Opportunity Overview
Maine Cancer Foundation, in partnership with the John T. Gorman Foundation, is accepting 2026 applications for transportation and lodging services for Maine cancer patients. The program addresses access barriers created by Maine’s geography, limited public transportation, travel costs, and the need for repeated cancer screening, treatment, and supportive-care visits.
Funding and Grant Term
Applicants may request a one- or two-year grant. The official 2026 guidelines allow requests of up to $30,000 per year, with a maximum request of $60,000 over two years.
Deadline
Online applications must be completed by 4:00 PM on Wednesday, September 23, 2026. Maine Cancer Foundation does not publish a time zone in the controlling 2026 guidelines or current grant landing page. Atlas therefore preserves the published clock time without inventing a time zone.
Who Can Apply
Eligible applicants include 501(c)(3) tax-exempt charitable organizations, educational institutions, government entities, and other public nonprofit entities such as health departments and universities. Projects must benefit people of Maine. Current and past Maine Cancer Foundation grants must be in good standing, and grants are not awarded directly to individuals.
Eligible Project Direction
The 2026 RFP supports transportation services that help patients reach cancer screening, treatment, or supportive care; lodging that improves access to care; education and outreach about transportation services; partnerships that create system-wide transportation solutions; and combinations of these approaches. Existing programs may request funding. Proposals addressing social drivers of health are prioritized.
Application Process
Applications are accepted online only. Maine Cancer Foundation strongly encourages applicants to discuss proposals and eligibility with its program staff and to submit draft applications for review and feedback before the deadline.
Atlas Strategic Analysis
Atlas Opportunity Score: 84/100. This is a current, statewide healthcare-access opportunity with strong relevance to rural care, cancer treatment access, transportation barriers, and nonprofit/public-sector providers. It is not primarily a clinical technology procurement, so N9+ fit is low and should not displace the transportation and lodging purpose.
Routing Control
Publication is authorized because the opportunity is verified open and the controlling source is current. New applicant outreach remains fail-closed until the exact deadline can be safely interpreted for the 48-hour send gate because the funder publishes a clock time but no time zone. Do not invent a time zone. Any later outreach must also pass applicant eligibility, verified business-contact, opt-out, deduplication, and Atlas_Email_Queue routing controls.
Verified sources: Maine Cancer Foundation – Apply for a Grant and 2026 Transportation and Lodging Grant Guidelines.