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Foundation For Seacoast Health is a private corporation based in PORTSMOUTH, NH. The foundation received its IRS ruling in 1986. It holds total assets of $25.9M. Annual income is reported at $3.5M. Total assets have decreased from $43.4M in 2011 to $24.9M in 2023. The foundation is governed by 14 officers and trustees. Tax records are available from 2018 to 2023. The foundation primarily funds organizations in New Hampshire and Maine. According to available records, Foundation For Seacoast Health has made 158 grants totaling $21.1M, with a median grant of $13K. Annual giving has grown from $145K in 2020 to $434K in 2023. Grantmaking activity was highest in 2022 with $20.1M distributed across 88 grants. Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $9.3M, with an average award of $133K. The foundation has supported 83 unique organizations. The foundation primarily supports organizations in Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Maine, which account for 97% of all grants. Grantmaking reaches organizations across 5 states. Contributions to this foundation are tax-deductible.
Foundation for Seacoast Health (FFSH) is a place-based health conversion foundation in Portsmouth, NH that funds organizations improving health and well-being across a defined 9-town service area spanning New Hampshire (Portsmouth, Newington, New Castle, Greenland, Rye, North Hampton) and coastal Maine (Kittery, Eliot, York). FFSH operates a two-track grantmaking model: a Strategic Grant Cycle (themed priorities set each year, spring deadline) and a Responsive Grant Cycle (fall) for community-identified needs. The Foundation also operates a 92,000 sq ft multi-tenant nonprofit center that offers below-market rents to 7 affiliated Seacoast nonprofits — a tangible, operating-partner extension of its strategy beyond pure grantmaking.
With ~$26M in assets, FFSH's annual payout likely ranges $1.2M-$1.8M in grants plus ~$1.75M in program-service expenses tied to the community campus. Geographic focus is strictly limited to the 9-town Seacoast service area — a hard eligibility gate that filters out most external applicants. Sector concentration is health, behavioral health, food security, housing-health intersections, and community well-being. Grant sizing typically falls in the $10K-$100K band for strategic cycle awards and $5K-$25K for responsive cycle awards. Cadence is predictable: strategic cycle deadline in early April, responsive cycle in fall — allowing grantseekers to build pipeline against a known calendar.
Comparing place-based health conversion foundations near FFSH's asset size:
| Foundation | Assets | Geography | Grant Cycles | Typical Award |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Foundation for Seacoast Health (NH) | ~$26M | 9-town NH/ME Seacoast | Strategic (spring) + Responsive (fall) | $10K-$100K |
| HealthForce Minnesota | ~$25M | Statewide MN | Annual RFP | $25K-$150K |
| Hutchins Family Foundation (NY) | ~$26M | NYC, closed | No public cycles | $5K-$50K (sponsor) |
| Oxford Area Foundation (PA) | ~$25M | Oxford area community | Rolling + scholarships | $1K-$25K |
FFSH sits among the most process-transparent peers in its asset class — published cycles, clear geographic eligibility, and an operating nonprofit center that signals deep community infrastructure investment beyond grant checks.
Spring 2026 Strategic Grant Cycle closed April 10, 2026 — grantees to be announced in early May 2026. FFSH publicly announced the cycle's closure on its homepage and directed applicants to the fall Responsive Cycle. The Foundation continues operating the Seacoast Community Campus (founded 1999) with 7 unaffiliated nonprofit tenants receiving below-market rents. The mission-driven real estate component remains a core pillar of its theory of change — physical infrastructure for the nonprofit ecosystem — differentiating it from pure check-writing health conversion foundations.
1. Verify your service area FIRST — if you are not operating in the 9-town Seacoast NH/ME area, you are not eligible and should not apply. 2. Time your proposal to the announced cycles: Strategic (early April deadline) and Responsive (fall) — submit early, not last-minute. 3. Read the current strategic theme before drafting — FFSH sets a specific focus each spring cycle and proposals must align. 4. For first-time applicants, the Responsive Cycle is typically more flexible than the thematic Strategic Cycle. 5. If your org needs office space in the Seacoast region, ask about the Community Campus tenant program — this is a secondary path to FFSH support beyond grants. 6. Expect a competitive local field: grantees are announced publicly, so study recent award lists to gauge sizing and positioning.
