Androscoggin Bank

Description

Androscoggin Bank has a proud legacy as a financial partner and resource to the community. For its entire 140 years, the bank has been a steadfast community resource supporting hundreds of organizations, funding new initiatives, and responding to urgent need in the community. The result is a positive change and improved quality of life for us all. In 1997, Androscoggin Bank deepened its commitment to meaningful community involvement by establishing the MainStreet Foundation with an initial $1 million dollar grant. Our Mission The mission of Androscoggin Bank’s MainStreet Foundation is to enrich our communities by promoting aspiration, hope and opportunity in the lives of youth-at-risk in our region. To this end, we support projects, programs and initiatives that foster the development of and insure the welfare of youth-at-risk. We also support efforts that will deliver measureable outcomes with sustainable long-term benefits. Who's Eligible for MainStreet Grants The MainStreet Foundation provides support for nonprofit organizations whose purpose is consistent with the Foundation's focus on youth. Grant awards are generally limited to the market areas served by Androscoggin Bank. The Foundation does not provide financial support to individuals, political organizations or candidates for political office. Faith-based organizations may be awarded grants so long as the work they propose is wholly nonsectarian. Grant Funding Criteria The Foundation seeks to fund efforts that directly support the welfare of young people through the development of the skills and attitudes essential to achieving success in spite of societal pressures such as poverty, substance abuse, violence, and other challenges. The Foundation seeks proposals that provide direct service to youth-at-risk including, but certainly not limited to, after-school and mentoring programs; leadership development experiences of all types; promoting literacy and a love of learning; coping with homelessness and family discord; promoting mental health and developing effective change and coping mechanisms; and learning life-management skills such as learning about earning, saving, budgeting money, and spending money. In short, the more closely tied a proposed project is to the specific needs and direct impact of youth at risk, the more favorably it will be viewed by the Foundation’s Board. The Foundation grants will not be given to support general operating expenses, endowments, conferences or seminars, training of trainers or teachers, or for facilities renovation or improvements. We do not support multi-year requests or capital campaigns. We also ask that impact and seed grant recipients not apply for additional funding for at least twelve months or one calendar year whichever is longer, from the conclusion of any previously funded projects before submitting another request. The Bank will take into consideration donations made by other parts of Androscoggin Bank in deciding upon a grant request to the Foundation. MainStreet Foundation Grant Application Procedure Level of Funding. The MainStreet Foundation provides two types of grants: Impact Grants and Seed Grants. In 2009, the Foundation anticipates making several awards to help at-risk youngsters. Up to five Impact Grants of approximately $5,000 are anticipated. Seed grants are awarded for amounts up to $500, and up to ten are expected to be awarded this year. Application Review Cycle. The Foundation reviews requests four times a year in February, May, August and November. The deadline for grant applications is the 15th day of the month preceding the review month (e.g., the 15th of January for review in February). Applications received later than this deadline will not be considered for support until the following quarterly review meeting. Applicants will be sent a confirmation of receipt of their grant application a few days after it is received. Notification of grant decisions will be sent by mail no later than the end of the month in which the Foundation's decision-making groups meet and review grant applications. Applying for Support. We ask interested organizations to submit proposals in either the Impact Grant or Seed Grant category. Organizations cannot apply for both in the same year. Applicants can obtain a grant application in any of three ways: -Download a copy from this link: MainStreet Foundation Grant Application -Request a copy by mail by sending an email request to: MainStreet@androscogginbank.com -Request a copy by mail by writing to: MainStreet Foundation, P.O. Box 1407, Lewiston, ME 04243-1407 Please send completed applications to: Debra Griffin MainStreet Foundation P.O. Box 1407 Lewiston, Maine 04243 Please follow the guidelines in the grant application carefully. Applications that do not comply with the guidelines or that do not specifically address our area of focus will not be considered for funding. Before or after grant approval, the Foundation may request additional information from an organization on its financial status, organization, or operations. After Grants Are Made. If a grant is made, the grantee must agree to the following: -To provide the Foundation with a brief report at the end of the grant period describing, for example, the extent to which the project objective was met and describing outcomes, impact of the project, and highlighting a specific success story involving a individual or group that benefited from the grant’s use. -To allow the Foundation or Androscoggin Bank to use the name of the grantee and a description of the grant in publications and media releases describing the activities of the Foundation.

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