Maine Center for Enterprise Development
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO CREATE HIGH QUALITY JOBS FOR MAINE THROUGH BEST PRACTICE INCUBATIONS SERVICES THAT SYSTEMATICALLY ASSIST NEW BUSINESSES WITH INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY AND BUSINESS PLAN NEEDS, R&D ACTIVITIES, EARLY STAGE FINANCING AND PRODUCT COMMERCIALIZATION.
- Income
- $1.4 million
- Spending
- $1.4 million
- Spent on programs
- 72%
- Reserves
- 0.8 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 93%
- Employees
- 4
- Volunteers
- 127
- Highest pay
- $184,755, executive director
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
Fair: 51 out of 100.
Reserves
4 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 0.8 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 72% of what it owns.
Living within its means
12 of 15Income exceeded spending by 1% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 1% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1572% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 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
Fair: 50 out of 100.
Independent board
25 of 2511 of 11 voting board members are independent.
Conflict of interest policy
0 of 15Reports no written conflict of interest policy.
Whistleblower policy
0 of 8Reports no written whistleblower policy.
Record keeping policy
0 of 7Reports no written policy on keeping and destroying records.
Board minutes
5 of 5Keeps minutes of board meetings.
Board sees the tax return
10 of 10Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.
Pay set independently
0 of 5Reports no independent review process for its chief executive's pay.
Independent check of accounts
0 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 (6)
- $332,597 spent. MARKETSHARE IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE MCE PROGRAM, WITH 2024 EXPENSES TOTALING $332,597 AND 41 CLIENT COMPANIES ENROLLED. A PROGRAM DESIGNED FOR MATURE MAINE-BASED FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES LOOKING TO AGGRESSIVELY EXPAND DISTRIBUTION REGIONALLY AND NATIONALLY, MCE ENGAGES A TEAM OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS TO WORK WITH EACH COMPANY TO PERFORM MARKETING ASSESSMENTS AND IDENTIFY GROWTH PLANS. MEMBER COMPANIES HAD REGULAR MONTHLY TO BI-MONTHLY WORKING AND TRACKING MEETINGS WITH THE PROGRAM MANAGER AND THE MCE MENTOR CONSULTANTS. THROUGHOUT THE YEAR, THE FOCUS OF CLIENT MEMBER MEETINGS IS MARKET DEVELOPMENT AND STRATEGY. TEN COMPANY-SPECIFIC CATEGORY REPORTS WERE PURCHASED AND ANALYZED TO IDENTIFY NEW SALES OPPORTUNITIES, MANY LEADING TO WINS OF NEW ACCOUNTS OR ADDITIONAL ITEMS ADDED TO EXISTING ACCOUNTS. OTHER FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY RESOURCES WERE ALSO PURCHASED, COMPILED, AND UTILIZED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. MARKETSHARE MEMBER COMPANIES ALSO PARTICIPATED IN QUARTERLY WORKSHOPS, THE FOOD PRODUCER SOCIAL, THE SEAFOOD SHOWCASE, AND THE MENTOR HAPPY HOURS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MCE'S CULTIVATOR PROGRAM. MARKETSHARE IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE CREATED 78 NEW JOBS IN MAINE IN 2024.
- $228,499 spent. AT $228,499 IN EXPENSES AND 14 CLIENT COMPANIES PARTAKING, THE CULTIVATOR PROGRAM WAS THE SECOND MOST EXPENSIVE INITIATIVE FOR MCE IN 2024. IN THIS PROGRAM, EACH MEMBER COMPANY IS ASSIGNED A PERSONAL ASSESSMENT TEAM COMPRISED OF THREE SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS IN MARKETING & SALES, FINANCE, AND OPERATIONS. THE PROGRAM BEGINS WITH AN INITIAL MEETING IN WHICH THE TEAM AND COMPANY COME TOGETHER TO ASSESS THE COMPANY'S BUSINESS. COLLABORATIVELY, THEY WORK TO IDENTIFY GAPS AND NEEDS THE COMPANY HAS THAT ARE PREVENTING THEM FROM SCALING UP TO THE NEXT LEVEL. BASED ON ASSESSMENT RESULTS, THEY CREATE AN AGREED-UPON ACTION PLAN AND ONGOING MILESTONE TRACKING RUBRIC TO ENSURE COMPANY ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DELIVERABLES. ALSO, MCE MATCHES EACH COMPANY WITH APPROPRIATE VOLUNTEER MENTORS FROM MCE'S MAINE MENTOR NETWORK (MMN) TO ADDRESS THEIR NEEDS. COMPANIES MEET BI-WEEKLY WITH MCE'S PROGRAM MANAGER THROUGHOUT THE NEXT 12 MONTHS TO WORK ON THE ACTION PLAN AND TRACK THE MEASURES THE COMPANY TAKES DURING THAT TIME. EACH COMPANY ALSO RECONNECTS WITH THE ENTIRE ASSESSMENT QUARTERLY TO REVIEW THE COMPANY'S EFFORTS OVER THE PAST THREE MONTHS. COMPANIES WILL ALSO ATTEND INDUSTRY-FOCUSED WORKSHOPS AND LEARNING EVENTS TAILORED TO THEIR NEEDS AND INTERESTS. PARTICIPANTS ALSO RECEIVE INCREASED EXPOSURE TO THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY THROUGH PROGRAM MARKETING, NETWORK EVENTS, AND THE ANNUAL FOOD PRODUCER SOCIAL FOR PAST AND PRESENT CULTIVATOR COMPANIES, PROVIDING ADDITIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAINE'S FOOD AND BEVERAGE COMPANIES TO CONNECT, SHARE, AND PARTNER. IN ADDITION, PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS ALSO GET TO SHOWCASE THEIR BUSINESS TO AN AUDIENCE OF POTENTIAL INVESTORS, BUSINESS LEADERS, AND JOURNALISTS AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM IN THE BIYEARLY FOOD PRODUCER'S SHOWCASE. CULTIVATOR IS ESTIMATED TO HAVE CREATED 28 NEW JOBS IN MAINE IN 2024.
