The John T. Gorman Foundation’s 2026 Direct Services Grant Program (DSGP) will open on Monday, June 1. Applications will be accepted through 5:00 PM EST on Monday, June 22.
This year’s program will see an important change – 2026 Direct Services Grant Program (DSGP) eligibility will focus exclusively on services that address food insecurity and housing/shelter needs. This shift reflects the unprecedented level of need for food and shelter in Maine communities, coupled with significant reductions in federal and state resources. While the DSGP has historically supported a broad range of essential services, narrowing the scope of the program is necessary to respond to current conditions.
Please visit this page on June 1 for a link to our online grant application portal.
Questions regarding the 2026 DSGP may be sent to James Patefield at jpatefield@jtgfoundation.org.
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The 2026 Direct Services Grant Program is open to programs and organizations in Maine that excel in assisting individuals experiencing poverty by providing food and shelter. 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 food and shelter for all people in Maine who are experiencing the adverse effects of poverty.
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 food and shelter 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 by providing food or shelter;
- 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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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. Send an email.