Growsmart Maine
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO BUILD LASTING PROSPERITY WITHOUT SACRIFICING THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT DEFINES MAINE.
- Income
- $727,830
- Spending
- $684,304
- Spent on programs
- 73%
- Reserves
- 1.9 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- fees for its services, 52%
- Employees
- 7
- Volunteers
- 38
- Highest pay
- $95,840, executive di
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Fair: 60 out of 100. Higher than 23% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
10 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 1.9 months of spending.
Debt
5 of 20It owes 52% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 6% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 42% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1573% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 7 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Strong: 91 out of 100. Higher than 71% of charities in its peer group (environment, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2516 of 16 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
10 of 10Gave 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 June 30, 2025, 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 (3)
- $350,297 spent. 1) ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES. GROWSMART MAINE ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS LOCAL AND REGIONAL ADVOCACY WITH STATEWIDE IMPACT, WHILE SUPPORTING FEDERAL INITIATIVES THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. IN FY 2025, GROWSMART CONVENED THE FIRST YEAR OF POLICY ACTION 2025, FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS OF 2025 AND 2026. CO-LED WITH BUILD MAINE, THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO AND CREATE INCENTIVES FOR EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWNS AND VILLAGES OF ALL SIZES WHILE PULLING DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE AWAY FROM PRODUCTIVE AND OPEN NATURE AREAS. THROUGH CROWDSOURCING AND AN OPEN PROCESS, A CROSS-SECTOR OF INTERESTS AND ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR SHARED POLICY PRIORITIES. SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION, BUT ALSO IN HOSTING NECESSARY AND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, AND BUILDING ADVOCACY CAPACITY WITH OUR ALLIES WHILE EXPANDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE. GROWSMART MAINE ADVOCATED FOR 14 BILLS AND PROVIDED TESTIMONY ON 9 BILLS RELATED TO FARMLAND PROTECTION AND FARM VIABILITY, RELATING TO SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES. 1) ADVOCACY TO SUPPORT SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES. GROWSMART MAINE ENGAGES IN ADVOCACY AT THE STATE LEVEL, AS WELL AS LOCAL AND REGIONAL ADVOCACY WITH STATEWIDE IMPACT, WHILE SUPPORTING FEDERAL INITIATIVES THROUGH STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS. IN FY 2025, GROWSMART CONVENED THE FIRST YEAR OF POLICY ACTION 2025, FOR THE CALENDAR YEARS OF 2025 AND 2026. CO-LED WITH BUILD MAINE, THE GOAL IS TO ADDRESS BARRIERS TO AND CREATE INCENTIVES FOR EQUITABLE, SUSTAINABLE GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT THAT STRENGTHEN DOWNTOWNS AND VILLAGES OF ALL SIZES WHILE PULLING DEVELOPMENT PRESSURE AWAY FROM PRODUCTIVE AND OPEN NATURE AREAS. THROUGH CROWDSOURCING AND AN OPEN PROCESS, A CROSS-SECTOR OF INTERESTS AND ORGANIZATIONS COME TOGETHER TO ADVOCATE AND PROVIDE INFORMATION FOR SHARED POLICY PRIORITIES. SUCCESS IS MEASURED IN SUCCESSFUL LEGISLATION, BUT ALSO IN HOSTING NECESSARY AND DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS, AND BUILDING ADVOCACY CAPACITY WITH OUR ALLIES WHILE EXPANDING RELATIONSHIPS WITHIN OUR NETWORKS ACROSS THE STATE. GROWSMART MAINE ADVOCATED FOR 14 BILLS AND PROVIDED TESTIMONY ON 9 BILLS RELATED TO FARMLAND PROTECTION AND FARM VIABILITY, RELATING TO SMART GROWTH PRINCIPLES.
