ELMINA B SEWALL FOUNDATION

What ELMINA B SEWALL FOUNDATION does

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation based in Maine, established to honor Elmina Brewster Sewall and operated from an endowment. It deploys capital through two complementary vehicles: roughly $8.13M in grant payments to 195 organizations in 2019, and an impact-investment program with a stated goal of $18M under management and 100% values-alignment by 2028.

The Foundation runs nine active program areas — Animal Welfare, Food Systems, Keystone, Lewiston-Auburn, Nature-Based Education, Rural Partnerships, Wabanaki, Rapid Response, and Legacy (the latter sunset in 2024) — covering environmental, agricultural, community, and Indigenous-focused work concentrated in Maine and the surrounding region. It implements these programs with a 9-person staff organized in a pod structure, transitioning from founder-led to independent board governance in 2019 and bringing on Gabriela Alcalde as Executive Director in August 2019. Staff grew by roughly 50% by the end of 2020.

As a private foundation, the Foundation has no product revenue or transactional pricing model; its "spending" consists of grants and impact investments funded by endowment returns. Its customers are the ~195 nonprofit grantees across Maine and the region, with go-to-market executed through place-based program teams rather than competitive RFPs at scale.

Name

ELMINA B SEWALL FOUNDATION

Legal name

Elmina B. Sewall Foundation

Website

https://sewallfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation is a Maine-based private philanthropic foundation that deploys an endowment through grants (~$8.13M to 195 organizations in 2019) and a growing impact-investment program across nine program areas including animal welfare, food systems, conservation, and community development.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Other Grantmaking and Giving Services (813219)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Foundations (BPAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental & Climate Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAM), Social Justice & Human Rights Grantmaking Foundations (BPAGAKAN)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Nonprofit foundation
• Impact investing
• Capacity building services
• Community development grants

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grantmaking from Investment Assets: As a private foundation, EBSF deploys its endowment assets in the form of grants to nonprofit organizations. The foundation also makes impact investments and has committed to transitioning 100% of assets to values-alignment by 2028.
2. Impact Investments: The foundation makes impact investments seeking to advance its mission in Maine, including below-market return investments. Committed to increasing Impact Investments to $18 million (approximately 10% of assets) by 2028.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that awards grants to nonprofit organizations in Maine through multiple program areas including Animal Welfare, Food Systems, Keystone (policy/advocacy), Lewiston-Auburn, Nature-Based Education, Rural Partnerships, and Wabanaki, alongside a Rapid Response Fund for emergency needs. In addition to grantmaking, the Foundation deploys mission-aligned Impact Investments and provides capacity-building "Support Beyond the Grant" services to grantee partners.

Product overview

The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation is a private philanthropic foundation that does not offer a technology product. Its services consist of grantmaking programs to nonprofit organizations in Maine. The primary offerings are grants through the Healthy People Healthy Places (HPHP) umbrella program, which includes seven focus areas: Animal Welfare, Food Systems, Keystone (policy/advocacy), Lewiston-Auburn, Nature-Based Education, Rural Partnerships, and Wabanaki. Additional programs include the Rapid Response Fund for emergency/time-sensitive needs, Legacy Grants (being sunset), and Impact Investments for mission-aligned investing. The Foundation also provides capacity-building support Beyond the Grant through partnerships with platforms like Resilia, BoardSource, and others.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Healthy People Healthy Places (HPHP) Grant Program An overarching grant program umbrella that encompasses seven focus areas (Food Systems, Katahdin region, Lewiston-Auburn, Nature-Based Education, Wabanaki Communities and Tribal Governments, Washington County, and statewide Keystone policy/advocacy/communications). Supports community-based and statewide initiatives to improve well-being of people and the environment in Maine for 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, public schools, public agencies, and Indian tribal governments.
• Animal Welfare Grants Grant program supporting animal welfare organizations and initiatives in Maine for 501(c)(3) nonprofits and partners; application deadline typically February 25.
• Food Systems Grants Grant program supporting food systems work statewide in Maine for nonprofits and partners; application deadline typically February 25.
• Keystone Grants Grant program supporting statewide policy, advocacy, and communications work for nonprofits and partners across Maine; application deadline typically February 25.
• Lewiston-Auburn Grants Place-based grant program supporting community work in the Lewiston-Auburn area of Maine; application deadline typically February 25.
• Nature-Based Education Grants Grant program supporting nature-based education initiatives statewide in Maine for nonprofit partners; application deadline typically February 25.
• Rural Partnerships Grants Grant program supporting rural partnerships in Maine for nonprofits and community organizations; application deadline typically February 25.
• Wabanaki Grants Grant program supporting Wabanaki Tribes and Wabanaki-led and -serving community organizations with focus on sovereignty, self-governance, collective well-being, community culture, and Indigenous leadership. 2026 available funding: $327,000.
• Rapid Response Fund Emergency and time-sensitive grant opportunity supporting community-based organizations led by and/or serving Black, Indigenous, people of color, rural Mainers, and women with budgets under $250,000. Available funding for 2026: $400,000 with up to $100,000 for land back and land access projects; most grants up to $10,000 with a 12-month term; rolling basis with email inquiry process.
• Legacy Grants Grant program honoring Elmina Brewster Sewall's personal relationships and affinity organizations, with a focus on animal welfare, land conservation, and issues affecting human well-being. Program is being sunset in 2024 and wound down over the next several years as part of strategic realignment.
• Impact Investments Mission-aligned investment program deploying foundation assets in support of mission and values. Includes below-market return investments seeking to advance mission in Maine. Goals include transitioning 100% of assets to values-alignment by 2028 and increasing Impact Investments to $18 million by 2028 (approximately 10% of assets). Past investments include Maine Grains (2011), a bridge loan for the One North redevelopment in Millinocket, and the Welcome Home Downeast affordable housing partnership.
• Support Beyond the Grant Capacity-building services for grantee partners including access to the Resilia Platform for impact tracking and financial capacity, BoardSource's Nonprofit Board Support Program for governance guidance, Conscious Revolution coaching and consulting, Flowetik storytelling consultations, and membership benefits through Maine Association of Nonprofits and Maine Philanthropy Center.

