Maine has one of the more spread-out nonprofit networks in New England. A foundation in Ellsworth, a senior center in Kennebunk, a wildlife group in Bar Harbor and a family-services office in Bangor are all charities, yet they answer to the same handful of state and federal rules. This page covers 102 Maine organizations and explains the system behind them. You will find out who regulates charities, how service differs between Portland and Aroostook County, what to check before you donate or ask for help, and how to reach the right organization on the first call.

Who Oversees Charities and Nonprofits in Maine

Most Maine nonprofits start as corporations under the Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act, found in Title 13-B of the Maine Revised Statutes. The filing goes to the Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, which keeps the public record and collects annual reports. State incorporation only creates the legal entity. Federal tax-exempt status is separate and comes from the IRS, usually as a 501(c)(3) public charity or private foundation.

Fundraising is regulated on its own track. Under Maine's charitable solicitation law, groups that ask the public for money generally must register with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, and some small or religious groups are exempt. The Maine Attorney General's office supervises charitable assets and can act when a charity misuses donations or strays from its stated purpose. If you suspect a problem, those two offices are where complaints go.

Local government handles the rest. Property tax exemption for benevolent and charitable institutions is set by Title 36 and decided by the town or city assessor, so a charity in Biddeford and one in Presque Isle apply through different offices. General assistance, the last-resort help with rent and food, is run by each municipality under state law. The charities in this directory fill many of the gaps around it.

Portland and Southern Maine: Cumberland and York County Charities

Cumberland County holds the largest concentration of listings in the state, and Portland leads it. The Center for The Prevention Hate sits at 509 Forest Avenue in Portland (207-221-6262). The Maine Association of Police is at 729 Broadway in South Portland (207-767-2558), and the Multiple Sclerosis Society office is at 74 Gray Road in Falmouth (207-781-7960). Brunswick adds the American Musicological Society at 2 Station Avenue (207-798-4243), while Baldwin lists the Bridges Foundation at 225 Pequawket Trail (207-787-7017).

Greater Portland offers density. Many organizations sit within a short drive of each other, public transit exists in the urban core, and staff often run several programs at once. The tradeoff is demand. Popular programs may keep waiting lists, so call early instead of arriving unannounced.

York County stretches from Kennebunk to Sanford. Seeds Of Hope Neighborhood Center is at 35 South Street in Biddeford (207-571-9601), and Waban Work Center is at 102 Pleasant Street in Sanford (207-324-8736). The Senior Center At Lower Village, at 175 Port Road in Kennebunk (207-967-8514), serves older adults. The Wormwood Foundation is at 231 Buxton Road in Saco (207-282-3737). Coastal towns fill with visitors in summer, so allow extra travel time on Route 1.

Augusta, Hallowell and the Kennebec Valley

Augusta, the state capital, tops our city list. That fits its role: advocacy groups often want to be near the Legislature and the state departments. The Maine Autism Alliance is at 65 Patterson Street (207-626-3042). Just downriver, the Vaughan Homestead Foundation operates from 2 Litchfield Road in Hallowell (207-622-9831). Both are in Kennebec County.

Lewiston and Auburn face each other across the Androscoggin River, and services in Androscoggin County often cross that line. Trinity Jubilee Center is at 247 Bates Street in Lewiston (207-782-5700). In Auburn, the Western Maine Wic Program is at 1 Auburn Heights (207-795-4028) and the Maine Vintage Race Car Association is at 51 Heath Lane (207-784-9827). WIC itself is a federal nutrition program for pregnant women, infants and young children. Eligibility depends on income and a health screening, so ask what to bring when you call.

Farther east, Catholic Charities is at 1066 Kenduskeag Avenue in Bangor (207-941-2855), in Penobscot County. In Belfast, the Salvation Army is at 134 Church Street (207-338-3615) in Waldo County. Bangor is a regional hub for central and eastern Maine, so people from smaller towns often travel there for services.

Rural and Coastal Maine: Aroostook, Washington, Hancock and Beyond

Outside the southern corridor, Maine is large and thinly populated. That shapes how charity work is delivered: fewer offices, longer drives, and more reliance on phone contact.

Aroostook County shows this clearly. Houlton, Presque Isle and Caribou are separated by long stretches of highway. The Community Living Association is at 45 School Street in Houlton (207-532-9446). The Hope & Justice Project is at 754 Main Street in Presque Isle (207-764-2977), and the Jefferson Carey Foundation is at 163 Van Buren Road in Caribou (207-493-4849). Snow can close roads or delay appointments in winter, so confirm before you drive.

Down east, Washington County lists the Pleasant River Wildlife Foundation on Tumble Down Dick Road in Addison (207-483-4184). Hancock County has the Maine Community Foundation at 245 Main Street in Ellsworth (207-667-9735) and the Acadia Wildlife Foundation at 49 Black Dog Road in Bar Harbor (207-288-4960). Bar Harbor sits beside Acadia National Park, which explains the wildlife focus.

The midcoast and interior add more variety. The Otto & Fran Walter Foundation is at 7 Oak Street in Boothbay Harbor (207-633-7300), in Lincoln County. Make A Wish Foundation is at 87 Elm Street in Camden (207-236-3171), in Knox County. The JD Foundation is at 107 Main Road in Abbot (207-876-2295), in Piscataquis County. A foundation may fund other charities instead of serving individuals directly, so ask whether it accepts requests from the public before you send one.

