Maine Lakes Society
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO PROTECT AND PRESERVE OF MAINE'S LAKES, BOTH TODAY AND LONG INTO THE FUTURE. OUR PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES PROMOTE HEALTHY LAKES FOR ALL LAKE USERS, INCLUDING RESIDENTS, VISITORS, LAKE ASSOCIATIONS, COMMUNITIES, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF LAKE STEWARDS.
- Income
- $336,391
- Spending
- $285,335
- Spent on programs
- 79%
- Reserves
- 1.2 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 55%
- Employees
- 6
- Volunteers
- 202
- Highest pay
- $76,106, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Good: 75 out of 100. Higher than 41% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.2 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 2% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 15% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 18% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1579% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 8 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 81 out of 100. Higher than 53% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2514 of 14 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
15 of 15Has a written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
8 of 8Has a written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
7 of 7Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
0 of 10Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
5 of 5Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.
Independent check of accounts
6 of 15Its accounts were not audited or reviewed by an independent accountant.
No reported misuse
10 of 10Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Impact evidence
Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.
Programs described in its return (5)
- $110,109 spent. LAKESMART IS MAINE LAKES FLAGSHIP PROGRAM THAT USES TEAMS OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO VISIT, EDUCATE AND REWARD LAKEFRONT HOMEOWNERS WHO MANAGE THEIR PROPERTIES IN WAYS THAT PROTECT WATER QUALITY, AQUATIC HABITAT, PROPERTY VALUES, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2024, THE LAKESMART PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH 134 PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS VISITING 303 PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STATE. LAKESMART STAFF LEAD AN ONLINE INTRODUCTION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS 7 ON-SITE TRAININGS. LAKESMART STAFF CONTINUE TO BUILD MOMENTUM ON LAKES WITH ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO NEW LAKESMART TEAMS. LAKESMART CREATES A BEHAVIORAL NORM AMONG LAKEFRONT HOMEOWNERS THAT THE RIGHT THING, IN FACT THE ONLY THING TO DO, IS TO STOP EROSION AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY. LAKESMART IS A CRITICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM AND IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM AT MAINE LAKES. LAKESMART IS MAINE LAKES FLAGSHIP PROGRAM THAT USES TEAMS OF TRAINED VOLUNTEERS TO VISIT, EDUCATE AND REWARD LAKEFRONT HOMEOWNERS WHO MANAGE THEIR PROPERTIES IN WAYS THAT PROTECT WATER QUALITY, AQUATIC HABITAT, PROPERTY VALUES, AND RECREATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. IN 2024, THE LAKESMART PROGRAM CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH 134 PROGRAM VOLUNTEERS VISITING 303 PROPERTIES ACROSS THE STATE. LAKESMART STAFF LEAD AN ONLINE INTRODUCTION FOR NEW VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS 7 ON-SITE TRAININGS. LAKESMART STAFF CONTINUE TO BUILD MOMENTUM ON LAKES WITH ESTABLISHED PROGRAMS AS WELL AS TO PROVIDE SUPPORT AND RESOURCES TO NEW LAKESMART TEAMS. LAKESMART CREATES A BEHAVIORAL NORM AMONG LAKEFRONT HOMEOWNERS THAT THE RIGHT THING, IN FACT THE ONLY THING TO DO, IS TO STOP EROSION AND PROTECT WATER QUALITY. LAKESMART IS A CRITICAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND STEWARDSHIP PROGRAM AND IS THE FLAGSHIP PROGRAM AT MAINE LAKES.
