Private foundation · EIN 01-0514859 · Portland, Maine · Philanthropy & grantmaking

Old Bug Light Charitable Foundation

Should you approach them?

Don't send a cold proposal. The foundation reports that it only gives to preselected organizations; an introduction through a current grantee or board member is the realistic route.

From the 2025 Form 990-PF: 23 grants paid, $200K total, median $5,000. 87% of grants stayed in Maine.

Accepts applications
No
per 990-PF Part XV
Grants paid, 2025
23
$200K
Median grant
$5,000
Stays in ME
87%
of grants
Deadline
—
Assets
$2.2M

Grants paid in 2025

23 grants, all shown · from Form 990-PF Part XV

RecipientPurposeAmount
Friends of Deering OaksPortland, MEFor operations$50K
Doctors Without BordersNew York, NYFor operations$30K
SailmainePortland, MEFor operations$20K
ACLU of MainePortland, MEFor operations$10K
Portland Parks ConservancyPortland, MEFor operations$10K
Surfaid InternationalSan Francisco, CAFor operations$10K
Too Young to WedPeekskill, NYFor operations$10K
Friends of Congress Square ParkPortland, MEFor operations$7,500
Foundation for Portland Public SchoolsPortland, MEFor operations$5,500
Bicycle Coalition of MainePortland, MEFor operations$5,000
Gulf of Maine Research InstitutePortland, MEFor operations$5,000
Olympia Snowe Womens Leadership InstitutePortland, MEFor operations$5,000
Hospice of Southern MaineScarborough, MEFor operations$4,000
Maine Public RadioPortland, MEFor operations$4,000
Planned Parenthood of Northern New EnglandPortland, MEFor operations$4,000
Portland Community SquashPortland, MEFor operations$4,000
Portland OvationsPortland, MEFor operations$4,000
The Center for Grieving ChildrenPortland, MEFor operations$3,000
Eastern Trail AllianceSaco, MEFor operations$2,500
Portland Musuem of ArtPortland, MEFor operations$2,500
Portland TrailsPortland, MEFor operations$2,000
Immigrant Legal Advocacy ProjectPortland, MEFor operations$1,000
The Dempsey CenterLewiston, MEFor operations$1,000

By state: Maine 20 · New York 2 · California 1

About this foundation

Old Bug Light Charitable Foundation is a private grantmaking foundation in Portland, Maine, administered in care of R E Curran, tax-exempt since 1998. Private foundations must pay out roughly 5% of their assets each year, mostly as grants to 501(c)(3) public charities.

All filings on ProPublica

Does Old Bug Light Charitable Foundation accept grant applications?

No. On its 2025 Form 990-PF the foundation checked that it only makes contributions to preselected organizations. Look for an introduction through a current grantee.

How much does Old Bug Light Charitable Foundation give each year?

In tax year 2025 it paid $200K across 23 grants, a median of $5,000.

Where does Old Bug Light Charitable Foundation give?

Maine (20 grants), New York (2 grants), California (1 grants), per its latest filing.

More foundations near Portland that accept applications

All in Maine
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Harold Alfond Foundationsince 1994 Portland, ME $103M45 grants · 2024 $250KYes $1.5B
John T Gorman Foundationsince 1995 Portland, ME $7.5M154 grants · 2024 $20KYes $224M
Libra Foundation Owen W Wells Trusteesince 1990 Portland, ME $4.3M56 grants · 2025 $5,000Yes $157M
The Bill and Joan Alfond Foundationsince 1987 Portland, ME $3.4M41 grants · 2024 $14KYes $31M
Sam L Cohen Foundationsince 2005 Portland, ME $3.3M125 grants · 2025 $15KYes $28M
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