- $61,259 spent. 2) PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR MULTI-YEAR "PLANNING FOR AG" PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO THE ALARMING RATE OF FARMLAND LOSS IN MAINE TO "LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT- OR SPRAWL. GROWSMART MAINE HELPS COMMUNITIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS, WITHOUT UNDOING THE GOOD WORK TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND WITHOUT CREATING THE NEXT CRISIS OF ACCESS TO FARMLAND AND FOOD. THE DOWNEAST FOOD SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPING JOINT GOALS AND PLANS, CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO FARMING COMMUNITIES, COORDINATING WITH RELEVANT ACTORS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION, AND ACCESSING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AN INCLUSIVE, INNOVATIVE, AND MORE INTEGRATED FOOD SYSTEM IN THE DOWNEAST REGION. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS PROVIDED A FRAMEWORK TO BROADEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS, EXPAND OUR PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY BY HIRING A PART-TIME PROFESSIONAL PLANNER. THREE AREAS OF WORK FALL UNDER "PLANNING FOR AG:" A.THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP GROWSMART MAINE IS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP. THE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR POLICY INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE AS A PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAINE WON'T WAIT, MAINE'S FOUR-YEAR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. GROWSMART MAINE HAS ENROLLED EIGHT MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PROGRAM (MOUNT VERNON, ROME, VIENNA, AND WAYNE, LEEDS, HOULTON, PRESQUE ISLE, AND MEXICO), FACILITATED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS IN EACH OF THESE TOWNS TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND HELPED THEM APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY PROJECTS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ACTION GRANT. B.THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM, GROWSMART MAINE LAUNCHED TWO PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE AROOSTOOK HOUSING INITIATIVE AND HOUSING FORWARD COMMUNITIES. BOTH THESE PROGRAMS WORK WITH SELECTED TOWNS TO ADDRESS MAINE'S URGENT HOUSING NEEDS. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAMS IS FOR THE TOWNS TO BECOME PROACTIVE IN ADDRESSING HOUSING CONCERNS, PROMOTE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, AND EMPOWER RESIDENTS WITH INFORMATION AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF MUNICIPALITIES TO ADDRESS HOUSING CHALLENGES AND SOLUTIONS. C.BUILDING COMMUNITY STRENGTH GROWSMART ENGAGES WITH 10 RURAL TOWNS IN THE SECOND YEAR OF BUILDING COMMUNITY STRENGTH. WITH FUNDING FROM USDA RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND THE AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST, THE THREE-YEAR PROGRAM "BUILDING COMMUNITY STRENGTH" IS A RESPONSE TO THE INTERLINKED CHALLENGES FACING RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS MAINE. TRAINEES FROM TEN PARTICIPATING MUNICIPALITIES TACKLE ISSUES SUCH AS CLIMATE RESILIENCE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, FARM VIABILITY AND FARMLAND PROTECTION, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND EQUITABLE AND INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT. THE PROGRAM ALSO TRAINS PARTICIPANTS TO RESEARCH AND APPLY FOR STATE, FEDERAL, AND PRIVATE FUNDING. THIS PAST YEAR, REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE TEN PARTICIPATING TOWNS TWICE MET IN PERSON FOR MULTI-DAY WORKSHOPS IN MACHIAS AND SKOWHEGAN. TOWN MANAGERS, SELECT BOARD MEMBERS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT DIRECTORS FROM PARTICIPATING TOWNS GATHERED TO NETWORK AND LEARN FROM EACH OTHER. THEY MET WITH GROWSMART MAINE STAFF AND OTHER PARTNERS (INCLUDING SUNRISE COUNTY ECONOMIC COUNCIL, EASTERN MAINE DEVELOPMENT COOPERATION, NORTH STAR PLANNING, AND THE MUSSON GROUP) TO PARTICIPATE IN A SERIES OF SESSIONS FOCUSED ON COMMUNITY PLANNING. WHILE THE PROGRAM OFFERS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, FUNDING, AND TRAINING, A KEY COMPONENT IS THE DEVELOPMENT OF NETWORKS AMONG TOWNS. "I HAD CONVERSATIONS WITH THE DIFFERENT COMMUNITY LEADERS ON A RANGE OF TOPICS," SAID TIM ST. PETER OF PRESQUE ISLE. "IF I CAN LEARN FROM SOMEONE ELSE WHAT TO WATCH FOR AND AVOID, OR WHAT PROCESS WORKED FOR THEM AND BE ABLE TO APPLY IT TO OUR COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT IS A SUCCESS." THE TOWNS ENROLLED IN THE BUILDING COMMUNITY STRENGTH PROGRAM ARE SITUATED ACROSS THE STATE: CALAIS, DANFORTH, ENFIELD, HOULTON, MACHIAS, MEXICO, PRESQUE ISLE, ROQUE BLUFFS, SKOWHEGAN, AND VAN BUREN. 