We seek to be a good partner to Wabanaki Tribes and Wabanaki-led and -serving community organizations by supporting work on community priorities through grants, capacity-building and technical assistance, convening, shared learning, and impact investment.

2025 available funding: $1,800,000

Program Contact: Sonya LaCoute-Dana, Community Partner

Ancestral Paddle 2024. Photo courtesy Kasq Dana Lolar.

Priorities

Generally, we will support work that is focused on:

  • Sovereignty, self-governance and self-determination

  • Collective well-being

  • Community culture and community building

  • Indigenous leadership and resourcing across communities

Funding criteria:

  • The organization is led by majority Wabanaki and indigenous people (staff and board) and/or is serving Wabanaki Communities

  • Most of the work of the organization is focused on and/or serving Wabanaki people, communities, and interests

  • All work takes place in what is now Maine

Grantmaking

2025 Available Funding: $1,800,000

Generally, grant funding levels in this focus area are:

  • Individual organizations/efforts: $10,000 to $50,000 (per year)

    • Increased funding amounts may be available to organizations that work on priority areas across all Tribes and/or communities

  • Collaborations/efforts involving multiple organizations/groups: up to $200,000 (per year)

    • Occasionally, organizations may apply for both organizational and collaborative funds

  • Transformational opportunities: variable funding levels

    • The purpose and intended impact of transformational efforts is to address critical community priorities and create sustainable, systemic changes.  Generally, funding is limited to one to two years.

2025 Application Information

Applications were due February 13, at 5pm. Grant decisions will be announced by the end of April, 2025

2025 Wabanaki Grants Fact Sheet

Grantee Story

We’re pleased to present this series of articles on our inspiring grant partners.

Wabanaki Youth In Science (WaYS) received a 36-month Healthy People Healthy Places grant from Sewall in 2022. Read to learn how WaYS is encouraging Wabanaki youth to advance their education and pursue careers in STEM.