The Onion Foundation
Wayne, Maine · EIN 471289795 · Private foundation
Based in Wayne, Maine, The Onion Foundation has awarded $14.6M across 1,002 grants in our index of public IRS filings, with giving recorded as recently as 2024. Its largest grant on record went to Momentum Conservation. This profile covers its focus areas, top grant recipients, year-by-year giving, and how a nonprofit should approach it.
What The Onion Foundation funds
The Onion Foundation's giving carries a documented focus on adult education, arts & culture, arts education, civil rights & social justice, community improvement, and related causes.
Populations it has supported include black communities, children, disabled, families, immigrants & refugees, indigenous.
Grant history
The largest grants Bespoke Grants has on record for The Onion Foundation, by amount:
| Recipient | Location | Grant | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Momentum Conservation To provide technical and financial support to land trusts | Portland, ME | $625K | 2024 |
| Momentum Conservation To provide technical and financial support for Land Trusts | Portland, ME | $470K | 2023 |
| New England Grassroots Environment Fund General Purpose | Newmarket, NH | $115K | 2020 |
| Maine Association of Nonprofits General Purpose | Portland, ME | $105K | 2020 |
| State of Maine Governor's Office of Policy Innovation & the Future General Purpose | Augusta, ME | $100K | 2020 |
| Maine Association of Nonprofits To support the Cultural Alliance of Maine's arts and for culture advocacy | Portland, ME | $88K | 2024 |
| Maine Environmental Education Association General Purpose | Brunswick, ME | $76K | 2020 |
| Maine Association of Nonprofits (fbo Cultural Alliance of Maine (cam)) For the Cultural Alliance of Maine's arts and culture advocacy | Portland, ME | $75K | 2023 |
| Maine Environmental Education Association To conduct a landscape analysis of Maines Youth Climate Movement | Brunswick, ME | $75K | 2024 |
| New Learning Journey To support the First Light program in increasing access to land and water for Wabanaki people | Fayston, VT | $75K | 2024 |
| Maine Mathematics and Science Alliance To support the professional development of educators | Augusta, ME | $71K | 2024 |
| Mayo Street Arts To provide general support | Portland, ME | $58K | 2024 |
| Maine Audubon To expand science-based environmental education to Lewiston and Bangor schools | Falmouth, ME | $52K | 2024 |
| Maine Initiatives To support the Maine Outdoor Equity Fund | Portland, ME | $50K | 2024 |
| Maine Association of Nonprofits Cultural Alliance of Maine | Portland, ME | $50K | 2022 |
The Onion Foundation giving by year
Total grants Bespoke Grants has indexed for each filing year:
How to apply for funding from The Onion Foundation
The Onion Foundation's public IRS filing does not spell out a formal application process. Foundations of this size often give primarily to organizations they already know, so a concise letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first contact — not a full proposal. You can review the foundation directly at onionfoundation.org.
Is The Onion Foundation the right funder for your nonprofit?
This page shows what The Onion Foundation has funded. Bespoke Grants tells you whether it fits your mission — and finds every other foundation that does. Free, no credit card.
Match my nonprofit to funders →Frequently asked questions about The Onion Foundation
- Does The Onion Foundation accept grant applications?
- The Onion Foundation's public filing does not specify an application process. A brief letter of inquiry or a warm introduction is usually the best first step with a private foundation of this size.
- What does The Onion Foundation fund?
- The Onion Foundation's grants focus on adult education. Recent recipients include Momentum Conservation, Momentum Conservation, New England Grassroots Environment Fund. Its full grant history is listed above.
- How much does The Onion Foundation give in grants?
- The Onion Foundation reported $3.4M in grants in its most recent IRS filing (FY2020). Across all years in our data it has awarded $14.6M over 1,002 grants.
- Where is The Onion Foundation located?
- The Onion Foundation is based in Wayne, Maine. Its IRS employer identification number (EIN) is 471289795.
- How can I find foundations similar to The Onion Foundation?
- Bespoke Grants matches your nonprofit against 225,000+ foundations like The Onion Foundation, ranking each by how well it fits your mission, location, and budget — with the reasoning shown. It is free to search.
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