Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) is a public charity based in Topsham, Maine, that works with partners to conserve the state’s lands and waters. Founded in 1970, it supports land protection, stewardship, public access, and conservation collaboration across Maine.
Key facts about Maine Coast Heritage Trust
In short: Maine Coast Heritage Trust gave $3.3M across 16 grants in 2024 (avg $207K), mostly in Maine. 56% of 2024 grantees were new. Source: 2024 IRS Form 990 filing.
- EIN
- 23-7099105
- Latest 990 filing
- Form 990 filing, 2024
- Annual giving (2024)
- $3,308,716
- Grants made (2024)
- 16
- Average grant
- $206,795
- Median grant
- $80,000
- New grantees (estimate)
- 56% first-time grantees (9 of 16, 2024)
- Total assets
- $312,200,748
- Primary geography
- Maine (76% of itemized 2024 grant dollars)
- Deadline
- The listed 2026 Espy Award and internship deadlines have passed.
Data from IRS Form 990 filing, 2024; updated September 2026. New grantees are estimated by matching recipient names across years (methodology). Application details from Grantable's research on the foundation's public materials; confirm on its website before applying.
Financial Overview
From 2024 IRS Form 990 filing · View filing
Total Assets
$312.2M
+4.7% YoY
Annual Giving
$3.3M
-63.6% YoY
Grant Count
16
+45.5% YoY
Avg Grant Size
$207K
-75.0% YoY
Is Maine Coast Heritage Trust open to new grantees?
56%
first-time grantees, 2024
In 2024, 9 of 16 grantees (56%) were first-time recipients. First grants averaged $72K; repeat grants $380K. How we count
Medians: $25K first-time, $288K repeat.
Estimate from itemized grant lists in IRS Form 990 filings (2020–2024). Recipient names are matched across years, so a renamed or misspelled grantee can look new; grants to individuals are left out. Methodology.
Mission & Focus Areas
MCHT’s mission is to advance the conservation of lands and waters in Maine to ensure ecological well-being and foster thriving communities. Its work includes conserving land and water, caring for conserved places, supporting outdoor experiences and water access, and providing training, education, and technical assistance to Maine’s land trust network. Its stated focus areas include healthy coastal ecosystems and climate response, community well-being, and accelerating conservation statewide.
MCHT’s 2024 grants were reported for land conservation. Recipients included local land trusts and other conservation organizations. For example, Biddeford Pool Land Trust describes its mission as conserving the natural resources of Biddeford Pool and nearby areas for the public’s benefit; Downeast Salmon Federation describes its mission as conserving wild Atlantic salmon and habitat in eastern Maine; and The Nature Conservancy describes its mission as conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends.
Grantmaking
In filing year 2024, MCHT reported 16 grants totaling $3,308,716. Grant amounts ranged from $800 to $1,205,465, with a median grant of $80,000. The largest awards included $1,205,465 to Biddeford Pool Land Trust, $750,000 to The Nature Conservancy, $349,184 to Downeast Salmon Federation, $288,441 to York Land Trust, and $200,000 to The Forest Society of Maine. The stated purpose for these listed grants was land conservation.
Review Cycle
was February 27, 2026, which has passed.
Ready to take the next step with Maine Coast Heritage Trust?
Geographic Focus
Where this funder awards grants
MCHT states that its mission is focused on conserving lands and waters in Maine and describes its land trust support as serving organizations across the state. In 2024, 76% of its grant dollars went to recipients in Maine, 23% to Virginia, and 1% to Massachusetts; the filing also reports 0% each for California and Vermont.
Grant Distribution by State
Share of all 16 itemized 2024 grant dollars.
Cities
Giving Over Time
Total grant dollars and number of grants per year
From 2020 to 2024, annual grant giving ranged from $892K (2020) to $9.1M (2023). In 2024 it made 16 grants totaling $3.3M.
Grant Insights
How this funder distributes its grants
Top Recipients
Top 10 recipients in 2024
The largest 2024 recipient was Biddeford Pool Land Trust ($1.2M). Together the top 10 received $3.2M.
Grant Size Distribution
56 grants across all recorded years
The most common grant size was under $50K: 24 grants of 56 (43%).
