The Demont Difference Fund was established in 1999 by Demont Associates. The Fund endorses creative efforts by not-for-profit organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont seeking to increase their long-term capacity to raise private support and/or broaden their volunteer base.
The Fund awards pro bono services to smaller organizations not considered capable of mounting a $1 million fund-raising effort in the near term. Preference is given to funding projects which leverage maximum fund-raising potential, develop long-term development goals, and further philanthropic opportunities.
Service is limited to charitable organizations, activities, operations or purposes that take place within the states of New Hampshire, Vermont, or Maine, or benefit those states’ residents.
UPDATE ON 2010:
Demont Associates has allocated Demont Difference Fund services to preselected organizations in Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont in 2010.
The application process for grants to be made in 2011 will resume next year, with applications due on May 20, 2011. The application for 2011 will be posted on our website by March 18, 2011. For further information, please contact Aric Walton at 207-773-3030. (Posted 3/5/2010)
—2009 Recipients
UpReach Therapeutic Riding Center (Goffstown, NH)
Founded in 1992, UpReach is an educational, non-profit program dedicated to improving the physical, emotional, and psychological development of challenged children and adults through progressive therapies centered around the horse. UpReach serves 60 children and adults with special needs in central and southern New Hampshire each week. UpReach will receive a development plan service.
For more information on UpReach, please visit www.upreachtrc.org.
Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust (New London, NH)
The Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust (ASLPT) aims to preserve and protect the rural character of the Mt. Kearsarge/Lake Sunapee region for public benefit through conservation agreements, stewardship, partnerships, and community education. The ASLPT will receive a workshop entitled “In Your Own Voice: Making the Ask.”
For more information on the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust, please visit www.ausbonsargent.org.
Goddard College (Plainfield, VT)
Goddard is a small college in rural Vermont for plain living and hard thinking. Its mission is to advance the theory and practice of learning by undertaking new experiments based upon the ideals of democracy and the principles of progressive education asserted by John Dewey. Goddard encourages students to become creative, passionate, lifelong learners, working and living with an earnest concern for others and the welfare of the Earth. Goddard College will receive a workshop entitled “21st Century Boards: Best Practices for Success in Development.”
For more information on Goddard College, please visit www.goddard.edu.
Burlington College (Burlington, VT)
Burlington College is an independent, progressive, liberal arts institution that emphasizes the dynamic relationship between education and experience. Its mission is to guide students to become skillful and reflective practitioners, lifelong learners, and thoughtful, active citizens engaged in fostering a just, humane society and sustainable, beautiful communities. Burlington College will receive a development plan service.
For more information on Burlington College, please visit www.burlington.edu.
—2008 Recipients
Kids First Center (Portland, Maine)
Kids First Center has been awarded pro bono services to create a development plan. The mission of this organization is to help families navigate the often difficult transition of divorce and separation, helping parents recognize and keep the needs of their children in the forefront.
For more information on Kids First Center, visit www.kidsfirstcenter.org.
Junior Achievement of Maine, Inc. (Portland, Maine)
Junior Achievement of Maine, Inc. has been awarded a pro bono Demont workshop, “In Your Own Voice: Making the Ask.” Junior Achievement of Maine is a not-for-profit organization whose mission is to inspire and prepare young people to succeed in a global economy. Their curriculum includes hands-on activities that teach students about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and workforce readiness.
For more information on Junior Achievement, visit http://maine.ja.org.
—2007 Recipients
Copper Cannon Outdoor Education Center (Franconia, New Hampshire)
Copper Cannon Outdoor Education Center in Franconia was awarded pro bono services to create a development plan. Copper Cannon is dedicated to providing at-risk New Hampshire youths with an opportunity to grow and thrive. The outdoor education and recreation programs at Copper Cannon offer children a community that values cooperation, teamwork, good citizenship, and respect for one another and the environment.
For more information on Copper Cannon, visit www.coppercannon.org.
