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Foundation Lookup

Form 990-PFTax year 2025EIN 01-0512082

Fisher Charitable Foundation

A private foundation in Portland, ME. Its return for tax year 2025 lists 107 grants and $546,333 paid in grants.

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Tax year 2025 (period ending Dec 31, 2025), read from the IRS e-file on Nov 11, 2026. Returns reach the IRS 5 to 18 months after the year they describe.

How to apply

Accepts applications

The return gives an application contact and rules, as below.

Contact
Owen W Wells
PO Box 17513
Portland, ME 04112
(207) 253-1568
Form and materials
Information and a grant application can be found on the foundation's website https://fishercharitablefoundation.org/application-procedures/
Deadlines
February 15, may 15, august 15, november 15
Restrictions
The foundation generally limits its grants to charitable organizations, activities, operations or purposes which take place within the state of maine.

Assets and giving by year

8 returns on file
Grants paid by tax year. The latest year is in blue.

  • Tax year 2025

    $546,333

    Grants listed
    107
    Assets, end of year
    $2,491,901

  • Tax year 2024

    $535,400

    Grants listed
    109
    Assets, end of year
    $2,701,899

  • Tax year 2023

    $483,350

    Grants listed
    84
    Assets, end of year
    $2,687,983

  • Tax year 2022

    $505,000

    Grants listed
    79
    Assets, end of year
    $2,836,858

  • Tax year 2021

    $473,500

    Grants listed
    85
    Assets, end of year
    $3,146,994

  • Tax year 2020

    $474,000

    Grants listed
    86
    Assets, end of year
    $3,524,589

  • Tax year 2019

    $577,000

    Grants listed
    87
    Assets, end of year
    $3,875,279

  • Tax year 2018

    $525,000

    Grants listed
    69
    Assets, end of year
    $4,225,076

Grants paid in 2025

107 grants, largest first

As listed on the return.

  1. Maine Medical CenterPortland, ME

    Dean l. Fisher scholarships

    $25,000
  2. Downeast Community PartnersPortsmouth, NH

    General operating support

    $15,000
  3. Hospice of Southern MaineScarborough, ME

    Medical equipment, supplies, and medications

    $15,000
  4. Mitchell InstitutePortland, ME

    General operating support

    $15,000
  5. United Way of AroostookPresque Isle, ME

    General operating support

    $15,000
  6. Boys & Girls Clubs of Southern MainePortland, ME

    A place for growth capital campaign

    $10,000
  7. Community ConceptsLewiston, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  8. Community DentalPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  9. Good Shepherd Food Bank of MaineAuburn, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  10. Knox County Homeless CoalitionRockland, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  11. Legal Services for the ElderlyAugusta, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  12. Lifeflight FoundationAugusta, ME

    Lifeflight critical care program

    $10,000
  13. Open Arms Clinic IncToccoa, GA

    General operating support

    $10,000
  14. Portland Museum of ArtPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  15. Portland Symphony OrchestraPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  16. Youth Full MaineBiddeford, ME

    General operating support

    $10,000
  17. Mount Desert Island Biological LaboratorySalisbury Cove, ME

    Pfas testing

    $9,983
  18. Students Empowered to End Dependency (seed)Scarborough, ME

    General operating support

    $7,500
  19. Friends of Long Creek Youth Development CenterSouth Portland, ME

    Incarcerated youth programs

    $6,500
  20. Island InstituteRockland, ME

    General operating support

    $6,000
  21. Penobscot Community Health CareBangor, ME

    General operating support

    $6,000
  22. 317 Main Community Music CenterYarmouth, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  23. Abbe MuseumBar Harbor, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  24. Avesta Housing Development CorporationPortland, ME

    Homeless to housing program

    $5,000
  25. Bangor Symphony OrchestraBangor, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  26. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Mid-MaineCamden, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  27. Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern MaineWestbrook, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  28. Care and Share Food ClosetFarmington, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  29. Dempsey CenterSouth Portland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  30. Farnsworth Art MuseumRockland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  31. Furniture FriendsWestbrook, ME

    Program expansion

    $5,000
  32. Goodwill Industries of Northern New EnglandGorham, ME

    Snap employment & training

    $5,000
  33. Gulf of Maine Research InstitutePortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  34. Healthy Island ProjectStonington, ME

    Food security programs

    $5,000
  35. Homeless Services of AroostookPresque Isle, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  36. Locker ProjectPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  37. Maine Association for the Education of Young ChildrenAugusta, ME

    Teach early education maine program

    $5,000
  38. Maine Historical SocietyPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  39. Maine PublicLewiston, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  40. Maine Seacoast MissionNortheast Harbor, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  41. Merryspring Nature CenterCamden, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  42. Methodist Conference HomeRockland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  43. Midcoast Habitat for HumanityRockport, ME

    Firefly field project

    $5,000
  44. Mid-Coast Recovery CoalitionCamden, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  45. Neighbors 4 NeighborsToccoa, GA

    Weekend and summer feeding program

    $5,000
  46. North Berwick Food PantryNorth Berwick, ME

    Feeding our neighbors: expanding access in a time of crisis program

    $5,000
  47. Portland Stage CompanyPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  48. Preble StreetPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  49. Safe VoicesAuburn, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  50. Shalom HousePortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  51. Southern Harbor Eldercare ServiceNorth Haven, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  52. Southern Maine Agency on AgingBiddeford, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  53. St Brendan the Navigator ParishCamden, ME

    ST. Bernard soup kitchen

    $5,000
  54. Susan L Curtis Charitable FoundationPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  55. Tree Street YouthLewiston, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  56. Waldo County YMCABelfast, ME