- $66,693 spent. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ARE CORE TO MAINE LAKES MISSION. IN 2024, WE CONTINUED OUR LOOK OUT FOR LOONS PROGRAMING, ENGAGING 70 VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE PRESENTATIONS, HELD TABLING EVENTS, COLLECTED LEAD SINKERS, AND LEAD FIELD TRIPS HIGHLIGHTING WAYS TO REDUCE DISTURBANCE TO LOONS AND INCREASE THEIR SUCCESS. OUR FRESHWATER EDUCATION NETWORK PROJECT CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH TAMARA WHITMORE AS A PROGRAM MANAGER AND WITH SUCCESSFUL GRANT FUNDS IN HAND. WE OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT/GAVE AWAY ALL OF OUR LAKE BOOKS (A HANDBOOK FOR LAKESIDE LIVING THAT HIGHLIGHTS THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR LAKE), AND WILL WORK TO UPDATE AND REVISE THE TEXT FOR AN UPDATED EDITION IN 2025. WE CONTINUED TO GROW OUR LAKE LIBRARY AND OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES, AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT LAKE CONSERVATION AND LAKESMART AT 12 VENUES IN 2024, INCLUDING THE WATER AND SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE AND THE ANNUAL MAINE LAKES MONITORING MEETING. WE MET WITH LAKE ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS AT ANNUAL MEETINGS AROUND A VARIETY OF LAKE TOPICS. WE PUBLISHED 8 ISSUES OF OUR MAINE LAKES E-NEWS PLUS TWO SPECIAL EDITIONS GEARED TO OUR LAKE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS. EDUCATION AND OUTREACH ARE CORE TO MAINE LAKES MISSION. IN 2024, WE CONTINUED OUR LOOK OUT FOR LOONS PROGRAMING, ENGAGING 70 VOLUNTEERS WHO GAVE PRESENTATIONS, HELD TABLING EVENTS, COLLECTED LEAD SINKERS, AND LEAD FIELD TRIPS HIGHLIGHTING WAYS TO REDUCE DISTURBANCE TO LOONS AND INCREASE THEIR SUCCESS. OUR FRESHWATER EDUCATION NETWORK PROJECT CONTINUED TO GROW, WITH TAMARA WHITMORE AS A PROGRAM MANAGER AND WITH SUCCESSFUL GRANT FUNDS IN HAND. WE OFFICIALLY SOLD OUT/GAVE AWAY ALL OF OUR LAKE BOOKS (A HANDBOOK FOR LAKESIDE LIVING THAT HIGHLIGHTS THINGS PEOPLE CAN DO TO PROTECT THEIR LAKE), AND WILL WORK TO UPDATE AND REVISE THE TEXT FOR AN UPDATED EDITION IN 2025. WE CONTINUED TO GROW OUR LAKE LIBRARY AND OTHER ONLINE RESOURCES, AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS ABOUT LAKE CONSERVATION AND LAKESMART AT 12 VENUES IN 2024, INCLUDING THE WATER AND SUSTAINABILITY CONFERENCE AND THE ANNUAL MAINE LAKES MONITORING MEETING. WE MET WITH LAKE ASSOCIATIONS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR AND GAVE PRESENTATIONS AT ANNUAL MEETINGS AROUND A VARIETY OF LAKE TOPICS. WE PUBLISHED 8 ISSUES OF OUR MAINE LAKES E-NEWS PLUS TWO SPECIAL EDITIONS GEARED TO OUR LAKE ASSOCIATION MEMBERS.
- $2,650 spent. MAINE LAKES ONCE AGAIN PARTNERED WITH LAKE STEWARDS OF MAINE TO CO-HOST THE ANNUAL LAKES CONFERENCE, HELD ON JUNE 13TH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON. WE HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE, WITH OVER 345 REGISTRANTS, 12 SPEAKERS AND A PANEL OF LAKE ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS. OUR THEME WAS THE VALUE AND LEGACY OF MAINES LAKES AND OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS (ADAM DAIGNEAULT AND MELISSA GENOTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE) SHARED AN OVERVIEW OF A THREE-YEAR ECONOMIC STUDY THEY HAD COMPLETED VALUING THE LAKES OF MAINE. OTHER SPEAKERS ADDRESSED A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING THE MYTHICAL CREATURES OF MAINES LAKES, A NEW SCORECARD FOR LAKES, AN UPDATES ON INVASIVE PLANTS, AND MUCH MORE. A SILENT AUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFERENCE ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT IN MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO HELP DEFRAY CONFERENCE COSTS. MAINE LAKES ONCE AGAIN PARTNERED WITH LAKE STEWARDS OF MAINE TO CO-HOST THE ANNUAL LAKES CONFERENCE, HELD ON JUNE 13TH AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE AT FARMINGTON. WE HAD RECORD ATTENDANCE, WITH OVER 345 REGISTRANTS, 12 SPEAKERS AND A PANEL OF LAKE ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS. OUR THEME WAS THE VALUE AND LEGACY OF MAINES LAKES AND OUR KEYNOTE SPEAKERS (ADAM DAIGNEAULT AND MELISSA GENOTER FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE) SHARED AN OVERVIEW OF A THREE-YEAR ECONOMIC STUDY THEY HAD COMPLETED VALUING THE LAKES OF MAINE. OTHER SPEAKERS ADDRESSED A BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS, INCLUDING THE MYTHICAL CREATURES OF MAINES LAKES, A NEW SCORECARD FOR LAKES, AN UPDATES ON INVASIVE PLANTS, AND MUCH MORE. A SILENT AUCTION ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONFERENCE ONCE AGAIN BROUGHT IN MUCH NEEDED FUNDS TO HELP DEFRAY CONFERENCE COSTS.
