Sustained Collaboration and Merger Assistance Fund
About the Fund
The Sustained Collaboration & Merger Assistance Fund provides financial support to Maine-based land conservation organizations seeking to strengthen organizational health and effectiveness through sustained collaboration and/or merger.
The Fund will support exploration of sustained collaborations and structural realignments, including, but not limited to:
- Shared / regional staffing
- Shared offices
- Administrative Consolidations and Management Service Organizations
- Joint ventures (ongoing)
- Chapter or subsidiary models
- Merger
The Fund is administered by Maine Coast Heritage Trust through the Maine Land Trust Network.
Use of Funds
The Sustained Collaboration and Merger Fund is designed to be flexible, encourage exploration, and – when determined appropriate by the recipients – to support successful implementation. Common uses of the funds include, but are not limited to:
- Consultant/facilitator time to guide exploration and discussions within and between organizations
- Increased capacity to support sustained collaboration (staff, contracted support)
- Legal expertise
- Due diligence (e.g., title work and insurance, hazardous waste inspections, financial review)
- Stewardship expenses (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)
- Communications and marketing costs (e.g., new logo, website changes, signage)
- Systems upgrades and alignment
- Operating support for post-implementation unification and strengthening
Organizations are welcome to apply to this fund more than once to support different stages of their collaborative process.
Grant Categories
Grants in each category generally do not exceed $25,000 with a total maximum of $100,000 per sustained collaborative effort.
How to Apply
Application and Review Process
- Preliminary Conversation: Interested groups are asked to contact Shore at or 207-729-7366 to discuss your collaboration and financial needs.
- Submit application using this link.
- Please be advised: Responses entered into the application form are not saved. Applicants are encouraged to draft their answers in a separate document prior to completing the form, and to transfer their responses once finalized.
- Go to the Submission Requirements section to review application questions.
- Applications are accepted on a rolling basis as long as funding remains available.
- Funding decisions are made by MLTN program staff. Every effort is made to make decisions within two weeks.
Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must be a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization in good standing with the IRS.
- At least one of the organizations must be a current member of the Maine Land Trust Network.
Submission Requirements
The following sections provide a preview of what will be requested via the application.
Please be advised: Responses entered into the application form are not saved. Applicants are encouraged to draft their answers in a separate document prior to completing the form, and to transfer their responses once finalized.
- Cover letter, signed by the Board Chairs and (when applicable) Executive Directors of each participating organization, noting:
- The amount of funding requested
- The category for which funds are sought
- Commitment to exploring and/or implementing a sustained collaboration or merger as outlined in the request, and
- Attesting to their 501(c)3 status and that they have submitted annual reporting to the IRS and State of Maine necessary to remain in good standing as charitable organizations operating within the State of Maine.
- Simple project budget illustrating costs of the exploration/implementation broken out into major categories (i.e. consultant costs, attorney fees, baselines, marketing). A brief budget narrative is welcome.
- If seeking operating support, please provide an operating budget instead of project budget.
- Project narrative addressing questions specific to the category of grant being sought. (narrative questions are found in the section below.)
- Implementation grants require a signed copy of either 1) board votes of each organization or 2) a joint agreement authorizing pursuit of a merger or sustained collaboration.
- Unifying and strengthening merged organization grants require that the cover letter confirms legal finalization of merger.
Please Note
- The Maine Land Trust Mergers: Stories and Insight report, completed in 2025, provides valuable information and lessons to anyone exploring sustained collaborations of any type.
- Organizations that are accredited through the Land Trust Accreditation Commission (LTAC) are advised to consult with the Commission about implications of sustained collaborations and merger. Start by reviewing LTAC documents found here and here.
- Organizations interested in this fund, may also be interested in other funding and capacity programs provided by or in partnership with the Maine Land Trust Network. See here for more information.
- All applicants should make sure that they are in good standing with the IRS and State of Maine:
- File 990 with the IRS according to law
- Submit Annual Report with the State of Maine
- Submit Charitable Solicitation Report as required
- See information provided by the Maine Association of Nonprofits for more information.