Lewiston-Auburn Boys & Girls Club chapter hit by more cuts in grant funding
The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine announced this week that a federal grant it relies on for after‑school programming has been slashed in half. The cut, part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, reduces the club’s funding from $115,000 to $57,500—a 50 percent loss that will hit the organization’s budget and the children it serves.
The decision came a week before the club’s annual fall fundraiser, a key event that usually brings in a portion of the money needed to keep its four Maine locations open. The Southern Maine chapter runs programs for more than 400 kids and teens in Auburn, Lewiston, Portland and South Portland, and its CEO, Colleen Cooper, said the grant reduction will “significantly hurt” the club. “When you think about it more broadly, not just through our organization, but families and other organizations that had their resources cut short, or in half, the kids are the ones who suffer the most,” Cooper told reporters.
The club’s operating budget for fiscal 2025 was $9.5 million, of which $7.8 million—about 83 percent—came from contributions and grants. In 2024 the club received $8.9 million in grants, roughly a million dollars more than the following year, according to its most recent Form 990. The federal grant cut, therefore, adds to an already tight fiscal situation, as the club had already budgeted the full $115,000 for the year.
Cooper, who has led the Southern Maine chapter for almost a year and previously worked at a Massachusetts Boys & Girls Club, said the organization is “planning to adjust” but will keep its Auburn and Lewiston locations open. “My broader concern is that the needs of young people are going to grow significantly and outpace what organizations are going to be able to provide,” she explained. “We have to get back to that village mentality of helping young people.”
The club, part of a national network of more than 5,000 chapters, uses grant funds for youth‑development activities, out‑of‑school programs, after‑school care and general family assistance. Its data show that 93 percent of students who go through its programs have a clear career path in mind at the time of high‑school graduation, and 81 percent earn mostly A’s and B’s. Staff also report improved emotional regulation among participants, thanks to a trauma‑informed approach to counseling and homework support.
Beyond the financial crunch, the club’s mission is tied to a broader concern in Lewiston and surrounding areas. The city has been grappling with rising youth violence, a trend the club’s leadership believes underscores the urgency of keeping safe spaces and positive role models available to local teens.
“We’re still committed to the kids and the community,” Cooper said. “Even though our budget is tighter, we’ll make the adjustments that keep the clubs open and the programs running.”
The club’s fall fundraiser, slated for next month, is expected to raise funds that will help bridge the gap created by the grant cut. Community leaders and donors have pledged support, but the club’s future will ultimately depend on how quickly it can secure additional resources—whether from new donors, state allocations or a revised funding model that reduces its reliance on federal grants.
The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine’s experience illustrates a broader trend among community‑based organizations that depend on a mix of private donations, state and federal assistance. As federal funding streams fluctuate, clubs across the state and the country are exploring alternative revenue streams and more diversified funding strategies. In the meantime, the Auburn‑Lewiston club remains on course to provide a “village mentality” of support for Maine’s young people, even as the fiscal landscape shifts around them.
