The Nature-Based Education funding supports collaborative and organizational initiatives that advance the field, build strong networks that change systems and policy, include and elevate diverse voices and leadership, and result in equitable outcomes for all Mainers.
Donor Name: Elmina B. Sewall Foundation
State: Maine
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 02/25/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: Grant Duration Not Mentioned
Details:
Meaningful experiences in nature demonstrably improve individual well-being and strengthen communities. However, current systems perpetuate inequities, including those rooted in systemic racism, and fail to fairly provide access to outdoor experiences and education for all Mainers. They believe that conservation efforts benefit from individuals that have a personal connection with nature.
Priorities
The focus is on two main areas: Systems Level Funding and direct Programming Funding.
- Systems Level Funding supports:
- Field Building
- Network & Movement Building
- Data & Evaluation
- Advocacy & Policy
- Direct Programming Funding provides general operating grants that prioritize organizations led by groups historically underrepresented in the nature-based education sector and working to create equitable opportunities that will have transformational impact for the field.
Funding Information
- Available Funding: $285,000
- Its anticipate making multi-year systems funding grants of up to $200,000. Direct Programming grants will typically range from $10,000 to $50,000 and multi-year requests will be considered.
Eligibility Criteria
- Applicants must be eligible to accept tax-deductible donations as outlined in Section 170(c) of the Internal Revenue Code. This includes 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt organizations, public schools, public agencies working for the State of Maine, or Indian tribal governments (and their political subdivisions) recognized by the Department of the Interior.
- The Sewall Foundation accepts applications from organizations and groups who work through a fiscal sponsor. A fiscally sponsored organization cannot have a pre-existing tax status and needs to have a clear not-for-profit purpose that serves the public. They require a fiscal sponsorship agreement submitted with the application that is signed by authorized signatories from both parties (the fiscal sponsor and the fiscally sponsored entity).
- The Sewall Foundation accepts applications from collaboratives of 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations. One of the partner organizations will need to serve as the fiscal host or fiscal sponsor for the proposal, depending on how your collaborative is structured. They do require a memorandum of understanding submitted with the application that is signed by authorized signatories from all partner organizations in the collaborative, OR a fiscal sponsorship agreement, depending on the collaborative structure.
- The Sewall Foundation has funded 501(C)(4) organizations in the past for specific nonpartisan and charitable work, however it requires additional considerations and expenditure responsibility. They ask that any 501(c)(4) organization contact program staff to explore potential grant support. Organizations with 501(C)(4) status should not start or submit a grant application before speaking with program staff.
- The Sewall Foundation does not provide grant funding to private for-profit enterprises, cooperatives, or individuals. Such entities might explore potential partnership through Impact Investing. Nonprofits with 501 (C)(3) status may apply for funding that includes paying for-profits, cooperatives, or individuals/contractors for services, but the nonprofit organization needs to be the entity that applies for, receives, and reports on funding. It should also be noted that funds received by for-profits, cooperatives, and individuals/contractors through a grant or contract services with a nonprofit may have income tax consequences for the entity or individual.
- Organizations may submit an application one time per calendar year. Some exceptions may be made in the case of fiscal sponsorships and multi-organization collaborations. Organizations with active multi-year grants must wait to apply for additional funding until the year in which the current grant-term ends.
For more information, visit EBSF.
