The City of Ellsworth is gearing up to prepare the municipal budget for Fiscal Year 2026, which starts on July 1, 2025. We’re now accepting funding requests from outside agencies and groups, with the submission deadline set for Friday, February 14, 2025, at 12:30 PM.
Click here for the APPLICATION FORM
INSTRUCTIONS:
To ensure your application is successfully submitted, we strongly recommend delivering it in person to the Finance Department at City Hall. If you choose to email your application, please ensure you receive a confirmation email stating that it has been received. If you do not receive a “received” reply within one business day, a reasonable time frame, follow up with the Finance Department to confirm receipt. For those mailing applications via USPS, it is essential to call and verify that your application was received. Failure to confirm receipt of your application—whether emailed, mailed, or delivered in person—will be treated as the application not being submitted, and your organization may miss the opportunity for funding. The responsibility to ensure the City of Ellsworth has received the application lies solely with the organization. No exceptions will be made for claims that an application was mailed, emailed, or dropped off without confirmation. Please ensure that you speak directly with someone in the Finance Department to confirm receipt. Additionally, we recommend keeping copies of your completed application and all supporting documents for your records, as we understand this is a detailed and time-intensive process.
To ensure a fair and thorough process, we ask that all requests provide clear details on how the requested City funds will be used. Requests should focus on specific, stand-alone work elements—such as activities, programs, or functions—and include an organized list of these elements in your group’s priority order. Please keep in mind that final funding decisions will be based on availability and the City’s overall priorities.
For each work element or activity, include a detailed breakdown of costs, such as out-of-pocket expenses and personnel costs that would be covered by City funds. If the total cost exceeds the amount you’re requesting from the City of Ellsworth, be sure to explain where the additional funding will come from.
Additionally, outline the expected results of each work element, particularly those directly tied to City support. This includes details like the number of residents served and the benefits provided to the Ellsworth’s community. Since your request will be reviewed alongside many others, it’s important to make a strong case for the value your organization brings to the City of Ellsworth.
To sum it up, your funding requests should focus on clearly defined, standalone activities with measurable costs and outcomes. This helps the City Council fairly assess all applications and make informed decisions.
You’ll also have the chance to present your request at a budget workshop. While the City won’t send individual notices about workshop dates, this information will be shared through online platforms, posted at City Hall, and published in local newspapers. It’s up to each organization to stay updated, note the dates, and attend the workshop, especially for discussions about social services and outside funding requests.
Please email your funding application to Nate Moore Finance Director at nmoore@ellsworthmaine.gov and copy Ashlie Brown Financial Analyst at abrown@ellsworthmaine.gov. You may drop off your organizations funding application to Nate Moore or Ashlie Brown in person or mail to attention of Nate Moore and Ashlie Brown Finance Department at 1 City Hall Plaza Ellsworth, Maine 04605, no later than Friday, February 14, 2025, at 12:30 PM. Submissions received after this deadline may not be reviewed or included for consideration by the City Council. It is the responsibility of each organization to submit applications in a timely manner as outlined above. Organizations that fail to meet the February 14, 2025, deadline and subsequently request funding will face a significantly reduced likelihood of their requests being considered or approved.
The City Council will review the first draft of the budget in March, with budget meetings following in April and May. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Nate Moore at (207) 669-6624 or Ashlie Brown at (207)-669-6602.
