James Patefield, Grants and Data Associate: Send an email.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
- Before starting an application via the link below, please print (or open in a separate tab) and carefully review the 2025 DSGP Eligibility Criteria and Application Instructions.
- We’ve also created a List of Narrative Application Questions for applicants who prefer to have this information on hand before beginning an application.
- Please save your work often by clicking the “Save and Next” button at the bottom of each page. Web applications CAN and DO time out after a period of non-use. We also encourage applicants to cut and paste their narrative responses from a word processing application (Word, Google Docs, etc.) to ensure work isn’t lost should there be an internet connectivity glitch.
TO BEGIN YOUR DSGP APPLICATION
For one-time access to start a NEW DSGP application, please click here.
- If you already have a John T. Gorman Foundation applicant account, please log in using your established email address and password.
- If you are a first-time applicant, please use the “New Applicant” link located below the email address field to create an account.
Once you have created your application via the link above, please use this link to access your in-process or submitted applications for all subsequent visits.