Organizational Assessment and Capacity Support Program

About the Program

The Organizational Assessment and Capacity Support Program is a new program being developed and piloted in 2026 by Maine Coast Heritage Trust via the Maine Land Trust Network.

The program provides direct support and funding to land conservation organizations who seek to enhance their effectiveness through assessment, strategic alignment, and tailored capacity building. The program emphasizes reflection, learning, communication, and strategic and structural alignment as tools for enhanced capacity and organizational effectiveness.

Through the program, participating organizations are guided through an organizational assessment process designed to help the organization better understand its strengths and areas for growth. Following the assessment, funding is provided to help the organization implement key recommendations.

The program is generously supported by the Peter and Carmen Lucia Buck Foundation.

Program Details

Phase 1: Assessment

Participating organizations select a consultant* to guide the organization through an assessment process. Assessments will be tailored to meet specific organizational needs, and will include exploration of leadership capacities, internal communication, board and staff relationships, organizational culture, and internal structures and systems.

While distinct from an assessment of adherence to the Land Trust Standards and Practices, wherever possible the assessment will align with the Standards and Practices. Participating organizations may choose to include a complete assessment of the Land Trust Standards and Practices to augment the organizational assessment if they wish.

Assessments will include surveys of board and staff members, culminating in a verbal presentation and written report highlighting themes and providing recommended actions for consideration.

* In the initial roll-out of this program, MLTN is working with a small cohort of consultants from which land trusts may select to perform the assessments. MLTN staff members Megan Shore (Conservation Resilience Specialist) and Angela Twitchell (Senior Director of Community and Government Relations) may also be available to conduct assessments.

Phase 2: Funding to Implement Recommendations

Eligibility:

This program is available to members of the Maine Land Trust Network.
Strong support and commitment to participation from board and staff is required.
Organizations seeking to conduct an assessment as part of possible sustained collaboration or merger are not eligible (funding is available through the Sustained Collaboration and Merger Fund for this purpose).

How to Apply

Phase I: Assessment

Interested organizations are asked to submit a brief expression of interest form. MCHT staff will reach out to arrange a conversation with board and staff leadership to discuss goals, timing, readiness, and consultant options.

To help us better understand demand, those wishing to engage in an assessment in 2026 are encouraged to submit an expression of interest form by June 24, 2026. Submissions will continue to be accepted on a rolling basis thereafter.

The expression of interest form will require answers to the following questions:

Briefly describe why this program is of interest to your organization and what you hope to get out of it.
Why this is a good time for your organization to participate?

Express Interest Here

Phase II: Implementation of Assessment Recommendations

Organizations that have completed an (MLTN supported) assessment and seek funding to support implementation of recommendations should are asked to submit a short application. The application requests a copy of the organization’s assessment report, along with responses to the following questions:

How much funding are you seeking?
Please share which assessment recommendations you are prioritizing for support and why?
What will these funds be used for?
What is your desired outcome of this work?

Please be advised: Responses entered into this form are not saved. Applicants are encouraged to draft their answers to the questions above in a separate document before completing the form and to transfer their finalized responses afterward.

Click Here to Apply

Information Sharing and Reporting

Assessments

MLTN has an interest in leveraging shared learning and tracks trends in conservation organizations to enhance its delivery of effective and meaningful programming. As such, MLTN staff request a copy of the organizational assessment report supported through this program. MCHT staff may conduct an interview with participating organizational leadership to learn about their experience, reflections on the assessment recommendations, and plans for implementation.

Responsible handling of sensitive information is of utmost concern to Maine Coast Heritage Trust and the Maine Land Trust Network. MLTN and the consultants supporting assessment work through this program, share information about trends only.

Implementation Support

Following use of implementation funds, recipients are asked to provide a written or verbal report addressing the following:

Please describe what actions you took and what you learned.
What unexpected challenges and opportunities arose?
What is next?
Please share reflections on this program and the supports provided.
What was most helpful to your organization?
In what ways could the program, process, and supports be improved?