Receive Funding

3 smiling 4-H'ers fundingThe Maine 4-H Foundation is dedicated to supporting the Maine 4-H program. Each year the Foundation provides funding for 4-H legacy and new programs. Our legacy programs include the Karen Hatch Gagne National 4-H Congress Award, the Harold H. Brown Eastern States Award, as well as the Maine 4-H Foundation Endowment Funds held to secure annual support to National 4-H Conference and Congress, Citizenship Washington Focus, Eastern States, Maine 4-H Days, and 4-H at the University of Maine. In addition, volunteers, 4-H youth members, and staff are invited during the course of the year to apply for additional funding for new and innovative projects.

4-H Pitch Your Idea Grants

Pitch 4-H grants are made available to active 4-H members in Maine.

The Maine 4-H Youth Trustees, in partnership with an anonymous donor, are offering a grant program for currently enrolled 4-H members. The funding will support new small business ideas, new agricultural projects, and/or a new innovative project within 4-H. For a more detailed description, please refer to the application. Funding is available for up to $500.

Learn more.

Norma Hardison Creativity Grants to 4-H Clubs

4-H Club Creativity Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine, including club and community learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts up to $200; on a rare occasion, the grant request may be considered for more than $200. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.

Scholarships

Please review the descriptions of the following funding opportunities provided by the Maine 4-H Foundation. Apply for the one(s) most relevant to your project/aspirations. If you have any questions, please contact us before applying.

Maine 4-H Foundation Post-Secondary Education Scholarships

These scholarships are available to participants in the 4-H Program, pursuing higher education. Deadlines: March 1, 2023, to local UMaine Extension county office by email; March 8, 2023, by email documents to the Maine 4-H Foundation.

  • Application Form (Word) for the following scholarships.
  • Recommendation Form (Word)
    • Maine 4-H Foundation General Post Secondary Education Scholarships
    • Wayne S. Rich Scholarship – Maine in odd-numbered years
    • Azure Dillon 4-H Memorial Scholarship – Maine 4-Her
    • Gladys E. Conant Memorial Farm Credit of Maine Scholarship ($1,000) – Students currently enrolled at University of Maine in the College of Natural Sciences Forestry and Agriculture (NSFA). Maine 4-Her planning to continue their post-secondary education at a Maine institution whose objective is to major in a field related to commercial farming, fishing, or forest products or in another field with the intent to work in businesses related to these industries.
    • Dr. Harold and Marion Chute Scholarship
    • Fred Hutchinson Scholarship (awarded every other year)
    • Maine Harvest Festival, Lafayette Hotels, Western Maine MacIntyre Scholarship, and others are available as they are funded on an annual basis.
    • Doris Roberts, H. Lawrence, and George Lawrence Humphrey 4-H Scholarship – Maine 4-Her (awarded every other year)
    • Oxton Trust (Knox and Lincoln Counties)
    • Oxford County Scholarship
    • Theda Parker/K. C. Lovejoy Scholarship
    • Verna Church Witter Scholarship
    • 4-H Agricultural Threshold of Maine RC&D Scholarship Fund
    • Waldo County Extension Association Scholarship
    • Somerset County Leaders Association Scholarship
    • Jeremy Strater Washington County Scholarship
    • Nancy L. Arms ’84, Chadwick C. and Barbara Arms 4-H Scholarship Fund
    • Leo J. and Catherine D. Pelley 4-H Scholarship Fund
    • Lafayette Hotels Scholarship
    • Morna Rawcliffe Scholarship
    • Gene Doris Humphrey Scholarship
    • MacIntyre Scholarship
    • Others that become available
  • Evaluation Sheet for Maine 4-H Foundation Scholarship Applications (Word)

Henry Page / Bangor Noon Kiwanis Grants:

These grants are available to members of the Penobscot County 4-H Program. They can be used by clubs for trips, community service projects, and other 4-H activities. Individual members may also apply for grants to cover participation costs in local, state, and national 4-H events. For a more detailed description, please refer to the guidelines.

4-H Service, Innovative Education, and Philanthropy Grants:

Grant application ideas should tie into the 4-H program priorities for Maine including club and community service learning projects, philanthropic projects that engage members in the community supporting 4-H program work, and/or new creative educational ideas. Funds can be requested for amounts from $100 to $500; on rare occasions, the grant request may be considered for more than $500. Sponsor: Maine 4-H Foundation Youth Trustees in Philanthropy. Application Form.

Rural Youth Loans

From USDA Farm Service Agency. FSA makes loans to individual youths to establish and operate income-producing projects of modest size in connection with their participation in 4-H clubs, FFA, and similar organizations. Learn more.