Maine Community Foundation Inc
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
The Maine Community Foundation brings people and resources together to build a better Maine.
- Income
- $138.8 million
- Spending
- $82.3 million
- Spent on programs
- 86%
- Reserves
- 94.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 56%
- Employees
- 60
- Volunteers
- 450
- Highest pay
- $366,339, president/ceo/ex officio
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 96 out of 100. Higher than 44% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 94.3 months of spending.
Debt
16 of 20It owes 19% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 41% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 28% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1586% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 38% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, over $100m).
Independent board
25 of 2517 of 17 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
15 of 15Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (1)
- $70.9 million spent. Grantmaking. Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF, the Foundation) envisions a Maine that is a vibrant and equitable place where people and communities thrive. MaineCF strives to achieve this vision throughout all its programs and services. MaineCF partners with donors to accomplish their philanthropic goals in Maine by connecting them and their resources to opportunities in nonprofits, investments, and partnerships that strive to build a better Maine. The Foundation also works with nonprofit organizations, communities, government, and private sector leaders to address the significant issues that are important to people in Maine. Specifically, MaineCF holds more than 460 donor advised funds, 700+ scholarships, nearly 300 funds invested on behalf of nonprofits and 16 competitive grant programs all with the goal of meeting our vision of a vibrant and equitable Maine.In 2024, the Foundation provided more than $68 million in grants supporting charitable organizations to address several issues including climate, housing, economic opportunity, just and fair access to opportunities for all people and many more areas of focus. The $68 million in grants awarded in 2024 included $3 million in scholarships awarded to over 1,400 recipients for professional development, and undergraduate and graduate studies. It also included over 200 grants totaling $1.97 million from the Maine Community Foundation Community Building program, which engages communities across Maine to provide resources to nonprofits from the foundation's endowed county funds. Furthermore, grants given directly from donor advised funds through MaineCF's Giving Together program added 63 more grants and $343,824 to MaineCF's largest single competitive grant program.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since January 1984.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.