The York County Cares Fund
The 2024 - Fall Grants Program is open now! Applications will be accepted through December 1, 2024. Download a grant application (below) and send to admin@yorkcountycares.org.
The mission of The York County Cares Fund is to help refugees and asylum seekers in Saco, Maine find acceptance and integration into their new country so that they can experience happiness and fulfillment in their lives.
The refugee and asylum seeker community of Saco is currently comprised of 100 families, most of whom are from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Approximately 300 people, including over 100 children, currently reside in a Saco hotel.
Some basic services are being provided. For example, Catholic Charities of Maine is providing on-site leadership and case management. The Maine Immigrants' Rights Coalition (MIRC) and Youth Full Maine are proving hot meals to the residents of the hotel. Children attend Saco Public Schools, and Biddeford Adult Education is providing ESL instruction.
In addition, there could be so many other services people need to become integrated into their new community.
If you are a 501c3 nonprofit organization or have a nonprofit fiscal sponsor, a government department or school, and would like to help people in this community, please apply for a grant from the York County Cares Fund.
Grants of up to $5,000 are made available to entities providing services to this population, either to support existing efforts or to develop new offerings.
In addition to helping the new residents of Saco, the purpose of the grant programs is to assist The York County Cares Fund’s advisors in mapping service providers working with (or hoping to work with) Saco, and to begin to build good working relationships with organizations, as The York County Cares Fund expects to expand its grant making over time.
The 2024 - Spring Grants Program awarded grants to several organizations. Read here for more information about the 2024 - Spring Grant Program Winners!
The 2024 - Fall Grants Program is open now! Applications will be accepted through December 1, 2024. Download a grant application (below) and send to admin@yorkcountycares.org.
If you're unable to fill out the application for any reason, please contact us for alternate arrangements.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us at admin@yorkcountycares.org.
We work with the Maine Community Foundation to administer grant funds. If we approve your grant application, a grant recommendation will be made to the Maine Community Foundation through its donor advised fund known as the York County Cares Fund. If the grant recommendation is approved by the Maine Community Foundation, it will issue the grant award directly to your organization. The Maine Community Foundation is not responsible for this website, or any application processes associated with this website.
Thank you.
Contact Us
York County Cares
PO Box 1812, 225 Main St, Saco, Maine 04072, United States
Announcement
NEWS! York County Cares sponsors a Holiday Card drive to benefit refugees and asylum seekers in York County!