Maine Coast Fishermens Association
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) is a public charity based in Brunswick, Maine. It works on behalf of Maine’s community-based fishermen, with activities spanning sustainable fisheries, access to working waterfronts, fisheries innovation, and support for fishing communities.
Maine Coast Fishermens Association at a glance
- Total assets
- $7,492,155
- +67.5% vs 2024
- Revenue (2025)
- $3,802,491
- +9.0% vs 2024
- Net investment income (2025)
- $150,557
- -0.8% vs 2024
- Expenses (2025)
- $2,396,079
- -7.8% vs 2024
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990, 2025 View filing
Data from IRS Form 990, 2025; updated November 2026.
How to apply to Maine Coast Fishermens Association
- How to Apply
-
The filing describes an open application process for the disaster-recovery grants. Applicants were asked about damages and rebuilding plans, and selected recipients acknowledged the intended use of the grant and were followed up on by MCFA.
- Contact
Mailing address: 93 Pleasant St, Brunswick, ME 04011
Phone: (207) 956-0752
Website: https://mainecoastfishermen.org
Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Who Maine Coast Fishermens Association funds
How this funder distributes its grants
Grant Size Distribution
17 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 17 grants of 17 (100%).
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MCFA describes its work as serving Maine’s fishing communities and addressing fisheries issues in Maine and beyond, including through regional and national advocacy. All 2024 itemized grant dollars went to recipients in Maine.
Grant Distribution by State
States
Cities
Giving History
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2022 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $15K (2022) to $85K (2024). In 2024 it made 17 grants totaling $85K.
Hatched bars: grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Grants by year
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Wottons Lobster Wharf LLC Bristol, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Sea Meadow Marine Foundation Yarmouth, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Bob Williams Company Stonington, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Ditto Inc Bailey Island, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Jason Joyce Swans Island, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Tapley Cove Oyster CO Brooksville, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| David Lunt Frenchboro, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Rumery Lobster Inc Milbridge, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| Benjamin Heanssler Deer Isle, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
| CW Johnson Inc Harpswell, ME | Disaster Storm Recovery | $5,000 |
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Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Total Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants paid | Grants | Net Investment Income |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | $7,492,155 | $3,802,491 | $2,396,079 | — | — | $150,557 |
| 2024 | $4,473,218 | $3,487,288 | $2,598,671 | $85,000 | 17 | $151,702 |
| 2023 | $3,521,349 | $2,922,167 | $1,820,024 | — | — | $66,538 |
| 2022 | $2,216,534 | $1,710,661 | $1,610,193 | $15,000 | Total only | $9,424 |
| 2021 | $1,760,264 | $1,689,910 | $1,604,221 | — | — | $6,354 |
| 2020 | $1,658,455 | $1,744,192 | $1,346,776 | — | — | $5,396 |
"Total only": grants paid as reported on the IRS filing, which lists no individual grants for that year.
Research compiled by Grantable AI from public sources. Last updated October 2026.
Mission & Focus Areas
MCFA’s stated mission is to inform natural resource management, support equitable access to healthy fisheries, and contribute to the long-term well-being of community-based fishermen, their families, businesses, and communities in Maine.
Its work includes fisheries policy and research, preserving working waterfront and access to fisheries, and supporting fishing and business innovation. The organization’s filing describes outreach and public education, advocacy with partner organizations, and research on fishing gear, changing oceans, seafood quality, fishing-community socioeconomic conditions, and family wellness. It also describes ecosystem preservation for the benefit of the public and coastal fishing communities.
A grantee, Sea Meadow Marine Foundation, describes its own mission as preserving Maine’s working waterfront through a collaborative, sustainable approach, while supporting the marine economy and integrating environmental science and educational opportunities.
Grantmaking
In 2024, MCFA reported 17 grants totaling $85,000. Each listed grant was $5,000. The filing describes a separate disaster-recovery effort in which MCFA awarded $5,000 grants to 40 fishery-related working-waterfront property owners after winter storms; the 2024 itemized grant data lists 17 grants.
Listed recipients included Wottons Lobster Wharf LLC, Sea Meadow Marine Foundation, Bob Williams Company, Ditto Inc, and Tapley Cove Oyster Co, each receiving $5,000 for disaster storm recovery. The itemized grants were all to recipients in Maine.
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Benjamin D. Martens as executive director and Jill G. Harlow as chief operating officer. It lists Alex Todd as chair, Gerry Cushman as vice chair, and Andrew Kraus as secretary. Kevin Lipson, David Schwartz, and Nikki Strout are listed with the development committee; Bryan Bichrest and Randy Cushman are listed with the policy committee.
Maine Coast Fishermens Association is led by Benjamin D. Martens, Executive Director since 2021 (on filings since 2020); 3 of 14 officers listed in 2025 are compensated.
Officers on the 2025 filing
Benjamin D. Martens
Executive Director
Manager → Executive Director, 2021
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$92K (2022) → $137K (2025)
Alex Todd
Chair
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Barton Seaver
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
$15K (2025)
Bryan Bichrest
Director
Policy Committee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
David Schwartz
Director
Development Committee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Kevin Lipson
Director
Development Committee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Randy Cushman
Director
Policy Committee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2020
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Nikki Strout
Director
Development Committee → Director, 2025
On filings since 2021
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Dennis Robillard
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Marissa McMahan
Director
New on the 2025 filing
3 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Jill G. Harlow
Chief Operating Officer
On filings since 2024
40 hrs/week
$118K (2024) → $127K (2025)
Andrew Kraus
Secretary
On filings since 2020
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Gerry Cushman
Vice Chair
On filings since 2020
8 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Susan Desgrosseilliers
Treasurer
Development Committee → Treasurer, 2024
On filings since 2021
5 hrs/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (4)
- Former: Lee Walker (2020–2023) — Treasurer
- Former: Kate Curran (2020–2022) — Development Committee
- Former: Ben McKinney (2022) — Development & Policy Ctees
- Former: Jamieson Webking (2020) — Development Committee
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2025. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2025 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2025 filing was $137K, to Benjamin Martens (Executive Director). 3 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Frequently asked questions about Maine Coast Fishermens Association
How large is Maine Coast Fishermens Association?
Maine Coast Fishermens Association reported $7.5M in total assets on its 2025 IRS Form 990. Its revenue that year was $3.8M.
What does Maine Coast Fishermens Association fund?
MCFA’s stated mission is to inform natural resource management, support equitable access to healthy fisheries, and contribute to the long-term well-being of community-based fishermen, their families, businesses, and communities in Maine. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maine Coast Fishermens Association?
The filing describes an open application process for the disaster-recovery grants. Eligibility and process details are in the grantmaking section of this profile. See how to apply ↑
Where does Maine Coast Fishermens Association make grants?
MCFA describes its work as serving Maine’s fishing communities and addressing fisheries issues in Maine and beyond, including through regional and national advocacy. All 2024 itemized grant dollars went to recipients in Maine.
What is Maine Coast Fishermens Association's EIN?
Maine Coast Fishermens Association's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 13-4337702. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2025.
Data last updated November 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated October 2026.
Data update history
(4)
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- Added Form 990 for fiscal year 2025 (received by the IRS September 16, 2026)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2022 (received by the IRS August 6, 2024)
- Updated Form 990 for fiscal year 2024 (received by the IRS October 16, 2025)
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Live grants for the work Maine Coast Fishermens Association funds
Environment & Animals Open opportunities, soonest deadline first.
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