News

Momentum Conservation is thrilled to announce the 40 recipients of the 2026 Land Trust Grant Fund Program. In the applications for this program, Community Grant Reviewers and Momentum Staff read about amazing work across the state including land trusts committing to accessibility on land and in programming, centering equity in organizational culture and partnerships, prioritizing community outreach, investing in staff development, finding creative solutions to ecological challenges, and so much more. At Momentum Conservation we see so much leadership, growth, strength, and positive change in the land trust community and we will continue to support this community as a funder and partner in this work.

This annual grant program provides general operating support for Maine land trusts and will open for applications again in spring 2027.

Program Goals:

• Strengthen the land trust community’s governance, leadership, strategic planning, financial stability, programming, and organizational development.
• Help land trusts integrate equity and inclusion in their organizational policies, practices, and programming.
• Position land trusts to broaden their membership, including by engaging BIPOC, low-income, LGBTQIA+, and people with disabilities.
• Support land trusts in developing additional social capital and infrastructure by facilitating connections to share lessons, opportunities, and growth.
• Ensure that conservation is rooted in community, and that conserved land is accessible to the broadest range of communities for meaningful experience.

2026 Momentum Conservation Land Trust Grant Fund Grantees

7 Lakes Alliance
Allagash Wilderness Waterway Foundation
Arundel Conservation Trust
Bangor Land Trust
Bomazeen Land Trust
Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust
Cape Elizabeth Land Trust
Coastal Mountains Land Trust
Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust
Downeast Coastal Conservancy
Forest Society of Maine
Francis Small Heritage Trust
Frenchman Bay Conservancy
Georges River Land Trust
Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust
Harpswell Heritage Land Trust
High Peaks Alliance
Island Heritage Trust
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust
Kittery Land Trust
Land in Common
Loon Echo Land Trust Inc
Mahoosuc Land Trust
Maine Appalachian Trail Land Trust
Maine Coast Heritage Trust
Maine Farmland Trust
Neighborhood Housing Trust
Oceanside Conservation Trust of Casco Bay
Portland Trails
Presumpscot Regional Land Trust
Sacred Connections
Scarborough Land Trust
Sea Meadow Marine
Somali Bantu Community Association
Somerset Woods Trustees
South Portland Land Trust
Three Rivers Land Trust
Trust for Public Land
Viles Arboretum
York Land Trust

Thank you Community Grant Reviewers!

Momentum's Land Trust Grant Fund Program is a participatory grant program and is rooted in trust-based philanthropy practices. This spring, Momentum invited 16 community members to review and score Land Trust Grant Fund applications in an advisory role. With community members included in the grant review process, we have a broader perspective on grant applications and are able to amplify community voices and experiences connected to this work in different ways. Our reviewers illustrate the breadth and depth of who we see in this movement - and who conservation serves. This review team represents a variety of backgrounds and experiences, including, but not limited to:

• Experience working in nonprofits
• Experience in grassroots efforts and/or community organizing
• Experience in communities with limited conservation opportunities or access to the outdoors
• Experience as a land trust professional or volunteer
• Experience in or familiarity with any issues connected to conservation, including public health, outdoor recreation, education, etc.
• Identifies as Black, Indigenous, or Person of Color
• Identifies as LGBTQ+
• Is a person with a disability
• Diverse gender representation
• Under 22 years old
• 22 – 35 years old
• 36 – 50 years old
• 51 – 65 years old
• 66 – 80+ years old

Thank you to our community review team (listed below) for the thought and time that you put into your role and for strengthening the Land Trust Grant Fund Program.  

Morgain Bailey · Krysta Best · Laura Bither · Jane Brekke · Cameron Brewer · Helen Catanese · Melia Coletta · Lauren Dumont · Landen Jorgensen · Tyler Kidder · Phoebe Little · Ray Mills · Robin Pinto · Gus Silverman · Jack Taylor · Chaz Wilcoxen

For questions about the Momentum Conservation Land Trust Grant Fund Program, please contact Peyton Black, peyton@momentumconservation.org.

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