Before You Donate or Ask for Help: A Maine Checklist

A few minutes of checking protects your money and your time. Use this short list with any organization in Maine:

Small Maine charities often run on a few staff and many volunteers. A clear, polite message with your name, number and reason for calling usually gets the fastest reply.

Nonprofit organizations operating in Maine must register with the state attorney general's charitable trust section and comply with state solicitation licensing requirements in addition to meeting federal IRS requirements for tax-exempt status. Maine's charity registration process helps protect residents from fraudulent fundraising operations.

Charity Nonprofit locations are available in 46 cities across Maine. They are spread across 16 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Augusta, Portland, Brunswick, which typically host large concentrations of nonprofits serving regional populations across health, human services, education, and arts sectors.

Donors in Maine can verify that a charity is properly registered with the state by contacting the Maine Attorney General's office or searching the state's online charity registration database before making a contribution.

Charity Nonprofit by Counties

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Nonprofits seeking grant funding in Maine should explore state-level grant programs administered through the Maine Department of Health, Department of Education, or community services block grant programs. Many Maine foundations also fund local nonprofits through competitive grant cycles that typically open annually.

Browse Charity Nonprofit by county across Maine to find the nearest location.

Reading the Maine Charity Listings Alongside Local Needs

The organizations listed here are very different from one another. Some, such as Catholic Charities in Bangor, the Salvation Army in Belfast and Trinity Jubilee Center in Lewiston, serve people who need direct help. Others, like the Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth and the Otto & Fran Walter Foundation in Boothbay Harbor, are funders. A third group, including the Maine Vintage Race Car Association and the American Musicological Society, serves members or a special interest. Knowing which type you are calling saves time.

Start with your nearest city, not just your county. Maine has 16 counties, but daily services usually run through towns, regional agencies and local nonprofits. If your town has no listing, check a neighbor. Someone in Hallowell can reach Augusta in minutes, and a Falmouth resident is a short drive from Portland.

Phone first. Many Maine nonprofits have part-time staff, so hours can be limited and messages may take a day to return. Leave your name, number and a one-sentence reason for calling. If you need urgent help and are unsure where to start, dial 211 to reach the statewide referral line.

Addresses and phone numbers on this page come from our database. Confirm them before you travel, especially in winter or when visiting a small office.

Common Questions About Charities in Maine

Start with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm the group holds 501(c)(3) status and has not lost it. Then look up the corporation in the Maine Secretary of State's business records to see whether it is in good standing. Next, ask whether it is registered under Maine's charitable solicitation law with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation, or whether it qualifies for an exemption. Finally, read its most recent Form 990, which shows revenue, program spending and top salaries. Be cautious of pressure to give immediately, requests for gift cards, or names that closely imitate well-known charities.

Complaints about misused donations or deceptive fundraising can go to the Maine Attorney General's office, which supervises charitable assets in the state. Questions about registration to solicit donations belong with the Department of Professional and Financial Regulation. If the issue is a federal tax matter, such as a group claiming an exemption it does not have, the IRS handles it. Gather details first: the organization's name, the date and method of the solicitation, the amount you gave, and any receipts or mailings. A clear written record makes follow-up easier. For a local service problem, such as an eligibility dispute, speak with the director or board chair before escalating.

Begin with a clear mission and a board. File articles of incorporation under the Maine Nonprofit Corporation Act with the Secretary of State's Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions, then adopt bylaws and hold an organizing meeting. Get an employer identification number from the IRS and apply for 501(c)(3) recognition, usually on Form 1023 or the shorter 1023-EZ if you qualify. Check whether you must register to solicit in Maine before your first fundraising appeal. Once running, file annual reports with the state and an information return with the IRS. Fees change, so confirm current amounts with each agency. The Maine Community Foundation in Ellsworth (207-667-9735) is a useful early contact for funding resources.

Augusta and Portland have the most listings, but you do not need to travel there. In Aroostook County, look to Presque Isle, Caribou and Houlton, where the Hope & Justice Project, the Jefferson Carey Foundation and the Community Living Association are listed. Distances are longer than in southern Maine, so phone ahead, ask whether help is available by telephone or video, and check the weather in winter. For programs beyond our listings, 211 Maine can refer you to local agencies. Catholic Charities at 1066 Kenduskeag Avenue in Bangor (207-941-2855) is another option for people in central and eastern Maine.

Not always, but exemption is not automatic. Maine law, in Title 36, allows property owned by qualifying benevolent and charitable institutions to be exempt, and the decision is made locally. The organization applies to the assessor in the town or city where the property sits, and the assessor reviews how the property is used. A building rented to outsiders or used for non-charitable purposes may be taxed in part or in full. If you run a charity and own a building, contact your assessor early and ask which documents are required, such as your IRS determination letter and proof of how the space is used.

Requirements vary, so call first and ask. Common items include a photo ID, proof of a Maine address such as a lease or utility bill, proof of income like pay stubs or benefit letters, and identification for other household members. Programs tied to federal or state funding, such as WIC, usually have formal eligibility rules. A church-based pantry may ask only for basic information. Ask about hours, whether you need an appointment, and whether the group serves only certain towns or counties. Many Maine charities cover a defined service area, so one call can save a long trip.