Applicants Please Note: The new 2025 application will be live by June 1.

Please contact   or Lissa Widoff at 207-322-6553 to discuss your proposal ideas. Thank you for your patience.

How to Apply

North Deering Project, Trust for Public Land
Visit the Grant Portal

Application Submission/Grant Portal

The Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust accepts grant applications only from June 1 to October 1 each year using an online grant application portal. The application period closes at midnight on October 1 and we are not able to grant extensions.

If it is your first time applying through our on-line system, you will need to create an account for your organization before completing an application. If you have applied previously, you can access the grant application portal using the same username and password.  Reach out if you are not sure. We can assist in updating primary contact information.

An application form will only be visible on the site during the application period. Attachment size limits are small and we recommend using pdfs whenever possible, If your attachment is too large, you can email it to us for upload. Finally, you will be able to save and return to your work at any time before you submit the final application.

All submitted applications will be acknowledged via e-mail receipt.  The application and registration are available at the grant portal here.

2025 Guidelines

The application guidelines for the 2025 grant cycle have been modified only slightly from last year. We acknowledge that these are uncertain times and as a Maine-based philanthropy we want to be flexible and remain committed to our core program areas in arts and culture, historic preservation and environmental protection.  These are outlined below and in more detail on our website Program pages.  

One important process change for this year is that new applicants or organizations that have not received a grant in the last 3 years should reach out via email or phone before submitting an application. We hope to respond to both urgent needs and continue to invest in creative communities, cultural programs and environmental initiatives.  Please reach out if you have any questions. We are also continuing our policy of requesting that grantees who have received 2 years of consecutive grants take a year off before applying again.  

Foundation Program Areas

Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust’s overarching interest is to connect people and place through the arts, culture and the natural environment in Maine. Program Areas are 1) Arts, Culture and Historic Preservation and 2) Environmental Initiatives.   Our priorities in arts and culture include improving access to cultural experiences and fostering creative expression, elevating the diverse and rich cultural heritage of Maine and supporting cultural facility improvements and historic preservation projects. Environmental initiatives include land conservation and stewardship, watershed protection, restoration and environmental outdoor learning.  

Our Program Areas reflect how communities can cultivate creative expression and a sense of responsibility towards the lands and waters around us. Proposals may be for operating support or specific projects and may be of local, regional or statewide benefit. The Trust may also support special grantmaking initiatives that address sector-wide needs in our program areas.  

 Across all programs, community connection is paramount. We will give preference to organizations and programs that demonstrate: 

  • Equitable access for Maine residents  
  • Community representation in program design and delivery 
  • Expanded collaboration and vibrancy through program activities
  • Responsiveness to new voices and the less visible histories of Maine 
  • Deepening connections between people and place  

          Application Guidelines

          Click here to download a pdf of the complete guidelines including program areas on this website.

          Eligibility

          Morton-Kelly Charitable Trust supports nonprofit organizations and projects throughout Maine that align with one or more of our Program Areas. 

          •  If your organization has received a grant in each of the last two years, you must take a one-year hiatus before applying again. This does not apply to recently-funded Wabanaki-led projects, for this year only. Please inquire if you have any questions.   
          • If you are a new applicant or have not received a grant in the last 3 years, please contact the Trust before submitting an application. Contact information is given below. 

          Types of Grants

          Applicants may request project or operating support. The same application is used for both types of grants. Project requests may be for specific community programs or for capital expenses such as historic preservation or cultural facility improvement projects. Projects should articulate clear goals, partnerships, timelines and outcomes for the project. Operating support requests should provide the organization’s current strategic direction or priorities. In all cases, requests should align with at least one of our stated goals and priorities.  

          Grant Size

          Up to $20,000 in grant funding may be requested for one year. Grant size ranges from $5,000-$20,000 and averages around $10,000.

          Application deadline

          The Trust considers grant requests once per year. The online grant application portal accepts applications only from June 1 to October 1. All requests will be acknowledged upon receipt. The application period closes at midnight October 1 and we are not able to grant extensions.

          Review process

          Please note that the Trust’s grants are competitive, generally receiving many more proposals than our resources can fund. Typically, the Board reviews all requests in November and awards are sent before the end of December of each year. We expect 2025 to be another highly competitive grant cycle. To be considerate of the time required to prepare an application, we urge applicants to contact us first to be sure that your project aligns with our priorities.  

          Past grants

          See a list of past grants here.

          Grant Reports

          Grant reports are no longer required. The application has space for reporting on last year’s grant if you received one. We enjoy hearing about your progress and seeing photos!

          Questions?

          Feel free to contact Lissa Widoff, Program Advisor at if you have any questions or to discuss your request.

          Other Considerations

          • For capital funding requests, applicants should include a budget and timeline for the project and evidence of the fiscal and fundraising capacity necessary to complete the proposed work beyond the amount of the Morton-Kelly grant request.  
          • For Historic Preservation restoration projects, applicants are strongly encouraged to provide a letter indicating that the Maine Historic Preservation Commission or appropriate Tribal Historic Preservation Office is aware of the project, and that work is being conducted to appropriate preservation standards.  
          • We typically do not fund:  
            • endowments or annual campaigns 
            • Internships and scholarships 
            • national or regional organizations based outside of Maine, except in cases where a project is being conducted entirely within the state 
            • organizations that are primarily social service providers - unless the request emphasizes arts, culture or environment with dedicated staffing or partnership.
            • Trade schools, school districts – we prefer to fund through nonprofits that develop partnerships with schools 
            • Summer-only festivals and artist residencies – unless tied to year-round programming.