2026 Welch Charitable Fund

2026 Welch Charitable Fund is sponsored by Maine Community Foundation. The Welch Charitable Fund supports organizations that serve people in need in the Greater Portland (Cumberland County) area. It focuses on youth, education, health care, recovery from substance use disorder, and/or arts and culture.

Welch Charitable Fund – Maine Community Foundation For 2026, Welch Charitable Fund will only be accepting proposals from invited organizations. Invitations are limited and chosen based on the below criteria and priorities. Please note that not all applicants will receive an award due to fund limitations.

2026 Welch Charitable Fund Interest Areas : Education; Health Care; Youth Development Geographic Area : Greater Portland Types of Funding: Capacity-building, Project Application Opens : June 13 Deadline : August 1, 11:59 p. m. Notification : By October 15 Staff Contact : Katie Howard , khoward@mainecf.

org , 207-412-0832 Apply: Click on the orange “Apply” button at the top right of this page. Applications received : 83 Amount requested : $1. 25 million Number of grants awarded : 19 Grant dollars awarded : $222,443 Percentage of applicants that received grants : 23% Additional Grants by donors: N/A Recent Grants : Click here to view the last three years of grants.

The Welch Charitable Fund supports organizations that serve people in need in the Greater Portland ( Cumberland County ) area. All applicants must meet the Maine Community Foundation’s grant eligibility requirements and non-discrimination policy. Please read our Eligibility and Grant Guidelines and Non-Discrimination Policy before submitting an application.

To receive a grant, a project must: Serve individuals in the Greater Portland (Cumberland County) area Focus on youth, education, health care, recovery from substance use disorder and/or arts and culture. Be a capital project defined as physical objects (including technology) that are outside an organization’s operating budget.

These projects should increase the scope (number of people or services provided), and/or improve efficiency or effectiveness of organizations. This program provides project grants for capital needs only. Established as a private family foundation in 1983, the foundation was transferred to the Maine Community Foundation in 2010.

After graduating from Bowdoin in 1938, receiving a law degree from Harvard University in 1941, and serving in the United States Navy in World War II, “Vinnie” Welch went on to found one of Washington’s leading law firms. He and his wife, “Bobbe,” who graduated from Sargent College (Boston University) with a BS in physical therapy in 1940, were married 43 years.

Bobbe was a trailblazer, one of few women working in the field of physical therapy (she specialized in cases involving polio and infantile paralysis). The couple returned to Maine, Vinnie’s native state, and devoted their lives to a host of Greater Portland civic activities and nonprofits, including many educational, social service, arts, and health institutions, which benefited from their generosity during their life-time and beyond.

The Welches committed time and fundraising skills to community service. Vinnie’s fund-raising activities became legendary, raising the bar for Maine institutions and donors. Vinnie died in 1984 and Bobbe in 2002.

Funding Types: General versus Project Support Katie Howard , a MaineCF community partner, explains the differences between general and project support funding and provides helpful grant application tips. For MaineCF Donors & Fundholders For MaineCF Applicants, Reviewers, and Grantees To access an application, a proposal, or a grant report. For MaineCF Staff Members Staff access to MaineCF materials.

County & Regional Program For MaineCF County and Regional Committees Advisor access to committee information. Online Scholarship Review For MaineCF Scholarship Reviewers Advisor access to scholarship applications.