Grants
Maine Resources
Independent Living Services Grant (Title 7B Program) - The Independent Living Services Grant, also known as the Title 7B program, assists Maine residents with significant disabilities in overcoming barriers to independent living. The program provides funding for services and adaptive equipment that enhance self-care, communication, health management, and community participation. Eligible expenses include hand controls and lifts for vehicles, roll-in showers, augmentative communication devices, telecommunication devices for the deaf, wheelchair lifts and ramps, recreational equipment like hand cycles and sports wheelchairs, home modifications, and more. The goal is to empower individuals to live more independently within their communities.
Adaptive Equipment Loan Program (AELP / mPower) - The Adaptive Equipment Loan Program (AELP), also known as mPower, offers low-interest loans to Maine residents with disabilities for purchasing adaptive equipment and technology that improve independence and quality of life. Loans range from $250 to $100,000 with a fixed interest rate of 3.75%. Eligible items include wheelchairs, home modifications, adapted vehicles, ramps, TTY/video phones, hearing aids, visual fire alarms, stair lifts, recreational equipment, computer technology, and prosthetics. The program is not income-based; instead, it assesses an individual's ability to repay the loan, considering factors like credit history and debt-to-income ratio. Businesses aiming to improve accessibility for individuals with disabilities may also apply.
HCBS Innovation Pilot Grants - Administered by the Office of Aging and Disability Services (OADS), this program provides grants of up to $500,000 to develop innovative pilot projects aligned with Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) goals. These projects aim to enhance services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, autism, cerebral palsy, seizure disorders, and similar conditions. The initiative is part of the broader "A Path for ME" HCBS Lifespan Project, with successful pilots potentially integrated into a new waiver program launching in 2025. OADS collaborates with the National Disability Institute to offer technical assistance and oversee project evaluations.
Maine Community Foundation Community Building Grants - This program supports projects and organizations that strengthen Maine communities, including those serving individuals with disabilities. Grants of up to $10,000 are available for general support or specific projects. Eligible applicants are Maine-based organizations, with application deadlines typically in February.
Maine Developmental Disabilities Council Grants
The Maine Developmental Disabilities Council offers two primary grant opportunities. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis, with no fixed deadlines, though event sponsorship requests should be submitted at least two months before the scheduled event.
Innovative Ideas Grant - Funds new and creative projects that benefit individuals with developmental disabilities.Maine Developmental Disabilities Council
Event Sponsorship - Provides financial support for conferences and events related to developmental disabilities.
Office of Behavioral Health Grants
The Maine Office of Behavioral Health administers several grants targeting mental health and substance use services. Additional programs include the Stimulant and Opioid Response (SOR2) and the First Responders-Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act (FR-CARA), which address substance use disorders and support emergency responders.
Mental Health Block Grant (MHBG) - Supports community mental health services for adults with serious mental illness and children with serious emotional disturbances.Maine
Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant (SAPTBG) - Funds activities aimed at preventing and treating substance abuse, focusing on high-risk populations.
PATH Grant - Assists individuals with serious mental illnesses who are homeless or at risk of homelessness.
Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) Grants
MeHAF offers various funding opportunities to improve health care access and equity. Eligible applicants include nonprofits, government entities, and educational institutions.
Responsive Grants - Annual competitive funding for community-informed projects enhancing health care accessibility.
Discretionary Grants - Up to $10,000 for short-term projects exploring new approaches to health-related work.
Meeting Support Grants - Up to $1,000 for community or regional meetings and up to $2,000 for statewide conferences.
Regional Resources
New England Service Scholarship (Red Sox Foundation) - This scholarship awards $1,000 to graduating public high school seniors in New England who have demonstrated a strong commitment to community service and have financial need. Recipients are honored during a pregame ceremony at Fenway Park and participate in a Boston-based service project. The 2025 application period runs from March 3 to April 24, with recipients notified by May 19.
Journalism Education Foundation of New England (JEFNE) Scholarships - Offered by the New England Newspaper & Press Association, these scholarships support high school seniors and college students from New England pursuing careers in journalism. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and submit published work samples, a resume, and a letter of recommendation. Up to 10 scholarships are awarded annually.
National Resources
Challenged Athletes Foundation - Provides grants to people with various types of disabilities for adaptive sports equipment. CAF has an annual grant cycle which starts in September and closes in November each year. Challenged Athletes Foundation also has a program which provides year-round grants to “active-duty service members, honorably discharged veterans and first responders with permanent physical injuries for sports equipment, competition and training expenses in the sport or recreational activity of their own choosing.”
GoHawkeye Foundation - Provides adaptive sports equipment & excursion grants to people with disabilities. This organization is a great resource for people who may not qualify for grants through other organizations.
Good Days -- Copay Assistance - Good Days can provide you with assistance for necessary medications that you cannot afford or which are not covered by your insurance. Eligibility criteria page is linked here. Check to see if your condition has a qualifying program for you to apply to.
High Fives Foundation - Provides grants for adaptive sports equipment/medical expenses to people who have been injured in outdoor adventure sports or inertia based activities. High Fives Foundation also provides support to wounded veterans during their first of three grant cycles annually.
Joseph Groh Foundation - Provides financial assistance and resources for people connected to the construction industries.
Kelly Brush Foundation -- The Active Fund - The Active Fund through the Kelly Brush Foundation provides funding for adaptive sports equipment to “individuals with paralysis caused by spinal cord injury who reside in the US.”
Laughing at my Nightmare -- Equipment Granting - This small non-profit offers two streams of grant funding. The first one is aimed at individuals living with muscular dystrophy and the second is aimed at individuals who are living with any type of disability/chronic illness. Both programs provide adaptive equipment and assistive technology.
National Organization of Rare Diseases -- Patient Assistance - NORD has a small variety of Patient Assistance programs that may be able to relieve some financial pressure if you suffer from a rare disease.
The Ralph Braun Grant Program - This program accepts applications on a quarterly basis. They can provide assistance with up to 25% of the cost of mobility transportation equipment. The website has detailed information on what types of equipment are covered, how to submit an application, and when the grant cycles open.
Victoria's Victory Foundation -- Victory Scholarship - Victoria’s Victory Foundation was founded in 2017. Their grant program can provide help with home modifications, mobility equipment, and activity based training sessions.