Libra Foundation
Portland, ME · EIN 04-6626994. Reported 356 grants totalling $28.2M to 119 recipients across tax years 2021-2025. 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. Libra Foundation 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 $5,000. Half of everything it gave fell between $5,000 and $10,000; the smallest was $2,000 and the largest $4,400,000. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pineland Farms Inc | New Gloucester, ME | $20.0M | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Mainehealth | Portland, ME | $3,423,761 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Foxcroft Academy | Doverfoxcroft, ME | $1,169,838 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Fort Kent Outdoor Center | Fort Kent, ME | $250,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Sunrise County Economic Council | Machias, ME | $243,062 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cross Insurance Arena | Portland, ME | $150,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Mainehealth Dba Pen Bay Waldo Healthcare Foundation | Rockland, ME | $150,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Community Dental | Portland, ME | $136,373 | 5 | 4 | 2024 |
| Farnsworth Art Museum | Rockland, ME | $125,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| City of Presque Isle Fbo Nordic Heritage Outdoor Center | Presque Isle, ME | $100,000 | 2 | 2 | 2023 |
| Northern Light Ca Dean Hospital | Greenville, ME | $100,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Portland Museum of Art | Portland, ME | $100,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Portland Stage Company | Portland, ME | $100,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Portland Symphony Orchestra | Portland, ME | $100,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $75,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Island Institute | Rockland, ME | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Historical Society | Portland, ME | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Maritime Museum | Bath, ME | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Nordic Heritage Sport Club | Presque Isle, ME | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Peregrine Corporation Dba Strive | South Portland, ME | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Presque Isle Community Recreation Association Inc | Presque Isle, ME | $50,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Salvation Army - Northern New England Division | Portland, ME | $50,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| University of Southern Maine Foundation | Portland, ME | $50,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank | Auburn, ME | $40,000 | 4 | 3 | 2025 |
| Maine Association of Nonprofits | Portland, ME | $35,000 | 7 | 5 | 2025 |
| American Red Cross of Maine | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Cromwell Center for Disabilities Awareness | Portland, ME | $30,000 | 6 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Public Broadcasting Network | Lewiston, ME | $30,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| Autism Society of Maine | Winthrop, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bangor Symphony Orchestra | Bangor, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bay Chamber Concerts | Rockport, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences | East Boothbay, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Grieving Children | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Center for Maine Contemporary Art | Rockland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Childrens Museum & Theatre of Maine | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens | Boothbay, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Downeast Community Partners | Ellsworth, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Forest Society of Maine | Bangor, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Friends of Katahdin Woods & Waters | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Gulf of Maine Research Institute | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Home Inc | Orland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Iris Network | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Lakes Environmental Association | Bridgton, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Legal Services for the Elderly | Augusta, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation | Newry, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Audubon | Falmouth, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers | Waterville, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Coast Heritage Trust | Topsham, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Discovery Museum | Bangor, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Farmland Trust | Belfast, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association | Unity, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine State Ballet | Falmouth, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine State Music Theatre | Brunswick, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals | South Windham, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Monhegan Historical & Cultural Museum Association | Monhegan, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ogunquit Museum of American Art | Ogunquit, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Ogunquit Playhouse | Ogunquit, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Penobscot Marine Museum | Searsport, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Penobscot Theatre Company | Bangor, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Penquis Community Action Program Inc | Bangor, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Portland Ballet | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Portland Conservatory of Music | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| Portland Ovations | Portland, ME | $25,000 | 5 | 5 | 2025 |
| State YMCA of Maine Dba YMCA Camp of Maine | Winthrop, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Wood Island Life Saving Station Association | Kittery Point, ME | $25,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maine Special Educationmental Health Collaborative | New Gloucester, ME | $24,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Best Buddies in Maine | Cumberland, ME | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Furniture Friends | Westbrook, ME | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine | Auburn, ME | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2024 |
