"We and the learners could not do it without Maine Community Foundation support. Every single day we're deeply thankful for the work that the organization is doing." - Alice Shea, Westbrook Adult Education curriculum director
Investing in Education
Every year, MaineCF’s adult learner scholarship supports hundreds of nontraditional Maine students who choose to go back to school to earn a degree, learn a new trade or earn a professional certificate or license. Adult learners are either over the age of 25, have children or dependents and/ or full-time jobs. But their drive to learn something new or continue their education fuels them.
In 2025, Cedrick was one of these students who decided to advance his career by earning a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certificate from Westbrook Adult Education with the support of MaineCF’s adult learner scholarship.
After his day-long shift at a lobster-processing plant, he spent several evenings per week in a classroom or suited up in blue scrubs to learn how to care for patients in a clinical setting. CNAs are crucial to the health care system as they support doctors and nurses throughout their daily rounds and, most importantly, support patients in their time of need.
After months of classroom and clinical work, Cedrick earned his CNA license last spring. But that’s not where Cedrick’s educational story ends. Beyond earning his CNA, Cedrick hopes to return to school for a higher-level nursing degree. “I want to learn in life,” he said. “I want to go far.”
Investing in Innovation
"The impact of a commitment like Maine Community Foundation’s is that there will be more startups. Those companies will employ many Mainers, and make Maine a more vibrant place to live and work.” Nina Scheepers, principal, Maine Venture Fund
MaineCF is committed to building a better Maine and increasing economic opportunity in all corners of the state. One unique, exciting way MaineCF and our donors create new opportunities is by working towards the goal of investing 2 percent of our investment portfolio right here in Maine. As a step towards that goal in 2025, MaineCF invested $6 million with the Maine Venture Fund (MVF), an experienced fund 100% dedicated to investing in promising Maine-based startup businesses.
Through this MVF partnership, MaineCF will be helping grow new ventures like Tanbark Molded Fiber Products in Saco, which makes recyclable and compostable packaging from sustainably sourced wood fiber from Maine and New England forests, to replace single-use plastics. Tanbark’s packaging is in use at Luke’s Lobster in Portland, at Eggologic (which creates nests for birds in captivity), and is expanding into use for beauty and other packaged goods.
