QUIMBY FAMILY FOUNDATION

What QUIMBY FAMILY FOUNDATION does

The Quimby Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2004 by Roxanne Quimby, co-founder of Burt's Bees, alongside her adult children Hannah Quimby and Lucas St. Clair. Headquartered in Maine, the foundation exclusively funds 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations based in or operating within the state of Maine, with a stated mission of advancing 'human wholeness' through two focus areas: Movement (outdoor recreation, trails, wilderness programs, and nature-based physical activity) and Nourishment (community gardens, regional and plant-based foods, food security, and sustainable agriculture). A trust-based application process operates via two annual grant cycles (Autumn: September 1 to October 31; Winter: December 1 to January 31), with grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 supporting general operations, capacity building, and specific programs.

The foundation's core 'products' are its grantmaking programs and a portfolio of Special Initiatives that extend impact beyond direct funding. These include BOOST, a four-month strategic storytelling program co-designed with Adam Burk + Co and Craft (Leah Hurley) that functions as a bolt-on communications agency for grantees; Maine GearShare, an equity-centered collaborative gear library that QFF piloted and continues to provide in-kind leadership for; and the Brookie Awards, a youth environmental leadership recognition program co-created with the Natural Resources Council of Maine. The technology footprint is minimal: the foundation runs a Squarespace-hosted website (quimbyfamilyfoundation.org) that serves as the primary application portal and content channel, with no proprietary software products, APIs, or AI/ML capabilities disclosed.

The business model is endowment-funded grantmaking rather than commercial revenue generation. Investment returns on the founder's endowment, rather than earned revenue, finance grant disbursements to Maine nonprofits. There are no licensing, subscription, or transactional revenue streams. Pricing (grant size) is publicly disclosed and standardized; multi-year grants are not standard but may occur on an invitation-only basis. The operating geography is restricted by policy to Maine, and the foundation has no subsidiaries, external institutional investors, or parent organization. Governance sits entirely within the Quimby family across three generations, with an 8-member board, a 3-person staff, and a stated headcount of 1-10.

Name

QUIMBY FAMILY FOUNDATION

Legal name

Quimby Family Foundation

Website

https://quimbyfamilyfoundation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Quimby Family Foundation is a private family foundation established in 2004 by Roxanne Quimby, headquartered in Maine, that awards $2,000-$20,000 grants to Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits working on Movement (outdoor recreation) and Nourishment (community food systems) initiatives, supplemented by the BOOST storytelling program, Maine GearShare, and Brookie Awards.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Philanthropic Grantmaking

NAICS

Grantmaking Foundations (813211)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Family Offices & Philanthropic Advisors (Grantmaking) (BPAGAKAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Public Charities & Grantmaking Intermediaries (BPAGAKAE)

Keywords

• Philanthropic grantmaking
• Family foundation grants
• Nonprofit funding programs
• Community foundation grants
• Trust based philanthropy

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Philanthropic Grantmaking: The Quimby Family Foundation operates as a private family foundation established in 2004 by Roxanne Quimby. The foundation does not generate revenue but rather distributes grants funded by the founder's endowment and investment returns. Revenue model consists entirely of awarding grants to Maine-based nonprofits rather than commercial revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Quimby Family Foundation awards grants ranging from $2,000 to $20,000 to Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations working to advance Human Wholeness through two focus areas: Movement (opportunities for people to experience nearby nature and wilderness through physical activity) and Nourishment (opportunities to choose regional and plant-based foods that restore human and environmental health). Beyond direct grantmaking, the foundation operates special initiatives including BOOST strategic storytelling support, Maine GearShare outdoor gear lending, and the Brookie Awards for young environmental leaders.