Child First Child Care Resource and Referral (Keene, New Hampshire)
The Demont Difference Fund awarded pro bono services to Child First Child Care Resource and Referral to create a development plan. Located in Keene, and a program of Southwestern Community Services, Child First is a child care advocacy organization providing high quality support and affordable childcare and education for children in the Monadnock area. In the past year, Child First has provided more than 2000 hours of technical assistance and training to providers and community members.
For more information on Child First, visit www.scshelps.org/headstart.
New Generation (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)
New Generation in Portsmouth received pro bono services to design and create a Strategic Planning Retreat. The mission of New Generation is to provide support to homeless women in crisis during pregnancy and to mothers and children in order to foster a new generation of healthy, self-sufficient, fully functioning, and happy families. New Generation has sheltered more than 350 families, with 230 children.
For more information on New Generation, Inc. visit www.newgennh.com.
The Birchtree Center (Portsmouth, New Hampshire)
The Birchtree Center of Portsmouth, offering specialized educational services for children and youth with autism, received pro bono services for facilitating a strategic planning retreat. With its award, The Birchtree Center hopes to have a written strategic plan representing the shared vision of current board, staff and clients. The Birchtree Center is the only program of its kind in New Hampshire having a specifically focused curriculum based on Applied Behavior Analysis for children with autism. They currently have 20 children participating in a year-round, full day program, and have a newly established outreach program.
For more information on The Birchtree Center visit www.birchtreecenter.org.
Revels North (Hanover, New Hampshire)
Revels North in Hanover has been awarded a pro bono Demont workshop, “In Your Own Voice: Making the Ask.” Revels North is a not-for-profit organization producing performances and events to encourage understanding and appreciation of traditional music, dance, ritual, and other art forms through the medium of participatory theater and communal celebration.
For more information on Revels North, visit www.revelsnorth.org.
—Recipients from Previous Years (1999-2006)
Governor’s Institutes of Vermont (Montpelier, Vermont) received a matching grant for the implementation of a training and development program for the organization’s Board of Trustees.
For more information on Governor’s Institutes of Vermont, visit www.giv.org.
Quarry Hill School (Middlebury, Vermont) received a matching grant of $3,250 to use the expertise of a non-profit consultant in creating and implementing a strategic fund-raising plan, including the purchase of fund-raising software and board development training.
For more information on Quarry Hill School, please call 802-388-7297.
Vermont Children’s Trust Foundation (Burlington, Vermont) received a matching grant.
For more information about VCTF, visit www.vtchildrenstrust.org.
Turtle Island Children’s Center (Montpelier, Vermont) received a matching grant to help develop basic tools, infrastructure, and support systems that are critical to creating a strong, well organized, comprehensive development program.
For more information, please call 802-229-4047.
CATCH – The Concord Area Trust for Community Housing (Concord, New Hampshire) was awarded a grant to implement a new major gift plan as part of an effort to diversify funding.
For more information about CATCH, visit www.catchhousing.org.
Harrisville Children’s Center (Harrisville, New Hampshire) received a matching grant to defray the cost of a staff and a board member attending training sponsored by the Giving Monadnock Institute.
Visit www.harrisvillechildrenscenter.org for more information.
Thorne-Sagendorph Art Gallery (Keene, New Hampshire) was awarded a grant to hire a facilitator with expertise in board development, fund raising, and volunteer recruitment.
For more information about the Gallery, visit www.keene.edu/tsag.
Women’s Supportive Services (Newport, New Hampshire) received a matching grant to expand its annual giving program and begin a major donor program.
For more information, visit www.free-to-soar.org.
New Hope for Women (Rockland, Maine) received a Board Development Workshop.
For more information about New Hope for Women, see www.newhopeforwomen.org.
Washington County Children’s Program (Machias, Maine) was awarded an Internal Assessment service.
Visit www.wccp.net for more information about this organization.
