Outdoor Education – Creation of a new program to offer service and personal growth opportunities for children, adults, and organizations through the natural world of beautiful Downeast Maine.
Service Tours – Expansion of housing improvement activities within the Downeast region and Maine’s remote islands.
Scholarships – Launch a new scholarship program dedicated to technical education and the trades.
Fundraising events/opportunities
Sunbeam Award Gala – Taking place each August in Bar Harbor, our signature fundraising event honors organizations and individuals making a positive impact in our communities. Past recipients include artist and author Ashley Bryan, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Sunrise County Economic Council, Maine CDC, Island Institute, Diana Davis Spencer Foundation, Cornelia Cogswell Rossi Foundation, Andrew Davis, Ruth and Tristram Colket, former Maine State Senator Honorable Jill M. Goldthwait, and Alan Baker.
Sunbeam Cruises and Tours – Each summer, Maine Seacoast Mission welcomes the public aboard its iconic boat. Three recurring opportunities are Sunbeam cruises, open houses, and guided dockside tours.
Corporate Sponsorship – Become a sponsor for our organization and create a customized package to best fit your organization’s goals, including promotion and team building activities.
PHOTO / COURTESY OF MAINE SEACOAST MISSION
Giving opportunities
The Mission Fund – Make a gift or grant to provide operating or project support for Mission programs.
The Hope Society – Create a legacy through a planned gift such as a bequest.
Christmas Program – Help children and families in the Mission’s service area have a special Christmas through giving of new, unwrapped toys, clothes, or cash gifts.
Annual End of Year Campaign – Give a gift to provide operating or program-specific support to the Mission.
Volunteer opportunities
Mount Desert Island – Historical archives, events, and Christmas Program.
Downeast – Housing improvement summer volunteer groups, mentorship of high school students in the Journey program, Christmas Program, and Food Security program opportunities such as food deliveries to seniors, assistance in the Mission’s food pantry, and community meal preparation.
Awards/Accolades: 2026 Platinum Seal of Transparency awarded by GuideStar
2021-2025 Gold Seal of Transparency awarded by GuideStar
Mission Statement: Rooted in a history of compassionate service and mutual trust, the Mission strengthens coastal and island communities by fostering education, good health, wellbeing, and a sense of belonging.
Service locations: The Mission delivers services across a 9,500 square-mile area that that includes Maine’s unbridged islands and Washington County, which combined more than 90,000 Mainers call home.
Top funding sources
59.8% Annual giving and special events 31.3% Draws from endowment funds 4.4% Trust income 4.1% Foundation grants 0.4% Program and other income
Leadership
Christopher Murphy — PHOTO / COURTESY OF MAINE SEACOAST MISSIONJohn Zavodny — PHOTO / COURTESY OF MAINE SEACOAST MISSION
John Zavodny, President
Board officers
Christopher Murphy, Board Chair Henry C. Lee, Board Vice Chair Josephine Iannelli, Board Treasurer Joanne Harris, Board Secretary
Board members
Jen Baroletti
Ruth M. Colket
Honorable Dennis S. Damon
Honorable Jill M. Goldthwait
Sarah Haskell
Hewlett Kent
Dean Lunt
Robert J. Mancini
Dan McKay
Scott Peasley
Josh Rosen
Nancy Rankin
Charles Rudelitch
Timothy P. Schieffelin
Matthew T. Skaves
Diehl Snyder, MD
Jaime Weir
It's Subscriber Appreciation Week! New individual subscriptions are 40% off through Friday, 10/9. All new subscribers will be entered into our prize drawings!
