Regrants
Membership in the Maine Land Trust Network enables land trusts to apply for grants that provide needed support. While the grants available in any given year vary, resources in support of consulting assistance for all-volunteer land trusts working on Standards and Practices, preserve stewardship funding, merger assistance, and expenses incurred due to COVID-19 have been awarded in recent years.
MCHT/MLTN Funding Programs
L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Program
L.L.Bean and Maine Coast Heritage Trust are pleased to provide grant support to Maine’s land trust community. Together, L.L.Bean and MCHT are working to enhance the capacity of Maine’s land trusts in support of land trusts’ efforts to protect Maine’s outdoor heritage and natural landscapes.
Download application and guideline documents:
LL Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Guidelines 2025-2026 (PDF)
Summary of Past L.L.Bean Grantees
L.L.Bean Maine Land Trust Grant Application 2025 (PDF)
Climate Resilience Conservation Fund
The Climate Resilience Conservation Fund supports land protection projects that enhance climate resilience and reduce climate impacts on Maine’s land, waters and people. Support for the Fund comes from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Resilience Regional Challenge (CRRC). Maine Coast Heritage Trust administers the Fund in coordination with the Governor’s Office of Policy Innovation and the Future.
View project criteria, eligibility requirements, FAQs, application information, and more here.
MCHT Land Trust Collaboration & Merger Assistance Fund
Maine Coast Heritage Trust (MCHT) has established a fund to assist land trusts seeking stronger organizational health and effectiveness through advanced collaboration, structural realignment, or merger with other organizations. Maximum grant size is $25,000 for each category of grant (feasibility, implementation, and post-implementation operating support).
Purpose. Organizations can collaborate to operate more effectively in many ways, up to and including merger. This grant helps organizations determine if a higher level of collaboration is in their best interest, including nuts and bolts costs for organizations pursuing a merger. These needs may include, but are not limited to:
- Consultant/facilitator time to guide discussions within and between organizations.
- Legal costs associated with all aspects of establishing a formal relationship.
- Due diligence costs associated with the transfer of assets, including fee lands and conservation easements, (e.g., title work and insurance, hazardous waste inspections).
- Stewardship costs such as the creation of baseline data, boundary work, management plans and other costs associated with bringing preserves up to the standards of the new/remaining organization.
- Initial marketing costs that result from a merger (e.g., new logo, website changes, signage).
The MCHT Land Trust Collaboration & Merger Assistance Fund provides support for these and other needs. Because every situation is unique, interested groups are encouraged to contact Megan Shore (, 207-729-7366) before submitting a proposal.
Grant Categories. This fund supports three types of grants:
- Feasibility Grants. Organizations that are exploring advanced collaboration may need a consultant/facilitator to bring them together and determine if and how they can achieve greater effectiveness through a new relationship or structure.
- Merger Implementation Grants. Organizations that have committed to merging and need funds to implement some component/s of the merger process.
- Operating Support post–implementation of merger/formal consolidation/collaboration: It has been shown that the 1-3 years post-merger may require extra operating support to effectively merge cultures and systems. Land Trusts who have explored the feasibility of merger/collaboration and implemented merger or other management structure can apply for these operating funds.
- Collaboration & Merger Fund Guidelines (PDF)