    Scholarship program

    $5,000
  57. YMCA Camp of MaineWinthrop, ME

    General operating support

    $5,000
  58. Big RockMars Hill, ME

    Volunteer recruitment and retention

    $4,000
  59. Iris NetworkPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $4,000
  60. Maine Academy of Modern MusicPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $4,000
  61. Maine Coast Fishermen's AssociationBrunswick, ME

    Fishermen feeding mainer's program

    $4,000
  62. Points North InstituteCamden, ME

    General operating support

    $4,000
  63. Salvation Army Northern New England DivisionPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $4,000
  64. Maine Charitable Mechanic Association DBA Mechanic's HallPortland, ME

    Making at the hall series

    $3,850
  65. Mid Coast Hunger Prevention ProgramBrunswick, ME

    General operating support

    $3,500
  66. No Limits Limb Loss Foundation DBA Camp No LimitsWales, ME

    General operating support

    $3,500
  67. Albiston FoundationCarrabassett Valley, ME

    Summer camp staff/counselor training and wages

    $3,000
  68. Area Interfaith OutreachRockland, ME

    To expand home food delivery program

    $3,000
  69. Chip Inc (community Housing Improvement Project)Newcastle, ME

    Heating assistance program

    $3,000
  70. Friends of Casco BayPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $3,000
  71. Literacy Volunteers of BangorBangor, ME

    General operating support

    $3,000
  72. Maine NeedsPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $3,000
  73. Maine Wood BanksFreeport, ME

    Firewood

    $3,000
  74. ProsperitymePortland, ME

    New mainer programs

    $3,000
  75. Women United Around the WorldPortland, ME

    Maine stitching academy

    $3,000
  76. Augusta Emergency Overnight Warming CenterAugusta, ME

    Beds/mattresses for overnight warming center

    $2,500
  77. Bangor Area Homeless ShelterBangor, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  78. Biddeford Food PantryBiddeford, ME

    Fresh produce, proteins, and pantry staples

    $2,500
  79. Catholic Charities of MainePortland, ME

    "seek elderly alone, renew courage, and hope (search) program"

    $2,500
  80. Children's Museum & Theatre of MainePortland, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  81. Families First Community CenterEllsworth, ME

    Homelessness outreach program

    $2,500
  82. Frannie Peabody CenterPortland, ME

    Nutrition assistance

    $2,500
  83. Maine Association of Recovery ResidencesPortland, ME

    Additional bed sponsorships

    $2,500
  84. Maine Center for Coastal FisheriesStonington, ME

    Eastern maine skippers program

    $2,500
  85. Maine Discovery MuseumBangor, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  86. Maine Maritime MuseumBath, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  87. Maine Paws for Veterans IncTopsham, ME

    Construction of a service dog training facility

    $2,500
  88. Maine State Music TheatreBrunswick, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  89. Nature Conservancy in MaineBrunswick, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  90. Neighbors Driving NeighborsMount Vernon, ME

    Volunteer drivers

    $2,500
  91. Ogunquit Museum of American ArtOgunquit, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  92. Ogunquit PlayhouseOgunquit, ME

    General operating support

    $2,500
  93. Pierre Monteux Memorial FoundationHancock, ME

    Construct the monteaux box office

    $2,500
  94. Reigning Hope RanchOrrington, ME

    Program expansion

    $2,500
  95. Rivertown Community Arts CenterFort Kent, ME

    Tools, furniture, and supplies

    $2,500
  96. SweetserSaco, ME

    Renovation efforts

    $2,500
  97. Trinity Episcopal ChurchPortland, ME

    Laundry love program

    $2,500
  98. Women for Healthy Rural LivingMilbridge, ME

    Incredible edible milbridge food program

    $2,500
  99. Bay Chamber ConcertsCamden, ME

    General operating support

    $2,000
  100. Challenger Learning Center of MaineBangor, ME

    Increased access to STEM education

    $2,000
  101. Fox Island ConcertsVinalhaven, ME

    Concert program, modernize donor list

    $2,000
  102. Hospitality HomesBoston, MA

    Guest travel expenses

    $2,000
  103. Island Readers & Writers an Initiative for Maine ChildrenMount Desert, ME

    Whole book approach program

    $2,000
  104. Lincoln County DentalWiscasset, ME

    General operating support

    $2,000
  105. Loaves and Fishes Food PantryEllsworth, ME

    General operating support

    $2,000
  106. Family RestoredPortland, ME

    General operating support

    $1,000
  107. Whiska HouseAugusta, ME

    General operating support

    $1,000

Where the money goes

By cause: grants to organizations we matched to the IRS list of exempt organizations, by their category.

  1. Human services20 grants $96,50028% of the total
  2. Health8 grants $67,00019% of the total
  3. Arts and culture15 grants $60,00017% of the total
  4. Food and agriculture6 grants $37,00011% of the total
  5. Education4 grants $16,0005% of the total
  6. Youth development2 grants $15,0004% of the total
  7. 8 other causes14 grants $59,00017% of the total

By State

Grants to organizations with a US address, latest year.

  1. Maine104 grants $529,333
  2. Georgia2 grants $15,000
  3. Massachusetts1 grant $2,000

Officers, directors and trustees

8 people as filed

As filed on the return, with average hours per week and pay from the foundation.

  • Alexsandra L FisherTRUSTEE/PRESIDENT Hours 1Pay $15,000
  • Owen W WellsTRUSTEE/CLERK Hours 1Pay $15,000
  • Arie Fisher ColesTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $15,000
  • Craig N DenekasTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $15,000
  • Henry LP SchmelzerTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $14,000
  • Meg BaxterTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $15,000
  • Cynthia K HammondTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $10,000
  • Paul D PietropaoliTRUSTEE Hours 1Pay $10,000

The return

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