Giving History
Grant recipients and amounts by year
| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Biddeford Pool Land Trust Biddeford Pool, ME | Land Conservation | $1,205,465 |
| The Nature Conservancy Arlington, VA | Land Conservation | $750,000 |
| Downeast Salmon Federation Columbia Falls, ME | Land Conservation | $349,184 |
| York Land Trust York, ME | Land Conservation | $288,441 |
| The Forest Society of Maine Bangor, ME | Land Conservation | $200,000 |
| The Community School Mount Desert, ME | Land Conservation | $127,835 |
| Crabtree Neck Land Trust Hancock, ME | Land Conservation | $125,000 |
| Niweskok Milford, ME | Land Conservation | $115,000 |
| Brunswick Topsham Land Trust Brunswick, ME | Land Conservation | $45,000 |
| Somes-Meynell Wildlife Sanctuary Mount Desert, ME | Land Conservation | $25,000 |
Financial History
Multi-year comparison from IRS filings
| Filing year | Assets | Revenue | Expenses | Grants reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | $312,200,748 | $21,977,989 | $17,027,299 | $3,308,716 |
| 2023 | $298,161,205 | $26,628,849 | $20,722,142 | $9,100,389 |
| 2022 | $280,515,892 | $22,546,705 | $12,766,248 | $1,959,368 |
| Metric | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Assets | $312,200,748 | $298,161,205 | $280,515,892 |
| Revenue | $21,977,989 | $26,628,849 | $22,546,705 |
| Expenses | $17,027,299 | $20,722,142 | $12,766,248 |
| Qualifying Distributions | — | — | — |
| Net Investment Income | $8,167,007 | $4,724,872 | $4,517,654 |
| Distributable Amount | — | — | — |
Data update history
When this profile's IRS filing data changed on Grantable
- IRS filings on file for fiscal years 2020–2024
Leadership & Key People
Leadership team and compensation from IRS filings
The 2024 filing lists Thomas Armstrong Jr as Chair, MacKenzie Davis as Vice Chair, and Judy Wallingford as Treasurer. Directors listed are John Adelman, Ann Amstutz Hayes, Emily Beck, Emily Bruce, Darron Collins, Alejendra Geiger-Ortiz, and Katherine Jans.
Maine Coast Heritage Trust is led by Katherine D Stookey, President & CEO since 2024 (on filings since 2022); 7 of 28 officers listed in 2024 are compensated.
Officers on the 2024 filing
Katherine D Stookey
President & CEO
President → President & CEO, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$182K (2022) → $213K (2024)
Thomas Armstrong Jr.
Chair
Chair → Chair & Past Interim President, 2022
Chair & Past Interim President → Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Joanne Favreau
Senior Director of Finance & Administrator
Director of Finance & Administrator → Director of Finance & Administration, 2023
Director of Finance & Administration → Senior Director of Finance & Administrator, 2024
On filings since 2020
40 hrs/week
$99K (2020) → $183K (2024)
Nichole Blanchard
Senior Director of Committee & Philanthropy
Director of Engagement → Senior Director of Committee & Philanthropy, 2024
On filings since 2021
40 hrs/week
$104K (2021) → $172K (2024)
Elizabeth Ham
Senior Director of Land Protection
Director of Land Protection → Senior Director of Land Protection, 2024
On filings since 2022
40 hrs/week
$107K (2022) → $162K (2024)
Amanda Devine
Senior Director of Stewardship
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$126K (2024)
Angela Twitchell
Senior Director of Partnerships & Pub Policy
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$123K (2024)
Emily Beck
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Emily Bruce
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
John Adelman
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Katherine Jans
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sam Spencer
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Sheridan Steele
Director
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Christina Millet
Director
On filings since 2021
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alejendra Geiger-Ortiz
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Ann Amstutz Hayes
Director
On filings since 2022
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Amory Logan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Benjamin Twining
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Nova Tower
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Philip Ryan
Director
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Darron Collins
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Lisa Nitze
Director
New on the 2024 filing
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Stephanie Rogers
Associate Director of Human Resources
New on the 2024 filing
40 hrs/week
$126K (2024)
Edward E Wendell Jr.
