Islanders helping islanders.
Since 2003, the Peaks Island Fund has been providing invaluable funding for island organizations. In that time we’ve distributed more than $1,000,000 — underwriting early childhood education and the Island School, culture and the arts, social services, health care, historic and environmental preservation, affordable housing — the list goes on (and on!) The support we offer touches every islander, enriches our community, and protects the things we treasure about our home.
The generous contributions of islanders like you makes all of this possible. Every gift makes a crucial difference.
Over 450 island residents have participated by contributing to the Peaks Island Fund
Thanks to our donors, the Fund has given more than $1,000,000 to island organizations
The Fund has supported 45 different island organizations across a broad range of services
Initiated by a group of islanders in 2003, the Fund has become an essential part of island life
Over 400 island residents have participated by contributing to the Peaks Island Fund
The Fund has given more than $900,000 to island organizations, and has an endowment of $1 million
The Peaks Island Fund has supported more than 43 different island organizations
Initiated by a group of islanders in 2003, the Fund has become an essential part of island life
Over 400 island residents have participated by contributing to the Peaks Island Fund
The Fund has given more than $900,000 to island organizations, and has an endowment of $1 million
The Peaks Island Fund has supported more than 43 different island organizations
Initiated by a group of islanders in 2003, the Fund has become an essential part of island life
Coming up
This year, the Peaks Island Fund has achieved not one, but two, monumental milestones. First, we completed becoming an independent 501(c)(3) organization, fully in charge of our own grantmaking and fundraising. Second, with this year's grants, we have distributed a total of more than a million dollars to island organizations. At the same time, we've built an endowment of over $1,000,000 — ensuring our sustainability and continued impact.
And we're not resting on our laurels: We're increasing the ways in which we support island organizations, so in addition to providing grants we’re helping them grow their fundraising capacity, board expertise, and their network of peer organizations. We also have ambitious goals in the coming years for growing our endowment. The more resources we have, the more financial support we can offer, which frees our island organizations to focus on what they do best.
Whatever you cherish most about Peaks Island, the Peaks Island Fund provides a great opportunity to nourish and protect it.
This year’s grantees
-
Fifth Maine | Regiment Museum
The Fifth Maine received a grant to support capacity-building, including hiring a consultant to help develop a strategic marketing plan, and developing a communication system to enhance the museum’s sustainability. Awarded: $10,000.
-
Illustration | Institute
The Institute hosts exhibitions, workshops and artist residencies on Peaks. The Institute will use their grant to expand free programming and increase outreach to diverse audiences through their Peaks Island Artists Residency Program and exhibitions. Awarded: $10,000.
-
Friends of | Trott Little John Park
The Friends of Trott Little John Park, a subcommittee of the Peaks Environmental Action Team, will use their grant for a secure storage shed, and to develop on-site stations for a “Story/Art Walk” to display the creative work of islanders. Awarded: $3,000.
-
Peaks Island | Children’s Workshop
The Workshop is critical to keeping the island viable for young families. Committed to providing affordable childcare, they have faced disproportionately rising expenses. They received a grant to assist with staffing expenses. Awarded: $10,000.
-
The Peaks Island | Community Collaborative
The Collaborative has been increasing community awareness of island events via the community calendar, radio announcements, the Pipeline eNewsletter, social media, and print notifications. They’ll use their grant to continue to improve their notification systems. Awarded: $3,120.
-
Island Compost | Project
The Compost Project collects island food waste to keep it out of the waste stream and reduce pollution and global warming. Their grant will cover tuition for two volunteers to attend Maine Compost School, the first step in establishing a permanent on-island composting facility. Awarded: $1,600.
-
Peaks Island | Elementary School
Peaks Elementary received a $10,000 grant to participate in Educational Passages' Miniboat Program. Students will construct an unmanned boat and track it on its transatlantic voyage, and create artwork with Scott Nash and Lucky Platt to include in the miniboat’s voyage. Awarded: $10,000.
-
Peaks Island | Historical Society
The Historical Society will use their grant towards the installation of an obelisk that will honor the family ancestors of the Doughty, Latham, Parsons, Skillings, Sterling, Trott, and Woodbury families buried in the Ye Olde Trott Burial Ground. Awarded: $8,000.
-
Peaks Island | Information
Peaks Island Information received a grant to support a redesign of the organization’s website. The revamped site will provide residents and visitors easy access to information about island organizations, businesses, and events. Awarded: $8,000.
-
Peaks Island | News
The Peaks Island News is a print-only newspaper dedicated to covering Peaks Island. They’ll utilize their grant to improve distribution of the newspaper, build their fundraising capacity to make the paper more sustainable, and fund their ongoing operations. Awarded: $10,000.
-
Portland Parks | and Recreation
Portland Parks received a grant for snacks, camp scholarships, and for bringing a host of programs such as Mad Science, USM Robotics, Sparks Arc, Chewonki Natural History, the Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine, and Portland Stage to the island. Awarded: $7,410.
-
St. Christopher's | Parish
St. Christopher’s grant will help cover the cost of repairing the deteriorating ramp leading to the community room, assuring that the space continues to be useful and accessible to islanders and organizations. Awarded: $6,500.