Community innovation for a stronger Maine coast — navigating climate and economic change with island and coastal communities to expand opportunities and deliver solutions.
Island Institute’s grantmaking is built around Maine’s islands and coastal communities, with a clear pattern of funding that ties climate resilience to local economic activity. A $1,000,000 grant to Luke's Lobster Holding LLC in Saco stands out in the recent record, alongside multi-year support for the same seafood business and a separate $389,035 grant to Luke's Lobster LLC in Brooklyn for a sustainable seafood partnership. The foundation also funds local capacity-building and planning work, including grants for broadband planning, sea level rise resiliency, and storm recovery. Across the recent grants list, the foundation supports towns, community organizations, businesses, and planning groups rather than only one type of recipient. Monhegan Plantation, Town of Islesboro, Town of Southport, and other island and coastal entities appear with recurring project-specific awards for broadband planning or ShoreUp sea level rise work. Other grants support historic building preservation, blue economy activity, and business resilience. The overall picture is a funder using relatively focused, place-based grants to help coastal Maine communities respond to environmental change and maintain working waterfront and island life.
Climate adaptation is a core theme. Island Institute gave $14,000 to Town of Frenchboro for ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency, $10,000 to Town of North Haven for the same purpose, and $9,995 to Town of Damariscotta for ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency. Broadband planning is another recurring line of support. The foundation awarded $26,667 to National Lead for America Inc for Broadband Planning, $15,000 to Town of Isle au Haut for Broadband Planning, and $12,500 to Town of Swan's Island for Broadband Planning. The grants also reach working waterfront and marine economy needs. In 2025, Greenhead Lobster in Stonington received $10,000 for Responsive Fund - Storm Response, and Community Shellfish Co LLC in Bremen received the same amount for the same purpose. Historic building preservation appears as well, with a $26,248 grant to Frenchboro Congregational Church.
Typical grant size is compact: the p25 is $8,478, the median is $10,000, and the p75 is $12,750. The recent record also includes a much larger outlier, which suggests the foundation uses a mix of standard project grants and occasional larger investments. Grantmaking is highly recurring in Maine, with 95% of grants going to recipients in the HQ state and 100% of the listed recent grants going to U.S. recipients. The pattern includes repeated awards to the same recipients across years, including Monhegan Plantation, Town of Southport, Town of Islesboro, and Luke's Lobster Holding LLC. The programs listed include both unsolicited and competitive options, with a mix of project-specific grants, planning support, and rapid-response funding.
$442K
$41.9M
$11M
$9.7M
Most grants fall between $8K and $13K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$13K
Peter Rand
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Grant dollars land overwhelmingly in Maine, with the recipient-country data showing all listed grants in the U.S. Recent awards cluster in island and coastal places such as Monhegan, Islesboro, Southport, Swans Island, Frenchboro, and Vinalhaven, plus coastal towns including Saco, Stonington, Bremen, Brooklin, and Damariscotta. The recipient list also includes Brooklyn, NY and Wichita, KS, though those are exceptions in a Maine-centered portfolio.
The foundation funds island and coastal community resilience, working waterfront protection, sustainable seafood and fisheries, climate adaptation and mitigation, broadband and digital equity, energy innovation, and community leadership development. Recent grants also show support for historic building preservation, storm recovery, and business resilience.
The typical grant size is $10,000 at the median, with a p25 of $8,478 and a p75 of $12,750. The recent list also includes larger project awards, including a $1,000,000 grant and a $389,035 grant.
Yes. Several recipients appear in multiple years, including Luke's Lobster Holding LLC, Monhegan Plantation, Town of Southport, Town of Islesboro, and Town of Swans Island. That points to recurring support for selected partners and projects rather than one-time-only giving.
Maine receives the vast majority of support: 95% of grants go to recipients in ME, and the geographic scope of giving is local. The recent grants list centers on Maine islands and coastal towns such as Monhegan, Islesboro, Frenchboro, Southport, and Vinalhaven.
