Bill and Joan Alfond
Portland, ME · EIN 01-0421806. Reported 145 grants totalling $11.6M to 75 recipients across tax years 2021-2024. This foundation did not tell the IRS it funds only preselected organizations.
Does this foundation accept applications?
Yes -- on its own tax return. Form 990-PF asks every private foundation whether it makes grants only to organizations it selects itself. Of the 91,758 foundations in our data that made a grant and answered, 78% said yes -- and applying to those is wasted effort. Bill and Joan Alfond did not check that box on its most recent filing, which puts it in the minority that is at least open to being approached.
How big are its grants?
The median grant is $18,662. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,661 and $50,000; the smallest was $188 and the largest $2,000,000. If you are asking for materially more than the top of that range, you are asking the wrong foundation.
Every organization it funded
This is the complete list from its filings, largest first. Recipients are grouped by name and state as they were written on the returns, so an organization entered under two different names appears twice. Years funded is the number of separate tax years in which that name received money.
| Organization | Location | Total received | Grants | Years funded | Last |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| President and Trustees of Colby College | Waterville, ME | $2,371,693 | 4 | 2 | 2022 |
| Partners Healthcare System Inc | Boston, MA | $1,314,978 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Bny Mellon Charitable Gift Fund | Boston, MA | $1,084,225 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Governor's Academy | Byfield, MA | $1,034,407 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Mass General Brigham Incorporated | Boston, MA | $895,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Colby College | Waterville, ME | $600,173 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Kennebec Valley Community Action Program | Waterville, ME | $500,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Maine Community Foundation Inc | Portland, ME | $495,538 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Thomas College | Waterville, ME | $407,500 | 7 | 4 | 2024 |
| Coastal Enterprises Inc | Brunswick, ME | $250,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Childrens Discovery Museum | Waterville, ME | $200,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Prosperityme | Portland, ME | $166,666 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Boys and Girls Club of Kennebec Valley | Gardiner, ME | $150,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Foundation of the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary Inc | Boston, MA | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Maine School Administrative District #46 | Dexter, ME | $132,775 | 5 | 3 | 2024 |
| Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative | Waterville, ME | $125,484 | 6 | 3 | 2024 |
| Beth Israel Congregation | Waterville, ME | $123,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| 10TH Mountain Ski Club | Fort Kent, ME | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Friends of Quarry Road | Waterville, ME | $95,000 | 3 | 2 | 2024 |
| Piscataquis County Economic Development Council | Doverfoxcroft, ME | $80,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Kennebec Valley Community College Foundation | Fairfield, ME | $75,000 | 2 | 1 | 2024 |
| Eastport Public Library Association | Eastport, ME | $71,000 | 2 | 1 | 2023 |
| Quality Housing Coalition | Portland, ME | $65,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Jobs for Maine's Graduates Inc | Augusta, ME | $53,800 | 4 | 2 | 2024 |
| Heart of Maine Resource Center | Dexter, ME | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Rayes Mustard Mill Museum | Eastport, ME | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| The Windowdressers Inc | Rockland, ME | $50,000 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Educare Central Maine | Waterville, ME | $46,731 | 6 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maine Immigrant Rights Coalition | Portland, ME | $45,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Waldo Theatre Inc | Waldoboro, ME | $43,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Maine Foundation | Orono, ME | $40,303 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank | Auburn, ME | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hope Acts | Portland, ME | $40,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Ciee Inc | South Portland, ME | $32,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| United States Biathlon Association Inc | New Gloucester, ME | $30,500 | 4 | 3 | 2024 |
| Alfond Youth & Community Center | Waterville, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Bozeman Deaconess Health Services | Bozeman, MT | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Childrens Home for Little Wanderers | Waterville, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Noble and Greenough School | Dedham, MA | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Quoddy Tides Foundation | Eastport, ME | $30,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Penquis Valley Community Playground Committee (msad 41) | Milo, ME | $28,734 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Eastport Port Authority | Eastport, ME | $25,697 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Convent of the Sacred Heart | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Elliotsville Foundation Inc | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Massachusetts General Hospital | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Stthomas More Play Group Inc | New York, NY | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| The Esplanade Association | Boston, MA | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maine Grain Alliance | Skowhegan, ME | $24,145 | 3 | 3 | 2024 |
| Capital Area New Mainers Project | Augusta, ME | $21,000 | 3 | 2 | 2023 |
| Waterville Public Schools | Waterville, ME | $20,828 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers | Waterville, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| The Buckley School in the City of New York | New York, NY | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Town of Dexter | Dexter, ME | $15,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Good Will Home Association | Hinckley, ME | $14,070 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Central Park Conservancy Inc | New York, NY | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Red Sox Foundation | Boston, MA | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| USA Lacrosse | Sparks, MD | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association | Eastport, ME | $9,100 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Town of Corinna | Corinna, ME | $8,500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| University of Maine System | Orono, ME | $8,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Carrabassett Valley Academy | Carrabassett Valley, ME | $6,500 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| 7 Lakes Alliance | Belgrade Lakes, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alzheimer's Disease Research Foundation | Wellesley Hills, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Dana-Farber Cancer Institute | Boston, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Trustees of Dartmouth College | Hanover, NH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Williams College | Williamstown, MA | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| City of Waterville | Waterville, ME | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Information Technology Exchangegive It Get It | Waterville, ME | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Maine School Administrative District #41 | Milo, ME | $2,923 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Alfond Youth and Community Center | Waterville, ME | $2,700 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Town of Winslow | Winslow, ME | $2,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Abbott Memorial Library Board of Trustees | Dexter, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Friends of the Belgrade Public Library | Belgrade, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Kiwanis Club of Dexter | Dexter, ME | $1,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Waterville Creates | Waterville, ME | $500 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
26 of 75 (35%) received money in more than one year over the 4 years we hold.
