Community chapters
How Chapters Work
Restore Maine is built from community chapters. Each chapter has a local advisory board of neighbors who set priorities for their own county and recommend how the chapter's fund is spent.
Your gift stays home.
Local leadership.
Advisory boards recommend programs, events, research, and grants.
One organization, one set of books.
Chapters operate under Restore Maine's charter, bylaws, and accounting, so donors get the accountability of a single organization.
Room to grow.
New chapters are chartered as communities step forward.
The first two chapters
Penobscot County Chapter
Bangor, Brewer, Orono, Old Town, and the towns of Penobscot County.
Gifts to the Penobscot County Chapter Fund are held as a restricted fund for that territory.
Southern Maine Chapter
Cumberland and York Counties.
Gifts to the Southern Maine Chapter Fund are held as a restricted fund for that territory.
A chapter's first year
What a new chapter takes on once its advisory board is seated.
- A civics series in local schools and libraries.
- A public safety roundtable with law enforcement and prosecutors.
- A county homelessness assessment using the three-population framework.
- Small grants to local charities doing the work.
Gifts designated to a chapter fund are restricted to charitable and educational programs serving that chapter's territory.
Up to 10% of chapter gifts may be allocated to shared administrative costs.
Get involved
Interested in a chapter advisory board, or in starting a chapter?
New chapters are chartered as communities step forward. Tell us where you are and we will write back.