Maine Environment Grants

This grant provides financial support to community-based nature and land conservation organizations in New England and upper New York State to advance impactful conservation projects that benefit the environment and local communities.

This funding opportunity supports tax-exempt nonprofits, public schools, and municipalities in southern York County, Maine, and Strafford & Rockingham Counties in New Hampshire, focusing on innovative and sustainable programs in health, community advancement, arts, education, and environmental welfare.

This funding opportunity supports rural communities in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont by providing financial assistance for projects that stimulate economic growth, improve infrastructure, and enhance local services in areas with fewer than 5,000 residents.

This program provides funding for applied research and demonstration projects that utilize advanced wood materials in transportation infrastructure, prioritizing initiatives that enhance resilience to extreme weather and support economically distressed communities.

This grant provides financial support for projects in Maine that strengthen community connections to land, particularly for underserved populations and initiatives focused on returning land to Wabanaki Nations or promoting food-related activities.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to state, Tribal, territorial, and local governments, as well as eligible agencies, to develop and improve wetland management programs in New England.

This program provides funding to support community development, workforce training, and sustainable business initiatives in the forest-based economy of rural areas in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.

This program provides over $1.5 million in unrestricted funding to nonprofit organizations in Maine that are led by and serve Black, Indigenous, and People of Color communities, focusing on dismantling racial injustice and promoting racial justice initiatives.

This grant provides funding to organizations and individuals in Maine to foster community connections through arts, culture, and environmental initiatives that promote equitable access and celebrate diverse local histories.

This grant provides funding to municipalities and tribal governments in Maine to improve and adapt waterfront infrastructure that supports commercial fishing and aquaculture, enhancing resilience against climate change and coastal flooding.

This grant provides funding to states, territories, and Tribes to monitor beach water quality and inform the public about safety during recreational activities in coastal waters.

This funding opportunity supports nonprofit organizations in Maine, particularly in Brunswick, Southport, and Boothbay Harbor, focusing on projects that aid those in need, promote animal welfare, provide healthcare for underserved populations, and support public broadcasting.

This program provides $25 grocery and gas gift cards to cancer patients in Northern New England who are currently undergoing treatment or receiving palliative care, helping to alleviate financial burdens and food insecurity.

This funding opportunity provides financial support to small community organizations and Tribal entities in New England to tackle environmental and public health issues in disadvantaged communities.

This funding initiative provides financial support for projects that enhance the agricultural, forestry, and commercial fishing industries in the Northeast, focusing on education, marketing, and leadership development.

The Outdoor Equity Fund aims to enhance safe, equitable access to outdoor spaces and nature-based learning for Wabanaki, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in Maine, unceded land of the Wabanaki. The fund addresses systemic barriers that BIPOC communities face in accessing outdoor spaces by supporting organizations working on land-based cultural preservation, land-back projects, leadership development, farming and gardening programs, outdoor accessibility, expeditions, learning, and therapeutic programs. It operates with a Community Advisory Committee guiding its efforts and employs a participatory grantmaking process. Selected organizations for the 2023 cohort will receive $30,000 over three years for general operating support, alongside opportunities for peer learning and capacity-building activities.

This grant provides funding to nonprofit organizations that enhance community improvement, education, environmental stewardship, and human services for residents in Baldwin, Maine.

The Public Art Learning Fund, administered by the New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA), is designed to fortify the public art landscape across New England by offering professional development opportunities directly to artists. NEFA's overarching mission, as reflected in this grant, is to cultivate more equitable, inclusive, and vibrant public spaces and public life throughout the region. This initiative aligns with NEFA's strategic goal of fostering a sustainable and equitable public art ecosystem by investing in the skills, resources, and connections of artists working in the public realm. The primary beneficiaries of this fund are artists residing full-time in one of the six New England states (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) who are actively engaged in public artmaking or are in the process of expanding their practice into this domain. The fund aims to empower these artists, contributing to more just and inclusive public art. Expected outcomes include artists developing enhanced skills and resources, leading to the creation of more vibrant public spaces and a stronger regional community of practice. The Public Art Learning Fund prioritizes opportunities that specifically expand an artist's public art practice and contribute equitably to more just and inclusive public artmaking. NEFA seeks clarity on desired learnings and their application to the artist's practice. The fund welcomes artists at various stages of their public artmaking careers from urban, suburban, and rural communities, recognizing that diverse cultural and artistic expressions are crucial for equitable and vibrant public spaces. A key focus of this grant is equity. NEFA acknowledges that various barriers, including race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography, can limit access to professional development. Therefore, the Public Art Learning Fund actively prioritizes equity in its funding decisions. This may include, but is not limited to, prioritizing artists who self-identify as Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) and/or those who are rooted in rural communities, aligning with NEFA's theory of change that targeted support can address systemic inequities and build a more inclusive artistic landscape. Grants range from $500 to $3,000 and support opportunities taking place between January 1, 2025, and December 31, 2025. Eligible applicants must also have a Creative Ground profile, and the proposed professional development must directly relate to strengthening their public art practice and occur within the grant period. These measurable results, such as the number of artists served and the nature of their professional development, contribute to NEFA's broader strategic aim of fostering a more equitable and sustainable public art ecosystem in New England.

Aimed at supporting the acquisition, development, and maintenance of carry-in boat launches, this grant opportunity is offered by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Bureau of Parks and Lands. It seeks to enhance public access to Maine's waterways for carry-in recreational boating. A key requirement for project eligibility is a pre-approval site inspection by state staff. The funding cap for eligible carry-in project costs is $25,000.

This funding opportunity supports conservation projects that provide employment and training for young adults and veterans, helping them gain experience in environmental stewardship and resource management on public lands.