Past Director
Director → Past Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Judy Wallingford
Treasurer
Director → Treasurer, 2022
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
M Cameron Barrow
Past Director
Director → Past Director, 2024
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
MacKenzie Davis
Vice Chair
Director → Vice Chair, 2023
On filings since 2020
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Alexandra Hopkins
Past Director
Director → Past Director, 2024
On filings since 2023
1 hr/week
No compensation reported
Former officers (17)
- Former: Jane Arbuckle (2020–2023) — Director of Stewardship
- Former: Jean Wheeler (2020–2023) — Past Director
- Former: Karin Marchetti (2020–2023) — General Counsel
- Former: Lucy McCarthy (2020–2023) — Past Vice Chair
- Former: Alix Hopkins (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: Arthur C Martinez (2020–2022) — Past Treasurer
- Former: Ben Twining (2020–2022) — Director
- Former: David Reis (2020–2022) — Past Director
- Former: John Forsgren (2020–2022) — Past Director
- Former: Joseph W Hammer (2020–2022) — Past Director
- Former: Stephen Sullens (2020–2022) — Past Director
- Former: Thomas E Ireland (2020–2022) — Past Director
- Former: Elizabeth Gilmore (2020–2021) — Past Director
- Former: William T Glidden (2020–2021) — President
- Former: Jennifer Mahoney (2020) — Past Director
- Former: Melissa Paly (2020) — Past Director
- Former: Richard Knox (2020) — Director of Communications
Data from IRS Form 990 filings, 2020–2024. "On filings since" is the earliest filing we hold that lists the person; hours are average hours per week as reported.
Compensation Overview
From 2024 IRS filing
The highest reported compensation on the 2024 filing was $213K, to Katherine D Stookey (President and CEO). 7 officers or directors reported compensation on that filing.
Contact
Mailing address: 1 Bowdoin Mill Island 201, Topsham, ME 04086
Phone: (207) 729-7366
Website: https://mcht.org
Frequently asked questions about Maine Coast Heritage Trust
How much does Maine Coast Heritage Trust give each year?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust gave $3.3M across 16 grants in 2024, according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. In 2023 it gave $9.1M across 11 grants.
What is Maine Coast Heritage Trust's typical grant size?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust's median grant in 2024 was $80,000, and its average grant was $206,795, across 16 grants on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Organizations receiving their first grant from Maine Coast Heritage Trust that year got $72K on average.
Where does Maine Coast Heritage Trust give grants?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust gives mostly in Maine: 76% of the grant dollars itemized on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing went to recipients there. The next largest state was Virginia (23%). The most frequent recipient cities were Mount Desert, ME (2 grants).
Does Maine Coast Heritage Trust give general operating support?
Not in 2024: none of the 16 grants with a stated purpose on Maine Coast Heritage Trust's 2024 IRS Form 990 filing were described as general or operating support. Recurring purposes include "Land Conservation" (16 grants).
Who are Maine Coast Heritage Trust's largest grantees?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust's largest 2024 grantees include Biddeford Pool Land Trust ($1,205,465), The Nature Conservancy ($750,000) and Downeast Salmon Federation ($349,184), according to its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Together they received 70% of its itemized 2024 grant dollars.
How large is Maine Coast Heritage Trust?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust reported $312.2M in total assets on its 2024 IRS Form 990 filing. Its revenue that year was $22.0M.
What does Maine Coast Heritage Trust fund?
MCHT’s mission is to advance the conservation of lands and waters in Maine to ensure ecological well-being and foster thriving communities. See mission & focus areas ↑
How do I apply for a grant from Maine Coast Heritage Trust?
In filing year 2024, MCHT reported 16 grants totaling $3,308,716. Grant amounts ranged from $800 to $1,205,465, with a median grant of $80,000. The largest awards included $1,205,465 to Biddeford Pool Land Trust, $750,000 to The Nature Conservancy, $349,184 to Downeast Salmon Federation, $288,441 to York Land Trust, and $200,000 to The Forest Society of Maine.
What is Maine Coast Heritage Trust's EIN?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust's EIN (Employer Identification Number) is 23-7099105. IRS Form 990 filing data is available on this page for 2020–2024.
Data last updated September 2026. Sourced from IRS Form 990 filings. Research dossier generated September 2026.
Here's the math on researching Maine Coast Heritage Trust by hand.
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