| Maine Media Workshops College | Rockport, ME | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2024 |
| Maine Public | Lewiston, ME | $20,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Northern Forest Center - Maine | Concord, NH | $20,000 | 4 | 4 | 2025 |
| Northern Light Acadia Hospital | Bangor, ME | $20,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Abbe Museum | Bar Harbor, ME | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2023 |
| YMCA Camp of Maine | Winthrop, ME | $15,000 | 3 | 3 | 2025 |
| Amistad | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Bangor Area Homeless Shelter | Bangor, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Family Planning Association of Maine Inc Dba Maine Family Planning | Augusta, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Husson University | Bangor, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Maine Center for Public Interest Reporting | Hallowell, ME | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Maine FFA Association | Augusta, ME | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2025 |
| Maine State Museum | Augusta, ME | $10,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| Moosehead Marine Museum | Greenville, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Prosperityme | Portland, ME | $10,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Riding to the Top | Windham, ME | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Victoria Mansion | Portland, ME | $7,500 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Small Woodland Owners Association of Maine Dba Maine Woodland Owners | Augusta, ME | $7,000 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| University of Massachusetts Press | Amherst, MA | $6,250 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| American Heart Association | Scarborough, ME | $5,500 | 2 | 2 | 2022 |
| 317 Main Community Music Center | Yarmouth, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| A Climate to Thrive | Mount Desert, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Alzheimer's Association - Maine Chapter | Scarborough, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| BOOTS2ROOTS | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Brick Store Museum | Kennebunk, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Camp Angels Inc | Waterford, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Center for a Green Future | Brunswick, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Center for Entrepreneurial Studies | Farmington, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Common Threads of Maine | Westbrook, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Cultivating Community | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| General Henry Knox Museum | Thomaston, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Greater Portland Immigrant Welcome Center | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| High Peaks Alliance | Farmington, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Hurricane Island Foundation | Rockland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Kennebec Behavioral Health | Waterville, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Locker Project | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Irish Heritage Center | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2022 |
| Maine Media Workshops | Rockport, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2025 |
| Midcoast Recovery Coalition | Camden, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Northern Forest Center - Maine | South Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Pine Tree Society Inc | Bath, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Ruth's Reusable Resources | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Sexual Assault Response Services of Southern Maine | Portland, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Joseph Healthcare Foundation | Bangor, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| Step Up Parents | Portsmouth, NH | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Wilhelm Reich Infant Trust | Rangeley, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2024 |
| Youth Full Maine | Biddeford, ME | $5,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| University of Maine Press | Orono, ME | $3,928 | 1 | 1 | 2023 |
| Baker Mountain Ski Tow Club | Bingham, ME | $3,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
| St Giles Episcopal Church Fbo Jefferson Area Community Food Pantry | Jefferson, ME | $2,000 | 1 | 1 | 2021 |
70 of 119 (59%) received money in more than one year over the 5 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 77%, across 4 year-to-year transitions. The median foundation retains about 67%, so this one is unusually consistent. 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.
- Pineland Farms Inc
DEVELOP, OPERATE AND STAFF PINELAND FARMS, INC. FOR AGRICULTURAL PROMOTION, EDUCATION AND RESEARCH IN MAINE - Foxcroft Academy
PISCATAQUIS COUNTY ICE ARENA OPERATING EXPENSES - Sunrise County Economic Council
MACHIAS VALLEY CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & BUSINESS HUB - Northern Light Ca Dean Hospital
BUILD NEW HOSPITAL AND RELATED FACILITY UPGRADES - Cross Insurance Arena
COMMUNITY USE OF CIVIC CENTER EVENTS - Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern Maine
A PLACE FOR GROWTH CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
What kind of organizations it funds
By the activity category the IRS assigns each recipient, for the 251 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 | 88 | $6,371,938 | $5,000 |
| 2022 | 80 | $6,318,580 | $5,000 |
| 2023 | 65 | $6,062,723 | $5,000 |
| 2024 | 67 | $5,201,471 | $5,000 |
| 2025 | 56 | $4,260,000 | $5,000 |
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. Libra Foundation has 1 of them, worth $100,000. This is the one part of the filing that looks forward rather than back.
| Organization | Location | Approved |
|---|---|---|
| Fort Kent Outdoor Center | Fort Kent, ME | $100,000 |
Where its money goes
100% 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 $5,000. 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.
Where these numbers come from
Everything above is taken from Libra Foundation's own Form 990-PF filings, which the IRS publishes in bulk. We used 5 returns (tax years 2021-2025). 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: Po Box 17516, Portland, ME, 04112. 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 04-6626994 · See the original filings on ProPublica · How we build this
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