The Simmons Foundation is a Maine non-profit corporation and a private charitable foundation based in Portland, Maine.
It was founded in 1959 to "...conduct, carry on, advance and promote religious, charitable, scientific, literary and educational works..." as well as helping "poor and needy" persons to "...become self-supporting, acquire education or training, perform useful or creative work or become useful citizens...."
To this end, the Simmons Foundation encourages requests for support by "agencies or institutions" which can help meet these goals.
The Foundation requires that an applicant be a 501 (c)(3) organization or an agency of the government or its subdivisions. The Foundation may provide funding for direct services, start-up assistance for new, appropriate organizations, matching funds for certain campaigns for such agencies, and scholarships to programs that meet the granting criteria. It does not give grants or scholarships to, or on behalf of, specific individuals.
NOTICE
After 64 years in existence providing funding to agencies and organizations dedicated to helping the people of Maine, the Simmons Foundation is undertaking a review of its mission criteria, funding guidelines, and application process. This is a major effort and will take a number of additional months to complete through its volunteer Board of Trustees.
Therefore, the Foundation WILL NOT be looking to review grant requests at its November 2026 Annual Meeting.
We plan on relaunching our website in March, 2027, or before to consider requests for our May Special Meeting. Going forward, all correspondence, applications, and follow-up will be done via email at SimmonsFoundationMaine@gmail.com.
Until we relaunch the website, we will NOT be accepting or granting any funding requests. If you are a current recipient with questions, please email us and we will reply as soon as possible.
We appreciate your understanding and look forward to again providing funds in support of Maine people in need.
