Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Maine Coast Heritage is committed to a vision of whole coastal Maine landscapes and islands that retain their inspiring beauty, thriving natural systems, and healthy communities. By addressing the connectivity between our coastal rivers and estuaries, riparian lands, wildlife corridors and the coast itself, the ecosystems that sustain our coastal communities will be stronger. We will build on traditional conservation values with an eye toward increased resilience to accelerating climate change and accompanying sea level rise. Through our work with many partners, Maine’s land conservation community will intensify and broaden the connections between the lands and people of the state in a manner that is deep, lasting and meets its collective, long-term stewardship obligations. We will advocate for the needs of land conservation and the conservation community. The role of natural and sustainable working lands will be widely recognized as a vital piece of the social, cultural and e
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
Land Protection
MCHT conserves high priority lands in Maine's Coastal Zone and its associated watersheds. A team of seven regional project managers work directly with property owners wishing to conserve their lands.
Land Stewardship
A team of seven regional stewards maintain and improve a conserved lands portfolio, including public preserves and conservation easements for public recreation and ecological functions.
Land Trust Program
Through its Land Trust Program, MCHT provides training, education and technical support for Maine's statewide network of 80+ land trusts and conservation organizations and public policy initiatives to advance the cause of conservation.
Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields Preserve
Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields Preserve are historic agricultural properties in Rockport, Maine that MCHT operates as working farms and education centers. Through programs, partnerships, and community events, the organization helps visitors deepen their appreciation for land conservation and sustainable agriculture.
Where we work
External reviews

Our results
How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.
Number of acres of land protected
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
MCHT's land protection statistics include acres conserved annually through either fee ownership or conservation easements. As of 2022, the organization has conserved a total of 179,580 acres.
Acres of land managed
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Outcome - describing the effects on people or issues
Direction of Success
Increasing
Context Notes
These are the cumulative numbers of conserved acres held by MCHT. As of December 2022, MCHT maintains 155 public preserves free and open to the public.
Number of individuals completing apprenticeship
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
These results document annual participation in the Richard G. Rockefeller Conservation Internship Program administered by MCHT in partnership with Maine's statewide conservation community.
Number of conference attendees
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Land Trust Program
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
MCHT hosts the annual Maine Land Conservation Conference to provide a forum for learning about the most pressing issues facing land conservation. [2020 Conference was cancelled due to COVID.]
Total pounds of target crop harvested
This metric is no longer tracked.Totals By Year
Related Program
Aldermere Farm and Erickson Fields Preserve
Type of Metric
Output - describing our activities and reach
Direction of Success
Holding steady
Context Notes
Through its Teen Ag Crew program at Erickson Fields Preserve, MCHT grows, harvests, and distributes fresh food to hunger relief organizations, schools, and businesses in Maine's midcoast region.
Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
1. Conserve Maine’s Coast to support both ecological health and the well-being of coastal communities.
2. Create and support a wide range of opportunities for people to connect with the land.
3. Provide leadership for a strong land trust community throughout Maine.
4. Advance conservation interests statewide through collaboration and advocacy.
5. Ensure outstanding organizational performance.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
1. Enhance coastal resilience in the face of climate change
2. Provide responsible, long-term stewardship of all lands and easements held by MCHT employing a framework that emphasizes ecological health, contribution to community well-being, and adaptation to climate change.
3. Engage in matters of public policy and legal advocacy on a highly selective basis, seeking to:
-Secure increased public funding for land conservation.
-Strengthen governmental protections and incentives for land conservation.
-Defend against degradation or intrusions on conserved lands and other high priority lands and waters.
-Influence other critical policy issues affecting coastal lands and waters, with emphasis on climate change, land use planning, and regulatory tools.
4. Develop policy approaches and implement advocacy strategies related to land conservation and sound municipal finances.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
MCHT’s mission and strategic plan are backed by a broad and dynamic donor base that includes community supporters and major philanthropic leaders. In 2019, the organization completed the largest coastal conservation campaign in Maine’s history. More than 7,500 people donated $130 million to keep the coast open, healthy, working, and beautiful. The campaign affirmed MCHT’s strategic priorities and fully funded existing stewardship responsibilities. A $100 million endowment funds a third of the organization’s almost $10 million annual operating budget.
