Grantmaking

Our grantmaking reflects Carlisle Foundation’s core values. Together with our grant partners’ own community-based efforts, we can create lasting, amplifying impact. Our style of grantmaking is collaborative and follows a trust-based philanthropy model. We support our grant partners’ organizational resilience and creative expression, while facilitating alliance building and peer learning. We value feedback from our grant partners and encourage open dialogue for continual improvement.

Grant Proposal Dates:  

Online Grant Application Released: September 1, 2027
Proposal Due Date: October 15, 2027
Award Date: November 15, 2027 

Our Giving Priorities

Applicants must connect to at least one of our Foundation’s priority areas utilizing whichever funding type is most relevant and appropriate to the organization. 

Training & Leadership Development Grants

Funding Types – Capacity Building, Scholarship, & Mentorship

Funding for this area supports leaders, practitioners, and students with professional education and industry learning through:

  • Leadership development initiatives
  • Instructor training programs and workshops 
  • Internship, mentorship, and service-learning experiences
  • Capstone research and academic fieldwork

Social Benefit Grants

Funding Types – Core Mission, Program Expansion, & Scholarship

Funding for this area supports the education, well-being, and inclusion of diverse communities and underserved populations through:

  • Community riding programs 
  • Equine-assisted services
  • Para-equestrian sports
  • Classical equestrian arts 
  • Health and wellness programs
  • Agricultural and nature-based initiatives

Horse & Farm Stewardship Grants

Funding Types – Capacity Building, Project Support, & Endowment  

Funding for this area supports the responsible care for the horses and farm resources serving charitable purposes at partner programs, including:

  • Daily care and supplemental services of veterinary, farrier, dentistry, and complementary provisions
  • Ongoing stable and farm management promoting equine and personnel health and safety
  • Schoolmaster acquisition, endowment, and retirement assistance

Eligibility

We fund Carlisle Academy’s charitable programs and compatible partner centers nationally. We provide one-year and multi-year grants through an annual application process to both small and mid-size organizations.

To be eligible for smaller, one-year grants (up to $5000), compatible partners and their leaders must meet the following criteria: 

  1. Be structured as a for-profit or non-profit legal entity that provides programming for charitable activities serving the public good. 
  2. Align with CF Core Values and Giving Priorities.
  3. Have a budget size smaller than $500,000.
  4. Hold a credential or center accreditation to demonstrate best practices with access to the background and experience needed to complete the grant work successfully.
  5. Are prepared to evaluate outcomes that drive solutions (over data) and create meaningful impact, however big or small.
  6. Have a working understanding of trust-based philanthropy.

To be eligible for larger, multi-year grants (up to $20,000), compatible partners and their leaders must meet the following criteria: 

  1. Be a registered Carlisle Catalyst Partner.  To find out more about this process, click here or send an email to info@carlisleacademymaine.com. 
  2. Be structured as a for-profit or non-profit legal entity that provides programming for charitable activities serving the public good. 
  3. Align with CF Core Values and Giving Priorities.
  4. Have a budget size smaller than $1,000,000.
  5. Hold a credential or center accreditation to demonstrate best practices with access to the background and experience needed to complete the grant work successfully.
  6. Are prepared to evaluate outcomes that drive solutions (over data) and create meaningful impact, however big or small.
  7. Have a working understanding of trust-based philanthropy.