Wabanaki Grants

The Wabanaki Grant Program, administered by the Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, is designed to support Wabanaki communities and Wabanaki-led organizations through flexible funding, technical assistance, and capacity-building. Rooted in a commitment to justice and equity, the Foundation emphasizes collaborative learning and respectful engagement with Indigenous knowledge systems. It upholds tribal sovereignty and prioritizes relationships that support self-determination and sustainable systems of care for Wabanaki people across what is now known as the state of Maine. The program aims to provide resources that are responsive to community-identified priorities. It builds on insights gathered from grantee partners, Wabanaki leaders, the 2021 community listening sessions, and the June 2024 Annual Grantee Convening. Supported projects may include initiatives related to sovereignty, self-governance, community wellbeing, cultural and community strengthening, and Indigenous leadership development. The funding approach is holistic and informed by a recognition of the ongoing impacts of colonization and the importance of Indigenous leadership in shaping community futures. Eligibility is strictly defined: applicants must be led by a majority of Wabanaki and Indigenous people on both staff and board, or must primarily serve Wabanaki communities. Additionally, all work must occur within the geographical bounds of Maine. The Foundation provides multiple tiers of grant support: individual organizational grants from $10,000 to $50,000 per year, larger collaborative grants up to $200,000 per year, and funding for transformational initiatives that are intended to generate systemic change. Transformational grants are typically offered for one to two years and are tailored to respond to critical community priorities. The 2025 grant cycle required a full application submission, with no mention of a pre-application or LOI step. The deadline for submission was February 13, 2025, by 5:00 PM ET. Awards will be announced by the end of April 2025. While most grants are awarded for one year, the majority of funding is intended for multi-year support, and a portion is reserved for emergent needs. Applications are evaluated based on alignment with program priorities and the degree to which they serve and are governed by Wabanaki communities. There is no indication of a matching requirement, and the Foundation does not list specific restrictions on use of funds beyond their alignment with priority areas. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out to the program contact, Sonya LaCoute-Dana, at [email protected] for inquiries. The program is expected to recur annually. Based on the February 2025 application deadline, the next anticipated cycle is expected to open in February 2026, with internal planning dates suggested for early January 2026.