Measured the way we measure every foundation -- what share of one year's grantees are funded again the next -- this one retains 48%, across 3 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is less consistent than most. This measures how often it paid the same organizations again. It says nothing about whether it would consider a new one.
What the money was for
Taken verbatim from the purpose field of its filings. This is the closest thing to a statement of what this foundation cares about, in its own words.
- President and Trustees of Colby College
BILL AND JOAN ALFOND MAIN STREET COMMONS (DARE NORTHWARD CAMPAIGN) - Governor's Academy
PARKER RIVER SCIENCE CENTER - Colby College
UNDESIGNATED LIFETIME COMMITMENT (DARE NORTHWARD CAMPAIGN) - Kennebec Valley Community Action Program
SKOWHEGAN PUBLIC SCHOOL EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION WING - Mass General Brigham Incorporated
MASS EYE & EAR HEARING LABS CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS - Partners Healthcare System Inc
FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT THE JOHN R. GRAHAM HEADACHE CENTER
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 108 grants where we could match the recipient to a registered organization. The categories are the IRS's. The match, made from the name and address on the return, is ours.
Giving by year
| Tax year | Grants | Total | Median grant |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 26 | $4,327,524 | $38,865 |
| 2022 | 30 | $1,641,810 | $25,000 |
| 2023 | 48 | $2,158,029 | $10,000 |
| 2024 | 41 | $3,440,607 | $13,625 |
Tax years, not calendar years, and the most recent year is usually incomplete -- filings arrive about a year late, so a low final year means late paperwork rather than a foundation winding down.
Already committed for future years
Form 990-PF has a separate schedule for grants approved but not yet paid. Bill and Joan Alfond has 16 of them, worth $1,540,240. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative | Waterville, ME | $634,374 |
| Kennebec Valley Community Action Program | Waterville, ME | $500,000 |
| Friends of Quarry Road | Waterville, ME | $75,659 |
| Thomas College | Waterville, ME | $60,346 |
| Central Maine Community Betterment Collaborative | Waterville, ME | $57,600 |
| Jobs for Maine's Graduates Inc | Augusta, ME | $50,000 |
| Friends of Quarry Road | Waterville, ME | $34,155 |
| Eastport Port Authority | Eastport, ME | $30,000 |
| Maine State Museum | Augusta, ME | $29,973 |
| Waterville Public Schools | Waterville, ME | $20,953 |
| Beth Israel Congregation | Waterville, ME | $17,500 |
| University of Maine System | Orono, ME | $16,000 |
| Greater Eastport Ecumenical Churches Association | Eastport, ME | $9,100 |
| Kiwanis Club of Dexter | Dexter, ME | $2,000 |
| Beth Israel Congregation | Waterville, ME | $1,800 |
Where its money goes
59% of its giving went to organizations in Maine. If your organization is based elsewhere, look in the recipient list for grants to your area before writing.
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Funders that support the same organizations
These funders gave to organizations this one also funded -- some private foundations, some community foundations and other grantmaking charities. Shared grantees are a sign of overlapping priorities and nothing more: they do not show that any of these funders would consider a new organization. Each page says what its filings show.
How to approach this foundation
- Check you are its size. The median grant is $18,662. A request many times that size asks for something it has rarely or never given.
- Check you are in its geography. Its giving is concentrated in Maine.
- Read the recipient list above for organizations like yours. If nothing on it resembles your work, that is a real answer, and a cheap one to get.
- Look up the current filing before writing. The 990-PF names the foundation's officers and, where one exists, its application procedure. We link it below.
Related guides
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Bill and Joan Alfond's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 4 returns (tax years 2021-2024). Grant figures are from its returns. Matching recipients to registered organizations, their IRS classifications, the retention rate and the funders that support the same organizations are our own calculations, described in how we build this.
Address of record on the latest return: Co Dexter Entrps Two Monument Sq, Portland, ME, 04101. This is the address the foundation gave the IRS; many small foundations file through an accountant or a bank trust department, so it may not be where post to a programme officer should go.
EIN 01-0421806 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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