- $151,644 spent. THE FOODTECH MAINE PROGRAM COST $151,664 MAKING IT THE THIRD MOST EXPENSIVE MCE INITIATIVE IN 2024. THIS MCE BUSINESS ACCELERATOR FOCUSED ON DRIVING GROWTH AND INNOVATION IN MAINE'S FOOD, AGRICULTURE, AND AQUACULTURE ECOSYSTEM. FOODTECH MAINE LEVERAGES TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY, SUSTAINABILITY, AND QUALITY IN THE FOOD INDUSTRY AND ENHANCE FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTS TASTE AND NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS. IT ALSO CONNECTS AND FOSTERS COLLABORATION AMONG EARLY-STAGE AND MID-SIZED COMPANIES INNOVATING AND DEVELOPING AGRI-FOOD INDUSTRY SERVICES OR PRODUCTS TO COMMERCIALIZE AND SCALE THEIR BUSINESS AND GROW THIS INDUSTRY IN MAINE. MAINE'S LONG HISTORY AS A CENTER FOR HIGH-QUALITY FOOD AND BEVERAGE PRODUCTION AND INNOVATION HAS POSITIONED THE STATE TO PLAY A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN THIS FAST-GROWING NICHE INDUSTRY. SIX COMPANIES PARTICIPATED IN THE PROGRAM IN 2024, MCE LOOKS TO CONTINUE THE PROGRAM INTO 2025.
- $136,439 spent. MCE'S LONGEST-RUNNING PROGRAM, TOP GUN, WAS THE FOURTH MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAM IN 2024 AT $136,439. TOP GUN ASSISTED OVER 36 STARTUPS IN FIVE DIFFERENT MAINE REGIONS: PORTLAND, LEWISTON-AUBURN, HOULTON/MACHIAS, ELLSWORTH, AND WATERVILLE. THE COMPANIES WERE FROM VARIOUS INDUSTRIES RANGING FROM BIOSCIENCE AND BIOTECH TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE, TECHNOLOGY, OUTDOOR GOODS, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE-BASED SERVICES. DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY FOR ENTREPRENEURS WANTING TO GROW THEIR BUSINESSES AND ACHIEVE LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE SUCCESS. THE TOP GUN PROGRAM CULMINATES IN THE MAINE ENTREPRENEUR SUMMIT (MES), DURING WHICH OVER 250 MAINE-BASED BUSINESSES, LEADERS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND ENTREPRENEURS GATHER TO ATTEND BUSINESS-RELATED WORKSHOPS AND EXPLORE THE TRADE SHOW FEATURING TOP GUN ATTENDEES' PRODUCTS. ALSO AT MES IS THE STATEWIDE PITCH CONTEST WHERE THE TOP ATTENDEES FROM THAT YEAR'S COHORT EACH PITCH THEIR COMPANY TO A PANEL OF JUDGES. THE WINNING TEAM RECEIVES A CASH PRIZE OF $25,000.
- $109,785 spent. THE MAINE BIOSCIENCE CLUSTER INITIATIVE WAS MCE'S FIFTH MOST EXPENSIVE PROGRAM IN 2024 AT $109,785. THIS PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PROVIDING MAINE BIOTECH, DIGITAL HEALTH, LIFE SCIENCES, AND MEDICAL DEVICE ENTREPRENEURS WITH THE TOOLS AND RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ACCELERATE THEIR BUSINESS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES PARTICIPANTS WITH INDUSTRY EXPERTISE, HIGHLY COLLABORATIVE AND DYNAMIC LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES, TAILORED PROFESSIONAL RESOURCES, AND BUSINESS CONNECTIONS, ALL AT AN AFFORDABLE FLAT RATE. COMPANIES WORK CLOSELY WITH A PROGRAM MANAGER WITH OVER 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN HEALTHCARE SERVICES, MEDICAL DEVICES, AND LIFE SCIENCES ENTREPRENEURIAL EXPERIENCE. THE MANAGER WORKS ONE-ON-ONE WITH MEMBER COMPANIES TO UNDERSTAND THEIR BUSINESS NEEDS AND CONNECT THEM TO APPROPRIATE MCE, PARTNER, AND INDUSTRY RESOURCES.
- $20,612 spent. THE LEAST EXPENSIVE OF MCE'S SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS IS THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WITH EXPENSES OF $20,612 IN 2024. THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP PROGRAM WAS A COLLABORATION WITH MCE, THE UNIVERSITY OF MAINE GRADUATE AND PROFESSIONAL CENTER AND BANGOR SAVINGS BANK. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR LEADERS OF STARTUPS AND SMALL BUSINESSES IN MAINE. THROUGH MONTHLY VIRTUAL MEETINGS, THE PROGRAM BUILDS A STRONG PEER GROUP, TEACHES LEADERSHIP SKILLS AND TOOLS FOR TODAY'S BUSINESS CHALLENGES, AND INTRODUCES PARTICIPANTS TO EXPERIENCED MAINE BUSINESS AND THOUGHT LEADERS.
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 September 7, 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 September 30, 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 September 10, 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 September 7, 2026.
How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.
Recognized by the IRS since February 1997.
Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 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 7, 2026.
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