Product overview

The Quimby Family Foundation is a nonprofit grantmaking organization offering a single unified grant program with two focus areas: Movement and Nourishment. Beyond direct grantmaking, the foundation provides supplementary programs including BOOST (strategic storytelling support), Maine GearShare (outdoor gear lending), and the Brookie Awards (youth environmental leadership recognition).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Movement Grants Grant program supporting Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits creating opportunities for people to consistently choose and meaningfully experience nearby nature and wilderness through movement and activity. Grants range from $2,000 to $20,000 for general operating expenses, capacity building, and specific programs.
• Nourishment Grants Grant program supporting Maine-based 501(c)(3) nonprofits creating opportunities for people to consistently choose regional and plant-based foods that restore human and environmental health. Grants range from $2,000 to $20,000 for general operating expenses, capacity building, and specific programs.
• BOOST Strategic Storytelling Program A four-month strategic storytelling program developed in partnership with Adam Burk + Co and Craft, offering communications support to nonprofit grantees. During the program, BOOST acts as a bolt-on agency helping lean nonprofit teams identify ways to streamline, coordinate and amplify their communication efforts in service of their mission.
• Maine GearShare An outdoor gear lending program that provides outdoor gear and know-how through a collaborative, equity-centered gear library approach, reducing barriers to outdoor access for Maine communities.
• Brookie Awards Recognition awards program for young environmental leaders in Maine, recognizing young individuals whose positive impact on Maine's environment ripples beyond themselves.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 130 unique Maine nonprofits funded across 2016-2025 period
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Adam Burk + CocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdam Burk + Co is a collaboration model founded in 2015 that works with groups to create joy, justice, and hope in the world. They co-designed and lead the BOOST strategic storytelling program with the Quimby Family Foundation and Craft, serving as a bolt-on communications agency for lean nonprofit teams. Adam Burk serves as Senior Program Director at the Peter Alfond Foundation through Intentional Philanthropy.
• Craft (Leah Hurley)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCraft is a boutique communications practice founded in 2009 by Leah Hurley, focusing on value-driven communication and social impact. Leah co-leads the BOOST program alongside Adam Burk, working with nonprofits to amplify impact through messaging, brand voice, and communications strategy development.
• Maine GearShareminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMaine GearShare began as an idea in 2017 recognizing that trip-leading organizations faced significant operational costs for gear acquisition and maintenance. QFF provided primary pilot funding and ongoing in-kind leadership, bridging foundational connections. Today Maine GearShare provides outdoor gear and know-how through an equity-centered collaborative gear library approach.
• Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerQFF partnered with NRCM to create the Brookie Awards, recognizing young environmental leaders in Maine, modeled after the Brower Youth Awards. NRCM's NRCM Rising group created and launched Maine's first young environmental leaders award. QFF has been lead funder since inception.
• The Roxanne Quimby FoundationminorOthersA separate foundation created in late 2016 by Roxanne Quimby that focuses on the arts in Maine. The Quimby Family Foundation no longer funds arts nonprofits; this separate foundation handles arts funding.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Barr Foundation: Large Massachusetts-based family foundation making grants across climate, arts, and education. Comparable in governance model (family foundation) but operates at significantly larger scale and broader geographic scope than QFF.
• The Tides Foundation: Large public charity that manages philanthropic funds for individuals and institutions. Comparable as a grantmaking intermediary in the nonprofit space, but at substantially greater scale with national and international reach.
• C.S. Mott Foundation: Major U.S. foundation funding civil society, environment, and food systems work. Comparable thematic overlap (food systems, community), but operates at vastly larger scale and broader national scope.
• The Rockefeller Brothers Fund: Major multi-generational family foundation funding sustainable development globally. Comparable as a multi-generational family foundation with environmental and social justice programming, but at vastly larger scale.

Direct peers

• The Tilia Fund: Maine-based private foundation funding community-based environmental and food systems work. Directly comparable as a small Maine family foundation with overlapping thematic focus on nature and nourishment.
• Maine Community Foundation: Maine-based community foundation making grants to nonprofits statewide across multiple focus areas. Most directly comparable as another Maine-focused grantmaking organization serving similar nonprofit populations, though it pools donor funds rather than operating as a single family foundation.
• Elmina B. Sewall Foundation: Maine-based private foundation funding animal welfare and human needs initiatives in the state. Comparable as a regionally focused Maine family foundation deploying grants to nonprofits, though with a different thematic emphasis.
• Henry P. Kendall Foundation: New England-based family foundation funding food systems and environmental stewardship. Comparable as a regional family foundation with overlapping focus on sustainable food and land conservation, though broader in geography.
• The John Merck Fund: Regional family foundation supporting clean energy and environmental health in the Northeast. Comparable as a smaller family foundation with environmental and community resilience grantmaking focus.
• The Libra Foundation: Maine-based family foundation also established by Roxanne Quimby with complementary grantmaking priorities. Closest comparable in terms of founder, governance structure, and Maine geographic focus.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/quimby-family-foundation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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