Wind Point Foundation

APPLICABILITY ASSESSMENT Wind Point Foundation is a PRESELECTED-ONLY private family foundation. This is the single most important fact for any potential applicant: the Foundation does not accept unsolicited grant requests. Grantmaking decisions are made internally by foundation trustees based on pre-existing relationships with grantee organizations.

STRATEGIC CONTEXT Despite being closed to unsolicited applications, Wind Point Foundation is worth understanding for the following reasons: 1. Relationship intelligence: If your organization operates in Maine, North Carolina, or Massachusetts in general charitable domains and has existing relationships with the foundation's officers, informal introduction may open a door. 2. Referral network: The Foundation's Portland, ME accounting relationships (Baker Newman & Noyes; LeBlanc & Young PA) may be able to facilitate introductions for organizations already working in those firms' networks. 3. Long-term cultivation: Family foundations occasionally shift policies. Monitoring the Foundation's 990-PF filings for changes in giving patterns, new trustee appointments, or expanded geographic focus could signal an opportunity to initiate contact.

WHAT KINDS OF ORGANIZATIONS LIKELY RECEIVE GRANTS Based on the geographic focus (ME/NC/MA), grant size profile ($4K–$15K), NTEE T20 classification, and preselected status, the Foundation most likely supports: - Community nonprofits in southern Maine (Greater Portland area) - Organizations with family connections in North Carolina - Massachusetts-based nonprofits (possibly education or arts) - Small to mid-sized 501(c)(3) organizations aligned with trustees' personal philanthropic interests

WHAT NOT TO DO - Do not submit an unsolicited grant application — it will not be reviewed. - Do not call the phone number (207-772-2800); this is LeBlanc & Young PA's main office number, not a grants line. - Do not email generic grant inquiry emails — no contact email is publicly listed.

RECOMMENDED APPROACH For organizations that believe they may have a legitimate connection to the foundation's trustees: 1. Research: Identify who the current trustees/officers are via the most recent 990-PF Part VIII (Officer Compensation Schedule). The 2023 filing showed $87,650 in officer compensation, suggesting one or more active paid trustees. 2. Warm introduction: Seek an introduction through mutual professional or philanthropic connections in the Portland, ME area. 3. Alignment pitch: Emphasize work in Maine, North Carolina, or Massachusetts; frame around community benefit rather than programmatic specifics.

Wind Point Foundation is a small private family foundation established in January 2013, based in Portland, Maine. Operating with a total asset base of approximately $2.03 million (2024), the Foundation runs a lean, investment-driven grantmaking program.

GIVING VOLUME AND CONSISTENCY The Foundation has maintained a remarkably consistent annual grantmaking cadence since inception. Based on 990-PF filings across five years of available data, total charitable distributions have ranged from approximately $90,000 to $133,000 per year: - FY2019: $101,395 distributed - FY2020: $105,716 distributed - FY2021: $116,659 distributed - FY2022: $108,842 distributed - FY2023: $90,936 distributed

The 5-year average annual distribution is approximately $104,700. The FY2023 dip to $90,936 likely reflects portfolio volatility following the 2022 market correction, which reduced assets from $2.57M (peak in 2021) to $1.97M.

GRANT SIZE PROFILE Derived from 990-PF Part XV schedules: grants typically range from $4,000 to $15,000, with a median grant of $5,000 and an average of $7,133. The Foundation makes approximately 15 grants per year. This suggests a portfolio primarily of $5,000 "standard" grants supplemented by a handful of larger strategic commitments up to $15,000.

INVESTMENT INCOME DEPENDENCY The Foundation is fully endowment-funded with no ongoing fundraising. The investment portfolio is concentrated in equities ($1.81M of $1.97M total assets = 92% in corporate stock). Annual net investment income was $141,267 in FY2023, with dividends of $33,513 and realized capital gains of $112,601. The minimum distribution requirement (5% rule) was $92,900 in FY2023.

OFFICER COMPENSATION The Foundation pays meaningful officer compensation ($87,650 in FY2023), accounting for approximately 37% of total expenses. This is characteristic of an active family foundation where a family member serves as a paid trustee/officer. Total administrative expenses were $99,760 in FY2023.

PRESELECTED GRANTMAKING The Foundation operates as a preselected-only grantmaker, meaning grants go to organizations chosen by the foundation's trustees rather than through open applications. This is consistent with the IRS 990-PF indicating no public grant program advertising and the absence of any public-facing website for the foundation.

