John T. Gorman Foundation

09/16/2026

The John T. Gorman Foundation recently awarded a total $1.4 million in grants to support nonprofits that provide food and shelter to Mainers in need through its 2026 Direct Services Grant Program. This year’s program distributed funding to 72 nonprofit organizations in all 16 Maine counties.

“Food and housing are foundational to the health and well-being of our communities, but as costs continue to rise and assistance is cut, these essentials are becoming increasingly out of reach for many Maine people,” said Nicole Witherbee, President & CEO of the John T. Gorman Foundation. “These grants will support nonprofits across the state as they respond to growing demand and work to ensure that as many Mainers as possible have food on the table and a safe place to call home. The John T. Gorman Foundation is grateful for their efforts.”

Organizations, funding amounts, and grant descriptions are available on our website. https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/09/john-t-gorman-foundation-awards-1-2-million-to-help-meet-food-and-housing-needs-across-maine/

08/31/2026

Pediatricians can play an important role in promoting early relational health – but their time with families is often limited. Since 2020, Supporting Families Growing Together has aimed to strengthen capacity at two MaineHealth pediatric clinics with embedded Early Childhood Support Specialists. By building trust with families, addressing needs, and reducing stress, these professionals have allowed caregivers to focus on nurturing healthy relationships with their young children.

READ MORE: https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/08/supporting-parents-strengthening-connections/

08/18/2026

In 2023, 6% of Maine children had experienced the incarceration of a parent or guardian – the highest rate in New England. Yet families navigating this profoundly disruptive experience have no clear place to turn for support.

MaineHealth Behavioral Health has launched Bright Connections to build that coordinated response in Maine -- helping caregivers provide the stability, nurturing relationships, and other resources children need during a potentially traumatic period.

“We know what a significant protective factor it is for kids undergoing adversity to have that strong, loving, supportive relationship,” said Senior Program Manager Aurora Smaldone. “We’re trying to safeguard and amplify that connection by relieving some of the burdens that come with that experience and making sure they’re equipped to be a source of care for the child under extraordinary circumstances.”

Read more: https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/08/supporting-families-through-parental-incarceration/

08/14/2026

Over the last two days, the John T. Gorman Foundation co-hosted the Maine Strategy Summit with Ascend at the Aspen Institute, bringing together local, state, national, and philanthropic leaders who are working on two critical issues for children and families – housing and the justice system.

The first day centered on advancing solutions that not only create housing access for families but build a foundation on which they can thrive. On the second, we discussed how to support the well-being of children and families whose lives have been upended by parental incarceration. Both days inspired rich discussions of strategies underway in Maine and nationally, ideas for future action, cross-sector connections, and deepened commitments to bring this work forward for children and families. We’ll be sharing in-depth takeaways from the summit soon.

The Foundation is grateful to Ascend at the Aspen Institute for its continued partnership and for collaborating on this event. Many thanks to all the attendees for making this an such an energizing and productive convening.

08/10/2026

Strong, nurturing relationships are fundamental to children’s healthy development – and can help children and caregivers navigate adversity together. In this Q&A, John T. Gorman Foundation Senior Program Associate Jean Cousins, MSW, discusses the strategies our partners are using to help families nurture relational health amid adversity and what the Foundation is learning through this developing work.

https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/08/healthy-relationships-can-buffer-the-effects-of-adversity/

08/05/2026

Relational health between children and their caregivers – built through thousands of caring interactions and moments of comfort and connection – is fundamental to healthy child development. These close connections also help children and caregivers build resilience, buffering the effects of traumatic experiences and giving them strength to navigate adversity together.

The John T. Gorman Foundation's Summer Newsletter focuses on how our partners are helping families strengthen these connections across a range of settings and circumstances.

https://mailchi.mp/b50591f16341/child-caregiver-connections-are-vital-these-maine-partnerships-are-helping-strengthen-them

08/04/2026

The Maine Cancer Foundation is currently accepting grant applications to support organizations providing transportation and lodging services for Maine cancer patients. These services are critical in helping Maine people with cancer access treatment while remaining connected with their families. Proposals will be accepted until September 23.

More information available here:https://mainecancer.org/sites/default/files/users/user11/Maine%20Cancer%20Foundation%20Grant%20Guidelines%20-%202026%20Transportation%20and%20Lodging.pdf

We are grateful for our ongoing partnership with Maine Cancer Foundation to administer these programs and help carry on Tom Gorman's legacy of providing support to Maine people and families whose lives have been impacted by cancer.

06/29/2026

The John T. Gorman Foundation held its June Board meeting in beautiful St. George, where our staff and board had the chance to spend time with partners working to support healthy children and thriving families in Midcoast Maine.

Thank you to St. George Municipal School Unit Assistant Superintendent — and John T. Gorman Fellow — Jessica Berry for hosting us. Jessica and her team with Zero To School: Starting Strong led an engaging discussion about how this transformative initiative is connecting children and families to supports in the years before kindergarten, helping kids enter school ready to learn. We were especially grateful to hear directly from parents involved in the program about the difference it has made for their families — from accessing vital developmental services to building stronger connections with other parents.

The visit also included a great conversation with Haley Bezon, founder and executive director of Hearty Roots, about the organization’s work with area middle schools to provide positive youth development and mentoring opportunities to hundreds of students. As Maine youth — particularly middle schoolers — navigate challenges to their mental well-being, community partnerships that offer support, build resilience, and make healthy connections are incredibly important.

As always, we are grateful for the incredible work of our partners across Maine and appreciate every opportunity to see it in action.

06/24/2026

The John T. Gorman Foundation recently awarded $200,000 to two of Maine’s leading organizations addressing food insecurity and homelessness -- Good Shepherd Food Bank and Preble Street -- to provide critical support as families face rising costs and economic uncertainty.

In addition to these grants, the Foundation will distribute another $1 million later this summer through its 2026 Direct Services Grant Program to nonprofits across Maine addressing food insecurity and housing instability.

Learn more:

Grants will help Good Shepherd Food Bank and Preble Street address food insecurity and housing instability at a critical time PORTLAND, Maine (June 23, 2026) – The John T.

06/16/2026

When a family faces the threat of eviction, their next steps can fundamentally shape the trajectory of their lives for years to come. Thankfully, Pine Tree Legal Assistance is there to help Mainers in need navigate these difficult situations with free legal representation. Learn more about the critical services they are providing, including eviction prevention work with hundreds of Maine families.

https://www.jtgfoundation.org/2026/05/when-eviction-threatens-housing-stability-pine-tree-legal-helps-families-find-a-way-forward/