The Junior League of Bangor (Bangor, Maine) benefited from a board retreat focused on "An Introduction to Strategic Planning."
Information about the Junior League can be found on the Association of Junior Leagues International, Inc. website: www.ajli.org.
The Vermont Children’s Aid Society (Winooski, Vermont) was awarded a board workshop focused on the key role the board has in a non-profit’s development and fund-raising program.
For more information, visit www.vtcas.org.
Burlington Children’s Space (Burlington, VT) received a strategic planning workshop.
To learn more about this organization, visit www.burlingtonchildrensspace.org.
The Center for Grieving Children (Portland, Maine) was awarded a match for funds raised through a board appeal. This matching grant is to fund internships from the University of Southern Maine’s Masters in Business Administration program.
For more information about the services The Center offers, visit their website at www.cgcmaine.org.
The Georges River Land Trust (Rockland, Maine) was awarded a grant to assist the organization in consolidating with the Coastal Mountain Land Trust.
For more information, visit www.grlt.org.
The Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center (Gardiner, Maine) received a grant to be matched by private donors, to purchase a new donor and membership software package.
For more information about Johnson Hall, visit www.johnsonhall.org.
The Penobscot Theatre Company (Bangor, Maine) was awarded a matching grant to purchase fundraising software, support, training, and advisory services.
To learn more about this organization, visit www.PenobscotTheatre.org.
The Sanford-Springvale YMCA (Sanford, Maine) received a matching grant to match any new or increased gift by a board member.
For more information about the Sanford-Springvale YMCA, please visit www.sanfordymca.org.
The Squamscott Coalition (Exeter, New Hampshire) was awarded a grant to support their three-year initiative to permanently increase philanthropy in Brentwood, East Kingston, Exeter, Kensington, Newfields, and Stratham.
For more information, visit www.squamscott.org.
The Lakes Region United Way (Laconia, New Hampshire) received a grant to help defray the cost of building a media program for its 39 local care giving agencies.
For more information, visit www.lruw.org.
The Manchester Historic Association (Manchester, New Hampshire) was awarded a grant to hire a part-time grant writer to increase and maximize the organization’s fundraising capacity.
For more information, please visit www.manchesterhistoric.org.
Monadnock Family Services (Keene, New Hampshire) received a grant to defray the costs of staff and board member participation in the Giving Monadnock Training Institute, sponsored by the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation.
For more information, visit www.mfs.org.
New Generation, Inc. (Greenland, New Hampshire) was awarded a grant to develop a five-year strategic plan.
For more information about this organization, visit www.nhteeninstitute.org.
Ethan Allen Homestead Museum (Burlington, Vermont) received a grant to revise and enhance its volunteer program.
For more information, please visit www.ethanallenhomestead.org.
St. Johnsbury Athenaeum (St. Johnsbury, Vermont) was awarded a grant to help create a part-time Administrative Assistant for Grant writing position.
For more information, please visit www.stjathenaeum.org.
The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium (St. Johnsbury, Vermont) received a grant to hire a fundraising consultant to train the Board of Trustees in hands-on, practical exercises to help them master the personal solicitation process.
Visit the Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium at www.fairbanksmuseum.org.
Bennington Museum (Bennington, Vermont) was awarded a matching grant to purchase a new development software package to integrate its membership, annual fund and capital campaign records from several sources into one centralized database.
Visit the Bennington Museum at www.benningtonmuseum.com.
The Aroostook County Action Program (Presque Isle, Maine) received a grant for a community coalition to guide HIV/AIDS education and prevention activities in Aroostook County.
For more information, visit www.acap-me.org.
The Center for Community Dental Health (Portland, Maine) was awarded a grant to defray the cost of professional fundraising training.
For more information on the Center for Community Dental Health, please call 207-874-1028.
Junior Achievement (Portland, Maine) was awarded a grant to assist in the cost of a staff person to develop community advisory boards.
For more information about Junior Achievement, please visit maine.ja.org.