Recent grantees include National Lead for America Inc for Broadband Planning, Frenchboro Congregational Church for Historical Building Preservation, Greenhead Lobster for Responsive Fund - Storm Response, and Town of Frenchboro for ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency. Those awards reflect planning, preservation, storm response, and coastal adaptation.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Island Institute that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Eligible applicants are Maine municipalities (including committees), regional planning commissions, and councils of governments. Nonprofits may apply on behalf of one of the above entities but are not currently eligible for awards themselves.
Deadline: Applications are accepted, reviewed, and awarded on a rolling basis from July 1, 2026 to June 1, 2027.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luke's Lobster Holding LLC | Saco, ME | $180,811 | 2026 | Lift all Boats pass-through |
| Eastport Energy Committee | Eastport, ME | $43,729 | 2026 | Climate Planning |
| Pendleton Yacht Yard | Islesboro, ME | $40,000 | 2026 | Electric boat forgivable loan |
| Town of Isle au Haut | Isle au Haut, ME | $37,500 | 2026 | Broadband pass-through |
| Maine Ocean Farms LLC | Brunswick, ME | $30,000 | 2026 | Electric boat support |
| Matinicus Isle Plantation | Matinicus, ME | $20,000 | 2026 | ShoreUp planning grant |
| Foundation for Strong Maine Economy | Augusta, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | Aquaculture support |
| Town of Tremont | Bass Harbor, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | ShoreUp planning grant |
| Town of Isle au Haut | Isle au Haut, ME | $15,000 | 2026 | ShoreUp planning grant |
| Midcoast Council of Governments | Damariscotta, ME | $12,500 | 2026 | Broadband pass-through |
| Hancock County Planning Commission | Ellsworth, ME | $12,500 | 2026 | Broadband pass-through |
| Peaks Environmental Action Team | Peaks Island, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | ShoreUp planning grant |
| Town of Islesboro | Islesboro, ME | $10,000 | 2026 | ShoreUp planning grant |
| Luke's Lobster Holding LLC | Saco, ME | $54,255 | 2025 | Lift all Boats |
| National Lead for America Inc | Wichita, KS | $26,667 | 2025 | Broadband Planning |
| Frenchboro Congregational Church | — | $26,248 | 2025 | Historical Building Preservation |
| Greenhead Lobster | Stonington, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | Responsive Fund - Storm Response |
| Town of Swans Island | Swans Island, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant |
| Hylan and Brown Boat Builders | Brooklin, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | Business Resilience Grant |
| Monhegan Plantation | Monhegan, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant |
| Town of Islesboro | Islesboro, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant |
| Town of Southport | Southport, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant |
| Community Shellfish Co LLC | Bremen, ME | $10,000 | 2025 | Responsive Fund - Storm Response |
| Town of Brunswick | Brunswick, ME | $7,930 | 2025 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant |
| Hancock County Planning Commission | Ellsworth, ME | $6,000 | 2025 | Broadband Planning |
| Midcoast Council of Governments | Damariscotta, ME | $6,000 | 2025 | Broadband Planning |
| Luke's Lobster Holding LLC | Saco, ME | $1,000,000 | 2024 | Sustainable Seafood |
| Luke's Lobster Holding LLC | Saco, ME | $54,070 | 2024 | Lift all Boats |
| Monhegan Plantation | Monhegan, ME | $15,000 | 2024 | Broadband Planning |
| Town of Isle au Haut | Isle au Haut, ME | $15,000 | 2024 | Broadband Planning |
| Town of Frenchboro | Frenchboro, ME | $14,000 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Town of Brooksville | Brooksville, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Long Island Civic Association | Long Island, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Town of Roque Bluffs | Roque Bluffs, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | Broadband Planning |
