Photo from Niweskok
Two major winter storms in 2023–2024 caused widespread damage across Maine’s coastal and inland communities, disrupting homes, infrastructure and livelihoods. These events underscored how vulnerable many communities remain to increasingly intense storms and the urgency of strengthening local resilience efforts. MaineCF is committed to supporting communities—especially those with fewer resources—as they begin or advance resilience planning. As Linda Nelson, economic and community development director for the Town of Stonington, noted, “The Maine Community Foundation is jumping in to support resilience efforts, rebuilding efforts. And that’s an incredibly foresightful and important thing for our small communities in Maine.”
MaineCF is also helping build the capacity of support networks such as the Climate Change Adaptation Providers (CCAP), a cross-sector group offering technical assistance to municipal and community leaders, and the Maine Community-Led Energy and Climate Action Network (MAINECAN), a newer initiative from the University of Maine’s Mitchell Center that provides peer learning and practical guidance for community groups.
At the state level, MaineCF serves on the Maine Climate Commission and the Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission, which this spring released a plan to strengthen the resilience of Maine’s people, environment, and economy in the face of future storms.
Through this coordinated effort, MaineCF aims to help at least 45 communities begin resilience planning over the next five years.
Conservation and Land Access
Farmland Protection
Increasing pressure from land developers, a growing interest in farmland from nonfarming buyers, dramatic increases in the cost of land and farm viability issues are making it harder for Maine farmers to afford to keep their land in agriculture.
Compared with other New England states, Maine has the most abundant land but has conserved the least amount — less than 5% — of its farmland.
Land for Communities
Land for Communities is a newly redesigned grant program. It supports community land projects that increase relationships to land for underserved geographies and populations in Maine. Projects must expand access to underserved populations and either restore Wabanaki stewardship of lands and water or make the land available for community use for food, including hunting, wild harvesting, community agriculture or community fisheries.
Wabanaki Learning
One pillar of MaineCF’s conservation work is providing resources for the acquisition of land by or for Wabanaki Nations or Wabanaki-led organizations.
Deepening our learning and offering educational opportunities, particularly for our donor community, are important focuses for both the MaineCF board of directors and staff. Taking the time to listen and learn from Wabanaki citizens and experts will help further refine MaineCF’s contribution toward Wabanaki healing and prosperity.
