United Way of Southern Maine is pleased to announce the opening of the Liz Cotter Schlax Capacity Building grant, an annual $10,000 award to a Southern Maine organization that aligns with our Thrive2027 community goal areas.
This funding opportunity was developed to honor Liz Cotter Schlax, former President and CEO of United Way of Southern Maine and recognize her for her leadership, vision, and decade of service. This low-barrier funding opportunity is open to organizations with an annual budget up to $750,000. It will support broad organizational capacity building—an essential but often underfunded need in our community— helping organizations grow, innovate, and sustain their critical work. Examples of this work include: training board or staff members, supporting strategic planning process or long-term visioning, investing in new or upgraded technology, strengthening financial systems, or developing fundraising strategies.
Applications for this funding opportunity open today, September 24, and close October 22, 2025. Funding decisions will be announced in December. The funding period for this investment will be January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026.