2) PLANNING FOR AGRICULTURE THE THIRD YEAR OF OUR MULTI-YEAR "PLANNING FOR AG" PARTNERSHIP WITH THE AMERICAN FARMLAND TRUST CONTINUES TO RESPOND TO THE ALARMING RATE OF FARMLAND LOSS IN MAINE TO "LOW-DENSITY RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT- OR SPRAWL. GROWSMART MAINE HELPS COMMUNITIES THROUGH TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO ADDRESS THE HOUSING CRISIS, WITHOUT UNDOING THE GOOD WORK TO ADDRESS THE CLIMATE CRISIS, AND WITHOUT CREATING THE NEXT CRISIS OF ACCESS TO FARMLAND AND FOOD. THE DOWNEAST FOOD SYSTEMS PARTNERSHIP PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR DEVELOPING JOINT GOALS AND PLANS, CONDUCTING OUTREACH TO FARMING COMMUNITIES, COORDINATING WITH RELEVANT ACTORS WITHIN AND OUTSIDE THE REGION, AND ACCESSING ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR IMPLEMENTING PROJECTS THAT PROMOTE AN INCLUSIVE, INNOVATIVE, AND MORE INTEGRATED FOOD SYSTEM IN THE DOWNEAST REGION. THE PARTNERSHIP HAS PROVIDED A FRAMEWORK TO BROADEN OUR PARTNERSHIPS, EXPAND OUR PORTFOLIO OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS, AND STRENGTHEN OUR CAPACITY BY HIRING A PART-TIME PROFESSIONAL PLANNER. THREE AREAS OF WORK FALL UNDER "PLANNING FOR AG:" A.THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP GROWSMART MAINE IS A SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE COMMUNITY RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP. THE PROGRAM WAS ESTABLISHED BY THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE FOR POLICY INNOVATION AND THE FUTURE AS A PART OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF MAINE WON'T WAIT, MAINE'S FOUR-YEAR CLIMATE ACTION PLAN. GROWSMART MAINE HAS ENROLLED EIGHT MUNICIPALITIES IN THE PROGRAM (MOUNT VERNON, ROME, VIENNA, AND WAYNE, LEEDS, HOULTON, PRESQUE ISLE, AND MEXICO), FACILITATED COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS IN EACH OF THESE TOWNS TO PRIORITIZE COMMUNITY NEEDS, AND HELPED THEM APPLY FOR FUNDING FOR CLIMATE RESILIENCY PROJECTS THROUGH THE COMMUNITY ACTION GRANT. B.THE HOUSING OPPORTUNITY PROGRAM IN THE SECOND YEAR OF THIS PROGRAM, GROWSMART MAINE LAUNCHED TWO PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE AROOSTOOK HOUSING INITIATIVE AND HOUSING FORWARD COMMUNITIES. BOTH THESE PROGRAMS WORK WITH SELECTED TOWNS TO ADDRESS MAINE'S URGENT
- $84,921 spent. 3) KENNEBEC BROADBAND PARTNERSHIP THE KBP, FUNDED THROUGH THE MAINE CONNECTIVITY AUTHORITY, THE STATE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALL AREAS OF MAINE, IS DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE IN KENNEBEC COUNTY ACCESS BROADBAND AND DIGITAL LITERACY. THE THIRD YEAR OF THE KENNEBEC BROADBAND PARTNERSHIP (KBP) BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2024. GROWSMART PROVIDED FUNDS FOR ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP IN LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, THE DISTRIBUTION OF FREE DEVICES, AND HELPED PEOPLE STAY SAFE ONLINE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE KBP PROVIDED 26,000 IN STIPENDS TO 7 ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY, TECH HELP, AND DEVICE PROCUREMENT, AND PROVIDED 47 DEVICES AT NO COST TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. WE PARTNERED WITH LIBRARIES AND NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE DIGITAL NAVIGATOR SERVICES IN KENNEBEC COUNTY THROUGH MARCH 2025, SERVING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE KBP HELD 11 FRAUD AND SCAM PREVENTION PRESENTATIONS SERVING 131 ATTENDEES. 3) KENNEBEC BROADBAND PARTNERSHIP THE KBP, FUNDED THROUGH THE MAINE CONNECTIVITY AUTHORITY, THE STATE ENTITY RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING BROADBAND INFRASTRUCTURE TO ALL AREAS OF MAINE, IS DEDICATED TO HELPING PEOPLE IN KENNEBEC COUNTY ACCESS BROADBAND AND DIGITAL LITERACY. THE THIRD YEAR OF THE KENNEBEC BROADBAND PARTNERSHIP (KBP) BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2024. GROWSMART PROVIDED FUNDS FOR ONE-ON-ONE TECH HELP IN LIBRARIES ACROSS THE COUNTY, THE DISTRIBUTION OF FREE DEVICES, AND HELPED PEOPLE STAY SAFE ONLINE. IN FISCAL YEAR 2025, THE KBP PROVIDED 26,000 IN STIPENDS TO 7 ORGANIZATIONS TO SUPPORT DIGITAL OPPORTUNITY, TECH HELP, AND DEVICE PROCUREMENT, AND PROVIDED 47 DEVICES AT NO COST TO ELIGIBLE INDIVIDUALS. WE PARTNERED WITH LIBRARIES AND NONPROFITS TO PROVIDE DIGITAL NAVIGATOR SERVICES IN KENNEBEC COUNTY THROUGH MARCH 2025, SERVING HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE. THE KBP HELD 11 FRAUD AND SCAM PREVENTION PRESENTATIONS SERVING 131 ATTENDEES.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, 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 November 6, 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 June 2025.
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 May 2004.
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 November 4, 2026.
Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.