The 2012 Critical Support Grants Program
The John T. Gorman Foundation Critical Support Grants program will fund non-profit
organizations that work to advance the well-being of low-income Mainers.
More specifically, the program seeks to provide low-income Maine residents with quality
supports and services that can address their basic needs. Toward this end, the program is
designed to support non-profit organizations whose mission and activities are focused on
achieving this goal. For example, this includes but is not limited to organizations that work to
ensure that economic, educational, health, mental health, housing, energy, transportation and
other related needs of low-income residents are being met. The Foundation is open to
considering requests from a broad spectrum of non-profits (e.g., direct service agencies, schools,
community-based organizations, advocacy groups, etc.) whose efforts are aimed at ensuring that
such critical supports and services are available to challenged populations.
Support in this area will consist of one-time grants and is not intended to provide multiple year
resources for new programming. The Foundation will also consider proposals to fund operating
costs and grant amounts will vary based on both need and organizational capacity. Proposals
should include a budget justification that aligns the amount requested to both the proposed
activities and the existing capacity of the applicant. Our expectation is grant funds should be
used within twelve months of date the grant is awarded.
Where appropriate, the Foundation encourages applications that promote a more integrative
system that makes the process of seeking help less arduous. Examples of this might include
collaborations among multiple agencies, finding ways to help clients with multiple needs, or
streamlining the application process so that people who are seeking assistance experience fewer
barriers.
Guidelines for Applicants
To apply organizations will need to meet the following criteria:
Be a non-profit with 501(c)(3)status. Applicants cannot be a private foundation under I.R.C. §
509 (a), or exempt as a government body or agency;
Have a mission that includes helping underprivileged residents of Maine;
Be able to demonstrate, through data, that their proposed efforts are addressing an unmet need;
Be able to demonstrate a track record of successfully meeting those needs; and
Identify the results sought for the populations in question and the plan for achieving those
results, and how they will be evaluated. How to Apply
The application should consist of a one page cover letter, 2 page proposal, and any pertinent
materials requested in the grant guidelines. Note that if you do choose to include additional
materials, those materials will not be reviewed.
TimeLine
The John T. Gorman Foundation will begin accepting proposals on February 1, 2012 and
continue to accept proposals until March 30, 2012. Applicants can expect to hear back within 45
days of submitting their proposals. A second round of grants will be announced in the late spring.
Karen Heck
Sr. Program Officer
The Bingham Program
61 Winthrop St.
Augusta, ME 04330
207.622.2085 ph
207.622.1458 fx
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