Quantifiable outcome

• $8,130,004 in grants to 195 organizations in 2019
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, supportive and minor.

• CandidcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Candid (formerly Foundation Center and GuideStar) to foster greater transparency and equity within the nonprofit sector. Collecting demographic data in grant applications and providing option to link to Candid profiles.
• Maine Association of Nonprofits (MANP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSewall provides general operating support to MANP and funding for scholarships to ensure Maine nonprofits can access valuable resources.
• Maine Philanthropy Center (MPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSewall provides general operating support to MPC and funding for scholarships to help Maine nonprofits access resources and advance philanthropy effectiveness.
• ResiliasupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership provides the Resilia Platform to active grantee partners for tracking impact, building financial capacity, and accessing coaching and resources. Also offers an Advocacy Toolkit.
• BoardSourcesupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership offers BoardSource's Nonprofit Board Support Program providing year-round governance guidance, resources, and leadership development to grantee partners.
• Conscious RevolutionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides holistic support to select grantee partners to expand and deepen leadership consciousness through coaching, community experiences, and organizational consulting.
• FlowetikminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStorytelling and marketing company providing select grantee partners with communication consultations, story writing, and elevator pitches to elevate their work.
• New England Environmental Justice HubsupportiveStrategic or Co-development PartnerProject of the Grassroots Fund that offers support to nonprofits advancing environmental justice projects, serving as a connector for federal environmental justice funding opportunities.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Barr Foundation: Large private foundation with climate, arts, and education focus deploying both grants and impact investments at scale. Comparable trust-based, values-aligned approach but operates at substantially larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Ford Foundation: Large national foundation with major commitment to mission-aligned investing (100% values-aligned mandate since 2017) and equity-led grantmaking. Provides an instructive comparable for Sewall's 100% values-alignment commitment by 2028.

Direct peers

• Maine Community Foundation: Maine-based community foundation that distributes grants across the state to nonprofits in similar focus areas including rural communities, environment, and equity. Closely comparable geography and grantmaking structure, though structured as a community rather than private foundation.
• Maine Health Access Foundation: Maine-based private foundation funding health equity, community health, and BIPOC-led organizations — closely comparable on equity-first grantmaking posture and Maine geography, with overlapping grantee base.
• Horizon Foundation: Private family foundation that has explicitly transitioned toward trust-based philanthropy, multi-year unrestricted grants, and values-aligned investing — directly comparable in approach and 100% mission-aligned investing commitment.

Regional players

• Rasmuson Foundation: Regional private foundation based in Alaska making grants across human services, arts, health, and economic development with significant impact-investing activity. Comparable regional private-foundation structure with similar program breadth.
• Vermont Community Foundation: New England community foundation operating grant programs across rural communities, environment, food systems, and equity — strong parallel on regional rural place-based philanthropy and program-area mix.
• Davis Family Foundation: Private family foundation also based in Maine with grantmaking focused on education, environment, community development, and human services. Comparable regional scope and program-area mix.
• Island Foundation: Massachusetts-based private foundation funding environmental, marine resources, and community health initiatives. Comparable program mix around environment, animal welfare, and community well-being.

Others

• Candid: Nonprofit sector data and transparency platform that Sewall partners with for demographic data collection. Adjacent ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor, included because the partnership signals Sewall's commitment to sector-level transparency norms.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/elmina-b-sewall-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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