BRUNSWICK — The Alfred M. Senter Fund is a private charitable trust authorized to make grants to any public charity which provides a service in the State of Maine and which meets the requirements of the trust documents.

The fund was established by Alfred Senter and it was his wish that public charities benefiting from this fund be involved in promoting the cultural, educational, environmental and general health and welfare of the inhabitants of Brunswick, Durham, Lisbon, Harpswell, Topsham, West Bath and Bath.

The fund especially seeks to support charities for which small grants will make a significant difference. The fund does not normally award grants supporting annual operating budgets or to add to the endowment of other nonprofit organizations.

In 2012 grants were made to 34 charitable organizations selected from 69 applications. The total amount of these grants was $140,567.

The Fund Committee is soliciting requests for grants with a requirement that applications be submitted by mail with an original and five copies and that they be received no later than Oct. 31. Application forms may be obtained by contacting Senter Place Management Office in Brunswick by telephone at 207-725-6610, fax at 725-6612, email at [email protected] or by visiting www.senterplace.com.

Alfred Senter was the owner of the former Senter’s Department Store on Maine Street in Brunswick and of the Greenery Restaurant at that location.