GEOGRAPHIC PATTERN The tri-state geographic focus (Maine, North Carolina, Massachusetts) is characteristic of family foundations where foundation officers or family members have personal ties to multiple geographic areas. Maine is the headquarters state; NC and MA likely reflect family residence or historical relationships.

The following table compares Wind Point Foundation to similar-sized Maine-based private grantmaking foundations from the Granted database (all figures from IRS 990-PF filings):

KEY DIFFERENTIATORS 1. Geographic reach: Wind Point is unusual among Maine foundations in extending grantmaking to North Carolina. Most peers focus exclusively on Maine or Maine/NH. 2. Grant size: Wind Point's average grant ($7,133) is above the ME peer median (~$5,000–$6,300), suggesting fewer but larger grants relative to comparable foundations. 3. Preselected status: Wind Point is fully preselected-only, which is common among smaller family foundations but limits accessibility for prospective applicants. 4. Asset concentration: With 92% of assets in equities, Wind Point's grantmaking capacity is more volatile than peers with diversified portfolios. 5. Relative size: At $2.0M in assets, Wind Point is smaller than most enriched ME peers, which cluster in the $3.9M–$14.5M range.

FINANCIAL TRAJECTORY (2019–2024) Wind Point Foundation's asset base peaked at $2.57 million in FY2021, reflecting strong equity market performance during 2020–2021. The 2022 bear market reduced assets to $1.97M—a 23% decline—before partial recovery to $2.03M in FY2024.

FY2024 HIGHLIGHTS (Tax Period 202412, filed 2025) - Revenue recovered to $162,318 (+7% vs FY2023) - Total expenses stable at $231,701 (matching 5-year average of ~$230K) - Assets grew modestly to $2.03M - The Foundation appears to be in a stable steady-state, maintaining a consistent $90K–$133K annual distribution cadence

GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION - Registered with IRS since January 2013; continuously in good standing (status code 01) - Tax preparation handled by Baker Newman & Noyes CPA, Portland ME — a major regional accounting firm - Registered agent: LeBlanc & Young PA, Portland ME — also a Portland legal/accounting firm - No delinquency or late filing flags in available IRS records (2019–2024) - Excise tax paid: $1,964 in FY2023 (net investment income excise tax at 1.39%) - No public website; no social media presence identified - The Foundation's multi-state geographic interest (ME, NC, MA) has been consistent across all available filing years

IRS COMPLIANCE STATUS - EO Status: Active (code 01) - Foundation code: 04 (Private non-operating foundation) - Deductibility: Contributions deductible (code 1) - PF filing requirement: Code 1 (required filer) - Most recent tax period: December 2024

Given that Wind Point Foundation does not accept unsolicited applications, the following tips apply to the small subset of organizations that may have a pre-existing relationship or warm introduction to the foundation's trustees:

1. UNDERSTAND THE SCALE The Foundation makes approximately 15 grants per year averaging $7,133. Do not approach with requests exceeding $15,000, as this appears to be the observed maximum. A $5,000 ask is most aligned with the median grant size and is most likely to succeed for new relationships.

2. DEMONSTRATE GEOGRAPHIC RELEVANCE The Foundation's three-state focus (ME, NC, MA) is non-negotiable. Your organization must have meaningful programmatic activity or impact in at least one of these states. Organizations serving Greater Portland, Maine appear most likely to be in the trustees' sphere of awareness.

3. EMPHASIZE CHARITABLE BREADTH The Foundation's NTEE T20 designation and "general charitable giving" focus means it is not restricted to a single issue area. Frame your request around community benefit, not sector specifics.

4. KEEP IT BRIEF Private family foundations at this asset level ($2M) are typically run by individuals or small families, not professional program staff. A one-page overview of your organization and a clear, specific funding request is far preferable to a lengthy formal proposal.

5. TIMING The Foundation's tax year ends December 31. Assuming annual grant decisions are made in Q3–Q4, the best time to cultivate a relationship or make contact is Q1–Q2 (January–June).

6. DO NOT EXPECT A FORMAL PROCESS There is no published application form, deadline, or RFP process. If a trustee expresses interest, be ready to provide: organization overview, IRS determination letter, most recent financial statements, and a brief project/general operating description.

7. MONITOR 990-PF FILINGS ANNUALLY Check ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer (EIN 27-4254631) each year for Part XV grant recipient lists. This will reveal which types of organizations receive grants and may help identify trustee interests or relationships.