25K For Kids Grant

The 25K for Kids Grant Application is an annual funding opportunity administered by the Androscoggin Bank MainStreet Foundation, a philanthropic initiative dedicated to supporting community-based efforts that improve the lives of at-risk youth in Maine. Each year, the Foundation awards a single $25,000 grant to a local nonprofit organization whose work aligns with its mission of addressing fundamental needs such as food security, housing stability, and personal safety. The program reflects the Foundation’s broader commitment to strengthening communities within the geographic footprint served by Androscoggin Bank, with a particular emphasis on sustainable, community-driven solutions. The primary purpose of this grant is to fund programs that provide direct services to at-risk youth. Eligible projects must demonstrate measurable positive impact and address critical challenges faced by young people, including but not limited to after-school programming, mentoring initiatives, leadership development, literacy promotion, and mental health support. Additional areas of focus include assisting youth experiencing homelessness or unstable family conditions and helping them develop essential life-management skills. The Foundation prioritizes initiatives that are practical, community-centered, and capable of delivering tangible outcomes within a defined scope. Funding is restricted to programmatic uses that directly benefit youth and does not support general operating expenses, endowments, conferences, training of trainers, or capital improvements such as facility renovations. The Foundation also does not support multi-year funding requests or capital campaigns, reinforcing its preference for focused, single-year projects with clearly defined deliverables. Applicants must ensure that their budgets clearly distinguish project-specific costs, especially if they are part of larger organizations with substantial operating budgets exceeding two million dollars annually. Eligibility is limited to nonprofit organizations that serve at-risk youth within the communities supported by Androscoggin Bank, generally within Maine. Applicants must hold valid 501(c)(3) status and are required to submit documentation verifying this designation as part of the application process. Organizations that have previously received funding must wait at least twelve months or one full calendar year, whichever is longer, before applying again. The Foundation also considers the overall history of donations made by Androscoggin Bank to an organization when evaluating applications. The application process is conducted online and requires applicants to complete a formal submission outlining their proposed project, its objectives, and expected impact. After the submission period closes, the Foundation’s Board reviews all applications and selects three finalists. These finalists are invited to present their proposals in person during an October Board meeting, providing an opportunity to further demonstrate the value and feasibility of their projects. Final selection is made following these presentations. The timeline for the grant cycle is structured and recurring annually. Applications open on May 1 and close on July 31. In August, the Board reviews submissions and identifies finalists. Finalists present in October, and the grant recipient, along with runners-up, is announced in November. This predictable annual cycle allows organizations to plan ahead and align their program development with the grant’s schedule. For questions or accommodations, applicants may contact the Foundation via email at mainstreetfoundation@androscogginbank.com.

Focus on demonstrating measurable impact on at-risk youth and clearly distinguish project budget from overall organizational finances; prioritize direct service delivery and community need alignment