- $44,776 spent. THE MAINE LAKES ADVOCACY PROGRAM INCLUDES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON SHARING INFORMATION WITH MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, AGENCIES AND DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION. BECAUSE 2024 WAS THE SECOND SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, WE SPENT LESS TIME TRACKING LAKE BILLS THAN IN 2023. HOWEVER, THERE WERE SEVERAL VITAL BILLS THAT NEEDED EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO BOTH LEGISLATORS AND TO ACTIVISTS. WE SENT THREE LEGISLATIVE ALERTS TO OUR NETWORK OF 500 GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS FOR ACTION ON BILLS TO INCREASE FUNDS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES RISK REDUCTION, ENABLE MUNICIPALITIES TO PUT LIENS ON PROPERTIES IN GROSS VIOLATIONS OF SHORELAND ZONING LAWS, AND CREATE A SETBACK FROM SHORE FOR WAKESURFING. ACTIVISTS CAME THROUGH WITH TESTIMONY AND PHONE CALLS IN SUPPORT OF LAKE PROTECTION. MAINE LAKES HAD AN ON-LINE TRAINING FOR LAKE ADVOCATES IN JANUARY, AND WORKED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BUILDING A LAKE PROTECTION COALITION THAT IT HOPES WILL HELP BUILD CAPACITY FOR MORE AND STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS AROUND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND LAKE ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN 2025. THIS COALITION BUILDING WORK RESULTED IN LARGER SPENDING IN THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM THAN IS TYPICAL FOR MAINE LAKES.
- THE MAINE LAKES ADVOCACY PROGRAM INCLUDES A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES FOCUSED ON SHARING INFORMATION WITH MEMBERS, COLLEAGUES, AGENCIES AND DECISION-MAKERS ABOUT PROPOSED STATE LEGISLATION. BECAUSE 2024 WAS THE SECOND SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE, WE SPENT LESS TIME TRACKING LAKE BILLS THAN IN 2023. HOWEVER, THERE WERE SEVERAL VITAL BILLS THAT NEEDED EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO BOTH LEGISLATORS AND TO ACTIVISTS. WE SENT THREE LEGISLATIVE ALERTS TO OUR NETWORK OF 500 GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS FOR ACTION ON BILLS TO INCREASE FUNDS FOR INVASIVE SPECIES RISK REDUCTION, ENABLE MUNICIPALITIES TO PUT LIENS ON PROPERTIES IN GROSS VIOLATIONS OF SHORELAND ZONING LAWS, AND CREATE A SETBACK FROM SHORE FOR WAKESURFING. ACTIVISTS CAME THROUGH WITH TESTIMONY AND PHONE CALLS IN SUPPORT OF LAKE PROTECTION. MAINE LAKES HAD AN ON-LINE TRAINING FOR LAKE ADVOCATES IN JANUARY, AND WORKED THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER BUILDING A LAKE PROTECTION COALITION THAT IT HOPES WILL HELP BUILD CAPACITY FOR MORE AND STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS AROUND COMMUNITY ORGANIZING AND LAKE ADVOCACY EFFORTS IN 2025. THIS COALITION BUILDING WORK RESULTED IN LARGER SPENDING IN THE ADVOCACY PROGRAM THAN IS TYPICAL FOR MAINE LAKES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Legitimacy checks
Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.
Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.
Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.
Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.
On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.
Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.
Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since September 1979.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.
Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.
Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.
Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.
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