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Smallest Grant
$1K
Median Grant
$7K
Average Grant
$14K
Largest Grant
$50K
Based on 24 grants from the most recent 990-PF filing.
The Foundation for Seacoast Health owns, operates and maintains a 92,000 square foot multi-tenant nonprofit center that provides below market rents to 7 unaffiliated nonprofit programs. The community campus center was created in 1999 as a core component of the Foundation's commitment to improving health in the seacoast area of New Hampshire and southern Maine. The unaffiliated network of organizations located at the campus provides a broad range of services to some of our most vulnerable and under-served individuals and families. In addition, over 50 community organizations utilize the space and resources of the community campus to meet ongoing business needs or host special events.
Expenses: $1.8M
The Foundation provides grants to 501(c)(3) organizations whose main base of operations are located in one of the nine communities within the Foundation's service area (Portsmouth, Newington, New Castle, Greenland, Rye, and North Hampton, NH; and Kittery, Eliot, and York, Maine). Funding initiatives are focused in the areas of health promotion, health protection, preventive health services, training, and education.
Expenses: $164K
In keeping with the mission to invest resources to improve the health and well-being of seacoast residents. The Foundation awards scholarships to candidates pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in a health-related field of study. The awards are based primarily on scholastic aptitude and performance, personal achievement, leadership, and community involvement. The applicant's primary residence must be in one of the nine towns within the Foundation's service area.
Expenses: $13K
With ~$26M in assets, FFSH's annual payout likely ranges $1.2M-$1.8M in grants plus ~$1.75M in program-service expenses tied to the community campus. Geographic focus is strictly limited to the 9-town Seacoast service area — a hard eligibility gate that filters out most external applicants. Sector concentration is health, behavioral health, food security, housing-health intersections, and community well-being. Grant sizing typically falls in the $10K-$100K band for strategic cycle awards and $5K.
Foundation For Seacoast Health has distributed a total of $21.1M across 158 grants. The median grant size is $13K, with an average of $133K. Individual grants have ranged from $250 to $9.3M.
Foundation for Seacoast Health (FFSH) is a place-based health conversion foundation in Portsmouth, NH that funds organizations improving health and well-being across a defined 9-town service area spanning New Hampshire (Portsmouth, Newington, New Castle, Greenland, Rye, North Hampton) and coastal Maine (Kittery, Eliot, York). FFSH operates a two-track grantmaking model: a Strategic Grant Cycle (themed priorities set each year, spring deadline) and a Responsive Grant Cycle (fall) for community-id.
Foundation For Seacoast Health is headquartered in PORTSMOUTH, NH. While based in NH, the foundation distributes grants to organizations across 5 states.