MCHT is a Land Trust Alliance accredited land trust with more than 50 staff working from offices in Southern, Midcoast, and Downeast Maine. This local presence along the length of the coast fosters productive partnerships with landowners, town officials, schools, businesses, and other organizations. MCHT staff play a vital role in supporting the work of Maine’s statewide network of 80+ local land trusts. MCHT’s leadership and planning have built consensus around regional conservation priorities; the organization has the staff capacity, legal and transactional expertise, long-standing partnerships, and creativity to complete 30-40 land transactions annually and to manage more than 40,000 acres – including 146 preserves open to the public.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
Maine Coast Heritage Trust began in 1970 to protect what makes the Maine coast unlike any other place in the world: wild islands, pocket beaches, vast spruce-fir forests, traditional trails, tidal marshes, agricultural lands, pristine rivers, local swimming holes, coastal access sites, and a way of life connected to the land and sea. Thanks to visionary founders, generous landowners and individual donors, private foundations, businesses, and municipal, state, and federal programs, the organization’s first fifty years have made a deep and lasting impact on the Maine coast and beyond.
• More than 170,000 acres and more than 300 islands conserved. Seven regional project managers work with landowners, towns, and communities to identify and conserve important land on the coast.
• More than 100 miles of trail and 146 preserves free and open to the public. A team of eight regional land stewards manages MCHT preserves for ecological diversity, scenic beauty, low impact year-round recreation, and other community benefits.
• A commitment to help other land trusts succeed. MCHT formed and continues to lead the Maine Land Trust Network, hosting an annual Maine Land Conservation Conference and providing training, funding, and networking opportunities for Maine’s entire conservation community. We helped launch the Land for Maine’s Future Program and co-founded the Land Trust Alliance to strengthen land trusts in all fifty states.
• Partnerships shape the organization’s work. By collaborating with towns, schools, state agencies and other organizations, MCHT facilitates conservation projects that help meet local, regional, and state environmental and social needs.
To learn more about Maine Coast Heritage Trust, visit the website: https://www.mcht.org/
Financials
Unlock nonprofit financial insights that will help you make more informed decisions. Try our monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights?
Learn more
about GuideStar Pro.
Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Board of directorsas of 06/15/2023
Thomas Armstrong, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, retired: L.L.Bean
Term: 2019 - 2025
Lucy A. McCarthy
President: The McCarthy Charities / Civic volunteer
M. Cameron Barrow
Associate Compliance Officer: H.M. Payson & Co.
Mackenzie Davis
Managing Partner: SailingStone Capital Partners
Alix W. Hopkins
Consultant and author
Katherine B. Jans
Chef, landscape gardener and civic volunteer
Sam Spencer
CEO and Managing Director: CEI-Boulos Capital Management, LLC
Judy Wallingford
President, retired: Maine Water Company
Edward E. Wendell, Jr.
Founding Partner, retired: Northern Cross, LLC
Jean B. Wheeler
Community organizer and conservationist
John Adelman
President/CEO: CPRC Group
Sheridan Steele
Park Superintendent, retired: National Park Service
Ben Twining
Senior Research Scientist and Vice President for Education: Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences
Thomas M. Armstrong, Jr.
Senior Vice President and Chief Merchandising Officer, retired: L.L.Bean
Emily M. Beck
Attorney, retired: Young Beck LLP
Emily Bruce
Vice President of Creative: L.L. Bean
Ann Amstutz Hayes
Entrepreneur and consultant
Christina W. Millet
Writer, editor and professional volunteer
Alejandra Ortiz
Assistant Professor of Geology, Colby College
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
-
Board orientation and education
Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? No -
CEO oversight
Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? No -
Ethics and transparency
Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? No -
Board composition
Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? No -
Board performance
Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? No
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
No data
Gender identity
No data
No data
Sexual orientation
No data
Disability
No data