Grant recipients
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute
The Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) seeks to advance science-based solutions for climate change, energy, and environmental challenges to achieve our vision of a sustainable, resilient, and equitable world. Founded by a bipartisan group of members of Congress, EESI has worked since 1984 to provide educational resources to policymakers and the public.
EESI’s year-round paid internship program provides three cohorts of college students each year with opportunities to contribute substantively to the advancement of critical environmental and energy policies. Interns gain insight into the workings of Congress and the federal legislative process, knowledge of significant environmental and energy issues, essential skills through our tailored professional development, and an understanding of how a nonprofit works.
Maine College of Art & Design
"Funding for this proposal has allowed us to increase the number of paid internships in the Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2024. Funding for paid internships enables students to have access to increased financial support and expand the number and quality of the internships we can offer. Demand from both students and employers is high and continually growing."
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens
Support from the Abbagadassett Foundation has enabled us to increase our intern pay rate, expand our housing options, and enhance our intern program to include robust educational offerings. These significant improvements have made our intern positions more appealing to candidates from diverse socioeconomic backgrounds, enabling us to attract quality interns from around the country. The Gardens' mission is to inspire meaningful connections between people and nature and promote plant conservation through horticulture, education, and plant science. Our interns contribute in diverse and meaningful ways and are integral to delivering on this mission. We are grateful for Abbagadassett's generous support of our work and our interns.
Spurwink
Thanks to Abbagadassett’s generous support, Spurwink established the Next Gen Nonprofit Leadership Internship program. Since 2024, the grant has enabled Spurwink to provide paid, hands-on internship opportunities for 26 Maine students from 11 colleges and universities—4 of whom later became full- or part-time Spurwink employees. This program allows first-generation students, non-traditional students, and students facing economic needs to develop skills and gain valuable work experience without facing a financial hurdle.
Interns assist with projects in their respective departments, visit Spurwink program sites, meet with staff to discuss their career goals, and attend talks from nonprofit leaders. Throughout their tenure as interns, they develop capstone projects aligned with their studies. “This internship has been incredibly meaningful to me,” says Kelly Kundimana, a winter 2026 intern. “It’s helping prepare me for a fast-paced professional environment while allowing me to contribute to work that truly matters.”
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT)
The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust is grateful to use funding to support our Summer Stewards program, which hosts three, 12-week long, competitively paid positions in the Kennebec Estuary and Merrymeeting Bay region of Maine. Stewards gain experience in habitat conservation, stewardship, nature-based education, community science, and volunteer management by working closely with KELT staff, partners, and volunteers on projects that have genuine impact. Funding also supports the time of land trust staff members, who directly supervise and mentor the Stewards, and opportunities for professional development. Ultimately, this program aims to provide ample opportunities for budding conservationists to get on-the-job, real world experience in the conservation community and gain skills that can be carried forward throughout their careers.
Maine Historical Society
The Maine Historical Society’s mission is to preserve and share Maine’s story. Generous grant support from the Abbagadassett Foundation is funding four new internships during the summer of 2026. These include a Digital Humanities Internship for Indigenous Students, an Archival Finding Aid Internship, and two Historic Clothing Collections Internships. Supervised by experienced MHS curators and archivists, the internships will provide college students with hands-on opportunities to learn about the humanities, including collections management and preservation, archival work, and digitization. The foundation’s continued investments are helping MHS attract a broad range of students through competitive pay―bringing much-needed equity to MHS and the museum field.
Maine Public
Maine Public is pleased to have partnered with the Abbagadassett Foundation to help fund The Emerging Voices Journalism Fellowship which is currently a 12-month, full-time, temporary, single position dedicated to mentoring underrepresented voices in the news industry. The program provides a fellow with tangible reporting experience and the opportunity to be a part of Maine Public’s news team, providing high-quality, accurate, and independent reporting for all of Maine. Maine Public remains steadfastly dedicated to preserving a free and vibrant media landscape at a time when fact-based journalism is both essential and under increasing pressure. Our commitment to independent reporting ensures that every Mainer has access to trustworthy news, thoughtful analysis, and the information needed to navigate an ever-changing world.
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland
Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering blind and low-vision individuals through innovative rehabilitation programs, employment opportunities, and independent living services. With the generous support of the Abbagadassett Foundation, BISM has expanded its internship program, providing hands-on experience and mentorship to blind individuals. This initiative equips participants with the skills and confidence needed to excel in the workforce and live independent, fulfilling lives. The foundation's support has been instrumental in advancing BISM's mission to create an inclusive society where blindness is not a barrier to success.
Health Care for the Homeless (HCH)
At Health Care for the Homeless (HCH), we work to end homelessness through racially equitable health care, housing and advocacy in partnership with those of us who have experienced it.
Funding from the Abbagadassett Foundation helped to pilot a paid internship program aimed at mentoring future health care professionals and advancing HCH’s mission of ending homelessness through equitable care. The program currently offers three internships across key departments, including behavioral health, case management, and social work at Sojourner Place at Oliver, a permanent supportive and affordable housing building. Interns receive hands-on training, supervision, and mentorship, while supporting clients in their journey toward improved health and stability. The initiative is designed to provide students with valuable experience in trauma-informed care, harm reduction, and systems-level social work, all grounded in racial equity. This program is one way we are working to build a diverse, well-trained workforce and strengthen our organization’s mission to provide high-quality, community-driven care to marginalized populations.
