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
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Arts at | Greenwood Garden
This initiative supports the Peaks Island Musician in Residence program, which has been bringing musicians to the island since 2022. This grant will support two residencies as well as promotion and administration expenses. Awarded: $8,000.
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Fifth Maine | Regiment Museum
This grant is for the development of a new self-guided museum tour, which will consist of 16 stations pertaining to the civil war, related artifacts, and stories of veterans. Wifi upgrades and a tour software platform are included. Awarded: $10,000.
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Home | Start
With the successful completion of 18 Central Avenue, Home Start is at a turning point. They'll use this grant to hire an organizational consultant to assist with succession planning, recruitment of new Board members, and development of a strategic plan. Awarded: $2,925.
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Illustration | Institute
This grant will be used for free public programs that directly benefit Peaks Islanders, including Peaks Illustration Week, programming at the Peaks Island Elementary School, and a Community Open House at the Faison Residency. Awarded: $10,000.
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I’m Your Neighbor | Books
This grant will provide the Elementary School with a Maine-built book cart and 90 novels, graphic novels, and picture books that explore the immigrant experience, in honor of Islanders and IYNB volunteers Jamie Hogan and Anne Sibley O’Brien. Awarded: $4,000.
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New Brackett | Church
This grant will help in the construction of a safer front staircase to the main hall of New Brackett Church, offering a more useful and welcoming approach to a building that is treasured by parishioners and community members alike. Awarded: $4,625.
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New England Arab | American Organization
This grant will be used to support Peaks Islanders who have provide safe, nurturing homes to 12 unaccompanied African youth, assisting with the costs of legal support, transportation, and other necessities. Awarded: $10,000.
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Peaks Environmental | Action Team
This grant will enable the purchase of a comprehensive fitness system located within Trott Littlejohn Park, available for all ages and fitness levels. These efforts continue PEAT’s ongoing stewardship of this unique island resource. Awarded: $7,884.
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Peaks Island | Children’s Workshop
This grant provides general support for the operations of the Peaks Island Children's Workshop. The Workshop strives to provide excellent services to island families while keeping rates affordable and offering competitive wages for staff. Awarded: $10,000.
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Peaks Island | Elementary School
This grant supports “Island as Classroom," a program that will use our island environment to enhance the school's curriculum — including art instruction from an island illustrator, history from an island museum curator, and island-based science discovery. Awarded: $9,200.
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Peaks Island | Historical Society
This project grant supports the final phase of the rehabilitation of the Ye Olde Trott Burial Ground, including the installation of granite markers to honor those buried there. The organization also plans to create a QR code for self-guided tours. Awarded: $5,000.
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Peaks Island | News
This grant will help the News reach an operating level that supports the paper’s long-term goal of self-sufficiency. The grant will help fund printing costs and their new editor, who has already brought greater efficiency to the production process. Awarded: $10,000.
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Peaks Island | Tax & Energy Assistance
This grant project will support professional home energy audits for Peaks Island properties – including introductory community information sessions – and yield information that will be used to coordinate additional remediation efforts. Awarded: $7,411.