John T. Gorman Foundation

06/01/2026

Our 2026 Direct Services Grant Program is now OPEN, with applications accepted until Monday, June 22, at 5 p.m. This year's program will offer grants to nonprofits working to addressing food and shelter needs for Maine people.

For more information and to apply, visit: https://jtgfoundation.org/2026dsgp

05/28/2026

Implemented in Maine since 2023, ALICE (Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed) is a new measure of financial hardship designed to raise awareness of a key demographic – those who earn above the federal poverty level, but not enough to cover the costs of essentials like housing, food, and child care.

In this Q&A, we talk to Dan Coyne, President & CEO of United Way of Southern Maine and a John T. Gorman Fellow, about how housing costs have contributed to the growth in Maine’s ALICE population and the role of this data in finding solutions.

https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/05/alice-working-hard-but-not-getting-by/

05/26/2026

Across the state, numerous factors have led to steep increases in housing costs, fewer housing options, and higher barriers to home ownership. In this Data Snapshot, we take a look at how these issues are affecting Maine families and how the John T. Gorman Foundation is contributing to efforts aimed at creating greater housing stability.

For more info and data sources, go to: https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/05/data-snapshot-housing-challenges-for-maine-families/

05/21/2026

Maine's extended housing crisis is taking a toll on children and families, who depend on housing for stability, safety, and opportunity.

In our spring newsletter, we take a deeper look at the issue and highlight several ways the John T. Gorman Foundation is contributing to efforts to help families amid challenges while advancing longer term solutions.

https://mailchi.mp/9028a4635b45/parents-as-partners-insights-from-maine-and-beyond-17664282

05/19/2026

📣 Upcoming grant opportunity for nonprofits addressing food and housing/shelter needs for Maine people 📣

The John T. Gorman Foundation will accept applications for its 2026 Direct Services Grant Program (DSGP) from June 1-June 22. This year’s program will focus exclusively on supporting nonprofits who are addressing food insecurity and housing/shelter needs for Maine people. This shift reflects the unprecedented level of need and increased requests in support for food and shelter in Maine communities.

For more information on eligibility and applying, please visit https://jtgfoundation.org/2026dsgp

04/29/2026

Read the latest Portland Press Herald op-ed from John T. Gorman Foundation President & CEO Nicole Witherbee on how our partners are making headway on critical issues for children and families, even in a period of challenge and uncertainty.

Access to child care and housing are among the areas that we're starting to succeed in. The results should encourage us all.

03/23/2026

When schools are supported in connecting families with community resources, there is great potential for improving students' capacity to learn and thrive. York County is a telling example, with schools there successfully collaborating to mitigate and prevent homelessness for students and their families. Many thanks to those districts and our partners at York County Community Action Corporation for this incredible work.

The Biddeford School Department and York County Community Action Corporation have doled out assistance to 84 families as part of the Maine Housing Student Homelessness Prevention Pilot.

03/18/2026

What a lovely story. Best wishes to Mr. Schmaling on his retirement and three cheers to all those like him who are making sure Maine children are safe and seen in our communities. ❤️

Thomas Schmaling was recognized by the South Portland School Department for his years of service.

03/16/2026

A growing body of research details the interconnected health of children and their caregivers – especially in the first months after a child is born. While a long-running survey of mothers has provided valuable data during this formative period, relatively little is known about the well-being of fathers, who are a critical factor in family health. With funding from the John T. Gorman Foundation, the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago and the Maine CDCC are now working to fill the gap with the Maine Fatherhood Survey.

Learn more:

A growing body of research details the interconnected health of children and their caregivers – especially in the first months after a child is born. While a long-running survey of mothers has…

03/09/2026

Over the past decade, national leader Ascend at the Aspen Institute has helped organizations across the country elevate the voices of parents and caregivers – using lessons learned from the families who have guided its own work. In this interview, we discuss best practices with Ascend Senior Program Associate Danielle Christenson, who works with a national cohort of parent advisors to the organization’s Postsecondary Success for Parents Initiative.

https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/02/centering-parent-voice-insights-from-ascend/