Restorative Justice Project Maine
The Restorative Justice Project Maine has been serving the midcoast area of Maine since 2005.
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Restorative Justice is an approach to harm that focuses on the needs of those affected by the harm – including the person whose actions caused the harm, the person who was harmed, and the community where the harm occurred. It emphasizes repairing the harm, not through punishment and isolation, but through accountability, understanding the impact of the harm caused, and making amends. At its core, restorative justice is about fostering understanding, empathy, and mutual respect. ​
​​One of our focus areas is to provide restorative reentry to those who are leaving incarceration and returning to their communities. We recognize the stigma associated with incarceration and the lack of resources available to help people rebuild their lives. Recently released individuals face discrimination in housing, finding a job, or furthering their education. The odds are against them before they begin their reentry journey.
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Thanks to the generosity of the Abagadassett Foundation, we can offer a unique one-year internship opportunity to someone who has been incarcerated and has taken steps to accept accountability and repair the harm caused. The intern will receive training and skills to prepare them for a career in the RJ or nonprofit field so that they may help others facing the challenges of justice-impact involvement. We will offer a supportive environment, a liveable wage, full benefits (health and dental), and stability. Upon completing the internship, we will provide professional references and support for long-term employment.
The Wells Reserve at Laudholm
The Wells Reserve at Laudholm in Wells, Maine, works to understand, protect, and restore coastal environments around the Gulf of Maine through scientific research, conservation, and education. As one of only 30 such research reserves in the United States, the Wells Reserve stewards 2,250 acres of coastal land, restoring habitats, combatting invasive species, and protecting wildlife. In 2026, with Abbagadassett Foundation support, the nonprofit partner of the Wells Reserve, Laudholm Trust, is exploring how to responsibly add artificial intelligence tools and large language model-based assistance to fundraising, marketing, and data analysis efforts.
Maine Maritime Museum
Founded in 1962, Maine Maritime Museum in Bath sits on a beautiful 20-acre campus on the banks of the Kennebec River and connects people to the past, present and future of Maine’s waterways. In addition to immersive exhibits, guided tours, and an extensive watercraft collection, the museum is located on the grounds of the Percy & Small Shipyard, where the largest wooden schooner in the world was built and launched in 1909.
Momentum Conservation
Momentum Conservation'slongstanding Summer Associate program is a pathway to welcoming new and different voices to the conservation sector. The purpose of this program is to provide entry-level experience for individuals interested in conservation and nonprofits and to include different perspectives and lived experiences in our work. We are committed to providing hands-on experience in conservation and the broader nonprofit sector in a supportive learning environment. Thanks to the generous support from the Abbagadassett Foundation, we are looking forward to welcoming two Summer Associates to the Momentum team this year!
Pejepscot History Center
Pejepscot History Center is the fourth oldest historical society in Maine and operates three museums. We are thrilled to have received funding to support four interns this year. They will work with collections, in our house museums, creating educational programming, and conducting visitor services. This familiarity with diverse aspects of working in a busy museum operation will help them better define a career path in public history, or in another industry where these highly transferrable skills can be of good use. Because we have such a small staff, internships are hugely impactful. Having funding to support them is a gamechanger.
YMCA Camp of Maine
The YMCA Camp of Maine (YCamp) is driven by a mission to provide camping and community programs that promote spiritual, mental, and physical growth, with respect for the worth and dignity of all people.
The Community Engagement (CE) Internship will be part of our summer program team leadership, living and working at YCamp. This new role is vital to enhancing YCamp’s ability to connect our mission—sharing joy, fun, growth, and purpose—with our diverse audiences, including families, alumni, staff, donors, and potential camper families.
Pictured four of our leadership team members from Summer ’25 representing South Africa, Mexico, and the USA.
The Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP) at the University of Southern Maine
The Career Exploration Internship Program (CEIP) at the University ofSouthern Maine provides a high-impact pathway for students to gain professional experience while directly addressing the capacity needs of Maine’s vital non-profit community. Recognizing that many non-profits operate with limited staff and tight budgets, CEIP removes the traditional barriers to hosting an intern by providing comprehensive administrative and financial support. Our office manages the entire lifecycle of the internship—including marketing, recruitment, initial interviewing, and payroll—allowing non-profit hosts to focus entirely on project mentorship rather than paperwork. This experience culminates in a signature final poster exhibition, a celebratory event where students demonstrate their learning and project outcomes to an audience of peers, faculty, staff, and community employers.
Crucially, the generous support of the Abbagadassett Foundation has allowed us to expand this support to additional non-profits across the state, creating quality, paid opportunities in fields like the arts, health and human services, and education where funding is often scarce. We are deeply grateful for this partnership, which ensures that these essential organizations can access a skilled, diverse talent pool without the burden of additional internship costs. This non-profit focus not only empowers students from all backgrounds to thrive in Maine’s workforce but also strengthens the sector overall, where interns are making significant, meaningful contributions to their organizational missions.