| Name | Title | Compensation | Benefits | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Debra S Grabowski | CEO | $163K | $23K | $192K |
| Stuart Levenson | Chair | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Jenifer Cannon | Vice Chair | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Peter George | Treasurer | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Andrea Daly | Secretary | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Thomas Blais | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Jennifer Cutts | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Timothy Durkin | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Jason Kroll | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Darci Knowles | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Paul Leyden | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Tania Marino | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Elisabeth Robinson | Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
| Mark Jacobs | Past Trustee | $0 | $0 | N/A |
Total Giving
$995K
Total Assets
$24.9M
Fair Market Value
$24.9M
Net Worth
$24.7M
Grants Paid
$434K
Contributions
$369
Net Investment Income
$522K
Distribution Amount
$1.2M
Total: N/A
Total Grants
158
Total Giving
$21.1M
Average Grant
$133K
Median Grant
$13K
Unique Recipients
83
Most Common Grant
$25K
of 2023 grantees were first-time recipients
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chase HomeStaff training to help address the mental health of at-risk youth | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Safe HarborAlternative peer group for youth substance free | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Haven- Violence Prevention And Support ServicesPathways to Hope- support for children who experience trauma | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Joan G Lovering Health CenterYouth and young adult outreach and education health program | Greenland, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Seacoast Youth ServicesJuvenile diversion program access to mental health support | Seabrook, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Pha Housing Development LtdCommunity aging in place | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Jsi Research & Training InstituteCreation of Dementia Support Hub | Bow, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Connections Peer SupportMental health support for seacoast residents | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Cornerstone VnaHealthcare services | Rochester, NH | $25K | 2023 |
| Footprints IncFighting food insecurity and assistance with household and personal care products | Kittery, ME | $20K | 2023 |
| Fair TideHousing assistance | Kittery, ME | $20K | 2023 |
| Seacoast OutrightSupport for part time program director | Portsmouth, NH | $16K | 2023 |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters Of NhTrauma informed mentoring | Stratham, NH | $15K | 2023 |
| Arts In ReachSupporting the mental health of seacoast teens | Portsmouth, NH | $15K | 2023 |
| Seacoast Women'S Giving CircleMental health support for seacoast residents | New Castle, NH | $15K | 2023 |
| GoodworkAssisting nonprofits find services and accessible to all | Portsmouth, NH | $10K | 2023 |
| Friends In ActionFighting isolation for individuals with disabilities | Durham, NH | $10K | 2023 |
| Portsmouth Senior Activity CenterArts & Health focused programs | Portsmouth, NH | $10K | 2023 |
| Seacoast Village ProjectOlder adults support with health care needs | Portsmouth, NH | $10K | 2023 |
| ArticineDottie- film on dementia | Newfields, NH | $5K | 2023 |
| Lindsay BoghScholarship for medical education | Eliot, ME | $5K | 2023 |
| Lilia Potter-SchwartzScholarship for medical education | Portsmouth, NH | $5K | 2023 |
| Seacoast PathwaysAdults living with mental illness and/or brain injury disorders | Portsmouth, NH | $5K | 2023 |
| Sarah MorinScholarship for medical education | Portsmouth, NH | $3K | 2023 |
| Rebecca BrockneyScholarship for medical education | Portsmouth, NH | $3K | 2023 |
| Tesfanesh GautreauScholarship for medical education | Kittery, ME | $3K | 2023 |
| Jillian CarrScholarship for medical education | York, ME | $3K | 2023 |
| Health Strategies Of NhDEI- collaboration | Concord, NH | $3K | 2023 |
| Vanguard CharitableEstablish a donor advised fund to provide grants to support total health needs of the NH Seacoast Community | Warwick, RI | $9.3M | 2022 |
| The Chase Home For ChildrenTo support residential treatment, home based and independent living programs for adolescents and families along with community diversion program | Portsmouth, NH | $50K | 2022 |
| GatherTo support mobile food programs | Portsmouth, NH | $50K | 2022 |
| Cross Roads House IncTo provide shleter to unhoused individuals and families | Portsmouth, NH | $50K | 2022 |
| Seacoast Mental Health Center IncSupport comprehensive behavioral healthcare for all ages | Portsmouth, NH | $50K | 2022 |
| Pine Tree InstituteSupport response to substance misuse | Eliot, ME | $30K | 2022 |
| Rockingham Nutrition & Meals On WheelsProvide meals and more for older adults | Brentwood, NH | $30K | 2022 |
| Pha Housing DevelopmentSupport community aging in place | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2022 |
| Arts In Reach (Terry Morton Award)To address the unmet mental health needs of Seacoast youth, particularly those facing barriers to access such as inequities related to socio-economic level, race, ethnicity, gender identification, sexual orientation or ability | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2022 |
| Pinetree Institute- Youth WellnessSupport programs that address mental and behavioral health issues resulting from childhood trauma. | Eliot, ME | $25K | 2022 |
| Krempels CenterAn agency dedicated to improving the lives of people living with acquired brain injury | Portsmouth, NH | $25K | 2022 |