Elsie & William Viles Foundation

The Elsie & William Viles Foundation is a Maine-based private foundation established in 1990 by Elsie Pike Viles to continue the philanthropic legacy of Elsie and William Viles. The Foundation owns and maintains a property on Stone Street in Augusta, Maine that is made available to nonprofit organizations at no charge, with scheduling priority given to organizations whose missions involve conservation, education, animal protection/welfare, or the preservation of Maine history and culture. In addition to this in-kind property program, the Foundation operates a formal donations and grants program for 501(c)(3) organizations with geographic preference for Maine and particularly the Capital Region (Augusta/Kennebec County). Purposes include charitable, scientific, literary, and educational causes — with explicit emphasis on preserving open spaces, conservation of forest lands, and Maine history and culture.

With ~$21.2M in assets, typical annual distributions should run $850K-$1.1M. Funding is split into two tiers: DONATIONS (under $5,000) using a simpler application, and GRANTS (over $5,000 and under $25,000) requiring a full proposal. The foundation does NOT normally make multi-year pledges and mostly funds smaller awards. Annual program budget devotes approximately $225K toward property-related expenses on the Stone Street Augusta facility. Geographic preference is strict: Maine, primarily the Capital Region. Sectors: conservation (open space, forests), animal protection/welfare, Maine history/culture, education, and general 501(c)(3) charitable/scientific/literary purposes. Board meets ONCE per year in July; applications must be postmarked by May 1st.

Among Maine-focused private foundations at the $20-25M tier, Viles is distinctive for its transparent two-tier application structure, annual review cycle, and grant cap at $25K. The combination of a property program plus cash grants is also uncommon at this size — most peers run cash-only.

As of April 2026, distributions for 2025 have been completed. 2026 applications open April 1 with a postmark deadline of May 1st, and the Board of Directors will review in July with notification by the end of July. Grantees must submit a one-page status report by March 15 of the following year. The Stone Street property program continues to operate for Maine nonprofits focused on conservation, education, animal welfare, or Maine history/culture. Recent 990-PF filings (ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer, EIN 223089641) show the specific grantee list. The Foundation maintains an active, predictable, low-friction grantmaking rhythm typical of well-run legacy family foundations.

1) Apply between April 1 and May 1, 2026 — postmarked by May 1 is the hard cutoff. Missing this window means waiting a full year. 2) Mail 3 copies of the application, narrative pages, budget, and required attachments to PO Box 319, Augusta, ME 04332-0319. 3) If your ask is under $5,000 use the Donation Application (simpler); over $5,000 use the Grant Application (full proposal required). Maximum grant is $25,000. 4) Required attachments: current operating budget, list of board/officers/trustees with affiliations, and IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter. 5) Cover letter MUST be signed by ED, President, CEO, or Board President. 6) Keep narrative to 2 pages maximum with quantitative AND qualitative goals plus a specific timetable. 7) Do not request multi-year funding — the Foundation does not normally make multi-year pledges. 8) Maine organizations, especially Capital Region (Augusta/Kennebec County), have the strongest geographic fit. Conservation, animal welfare, Maine history/culture, and education receive stated priority. 9) Maine nonprofits should also inquire about the Stone Street property for free meeting/event space — separate from cash grants. 10) Budget for a one-page status report due March 15 of the following year as a grant condition.