| Town of North Haven | North Haven, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Town of Phippsburg | Phippsburg, ME | $10,000 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Town of Damariscotta | Damariscotta, ME | $9,995 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Town of Gouldsboro | Prospect Harbor, ME | $8,957 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Hancock County Planning Commission | Ellsworth, ME | $8,000 | 2024 | Broadband Partner Stipend |
| National Audubon Society Inc | Bremen, ME | $8,000 | 2024 | Spark! Energy Efficiency |
| Town of Chebeague Island | Chebeague Island, ME | $7,700 | 2024 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency |
| Hancock County Planning Commission | Ellsworth, ME | $6,500 | 2024 | Broadband Planning |
| Midcoast Council of Governments | Damariscotta, ME | $6,000 | 2024 | Broadband Partner Stipend |
| City of Eastport | Eastport, ME | $5,500 | 2024 | Broadband Planning |
| Luke's Lobster LLC | Brooklyn, NY | $389,035 | 2023 | Sustainable Seafood Partnership |
| Monhegan Plantation | Monhegan, ME | $21,500 | 2023 | Broadband Planning & ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Planning |
| Vinalhaven Fish Co-op | Vinalhaven, ME | $13,000 | 2023 | Blue Econonmy |
| Town of Swan's Island | Swans Island, ME | $12,500 | 2023 | Broadband Planning |
| Town of Vinalhaven | Vinalhaven, ME | $11,000 | 2023 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Planning |
| Town of Islesboro | Islesboro, ME | $10,000 | 2023 | ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Planning |
Luke's Lobster Holding LLC
$180,811Lift all Boats pass-through
Eastport Energy Committee
$43,729Climate Planning
Pendleton Yacht Yard
$40,000Electric boat forgivable loan
Town of Isle au Haut
$37,500Broadband pass-through
Maine Ocean Farms LLC
$30,000Electric boat support
Matinicus Isle Plantation
$20,000ShoreUp planning grant
Aquaculture support
Town of Tremont
$15,000ShoreUp planning grant
Town of Isle au Haut
$15,000ShoreUp planning grant
Midcoast Council of Governments
$12,500Broadband pass-through
Hancock County Planning Commission
$12,500Broadband pass-through
Peaks Environmental Action Team
$10,000ShoreUp planning grant
Town of Islesboro
$10,000ShoreUp planning grant
Luke's Lobster Holding LLC
$54,255Lift all Boats
Frenchboro Congregational Church
$26,248Historical Building Preservation
Greenhead Lobster
$10,000Responsive Fund - Storm Response
Town of Swans Island
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant
Hylan and Brown Boat Builders
$10,000Business Resilience Grant
Monhegan Plantation
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant
Town of Islesboro
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant
Town of Southport
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant
Community Shellfish Co LLC
$10,000Responsive Fund - Storm Response
Town of Brunswick
$7,930ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Grant
Hancock County Planning Commission
$6,000Broadband Planning
Midcoast Council of Governments
$6,000Broadband Planning
Luke's Lobster Holding LLC
$1,000,000Sustainable Seafood
Luke's Lobster Holding LLC
$54,070Lift all Boats
Monhegan Plantation
$15,000Broadband Planning
Town of Isle au Haut
$15,000Broadband Planning
Town of Frenchboro
$14,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Town of Brooksville
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Long Island Civic Association
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Town of Roque Bluffs
$10,000Broadband Planning
Town of North Haven
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Town of Phippsburg
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Town of Damariscotta
$9,995ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Town of Gouldsboro
$8,957ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Hancock County Planning Commission
$8,000Broadband Partner Stipend
Town of Chebeague Island
$7,700ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Resiliency
Hancock County Planning Commission
$6,500Broadband Planning
Midcoast Council of Governments
$6,000Broadband Partner Stipend
City of Eastport
$5,500Broadband Planning
Luke's Lobster LLC
$389,035Sustainable Seafood Partnership
Monhegan Plantation
$21,500Broadband Planning & ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Planning
Vinalhaven Fish Co-op
$13,000Blue Econonmy
Town of Swan's Island
$12,500Broadband Planning
Town of Vinalhaven
$11,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Planning
Town of Islesboro
$10,000ShoreUp Sea Level Rise Planning
