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Who We Fund

Great Bay makes grants to non-profit organizations lead by individuals who have an entrepreneurial attitude, drive and vision, and who work toward social change in the areas of economic development, education, and healthcare.

The foundation specifically supports nonprofit, social entrepreneurs working within the following two parameters: 1. those who are creating and/or operating revenue generating projects that focus on making the organization economically self-sufficient, or are moving in that direction, and 2. those whose projects help individuals living on the edges of society become more self-reliant and less dependant through the acquisition of skills, improvement of their faculties, training, jobs, etc.

In this respect, Great Bay funds the social entrepreneur who is willing to be accountable for the success or failure of the revenue generating project or program.

Great Bay supports principled, pragmatic approaches, and is solution oriented.

Where Will We Fund?

Originally our primary focus was in Maine and New Hampshire. Today, we have expanded to include Vermont, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts, focusing on programs/projects in the small cities, towns, and rural areas in these states rather than the more urban/suburban centers.

What Don't We Fund?

Great Bay’s goal is to assist in effective social change by supporting programs that seek to enhance the self-reliance of individuals. We evaluate grant proposals to determine if they meet and advance our foundation's principles and our mission. While there are many worthy causes in need of support, Great Bay adheres to its mission and principles and therefore cannot fund many good programs or projects.

Great Bay’s focus is limited to projects that seek change on a fundamental systemic, institutional or community basis. It therefore does not provide for capital campaigns of organizations, provide direct aid or social service to individuals, or fund social service programs that do.

The following list is representative of programs or projects that Great Bay does not fund:

• Bricks and Mortar
• Public Schools, Colleges or Universities
• Religious or politically focused projects
• Research projects, unless they lead toward self-sufficiency
• Political parties or campaigns
• State Agencies
• On-going capital drives of other 501(c)(3) agencies
• Aid or assistance to individuals or families
• Direct social service programs