Maine Blue Collar Scholarship Foundation
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS FOR MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS PURSUING A CAREER IN THE TRADES. THE ORGANIZATION AIMS TO REINVIGORATE THE TRADES THAT BUILT AMERICA.
- Income
- $419,385
- Spending
- $143,685
- Spent on programs
- 97%
- Reserves
- 72.1 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 95%
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 15
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 79% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 72.1 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 66% of income.
Income trend
15 of 15Income rose 80% on the year before.
Spending floor
15 of 1597% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
Good: 83 out of 100. Higher than 63% of charities in its peer group (philanthropy, $250k to $1m).
Independent board
25 of 2510 of 10 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
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.
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, 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 (1)
- $139,652 spent. THE FOUNDATION AWARDS SCHOLARSHIPS TO MOTIVATED INDIVIDUALS TO BE USED FOR TOOL-SHIPS AND CONTINUING EDUCATION. EACH YEAR WE RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF APPLICATIONS FROM YOUNG MAINERS WITH A PASSION FOR THE TRADES AND WORKING WITH THEIR HANDS. THE AVERAGE AGE OF MAINE'S TRADE WORKER IS RISING AND TO SEE THIS SURGE IN YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING THE TRADES IS EXACTLY WHAT WE NEED TO REINVIGORATE THE WORKFORCE IN MAINE. THE FOUNDATION HAS PROUDLY REMOVED THE BARRIERS FOR MANY YOUNG MAINERS WITH THE PURCHASE OF TOOLS, GAS TO GET TO CLASS, HOUSING WHILE THEY COMPLETE THEIR PROGRAMS AND TUITION. RECIPIENTS OF A SCHOLARSHIP CAN SUBMIT RECEIPTS FOR REIMBURSEMENT OR THEY CAN SUBMIT THEIR 2ND SEMESTER TRANSCRIPT AND THE FOUNDATION WILL SEND A CHECK DIRECTLY TO THEIR SCHOOL. WE HAVE DEVELOPED STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH ALL THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES IN MAINE AS WELL AS THE 27 CTE SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THERE ARE NO PAID POSITIONS WITHIN THE FOUNDATION, IT IS ALL VOLUNTEER EFFORTS, AND THE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE FUNDED PRIMARILY BY SMALL BLUE-COLLAR BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT MAINE. MANY OF THESE BUSINESSES HARE CURRENTLY HIRING AND ARE EAGER TO INVEST IN LOCAL YOUNG TALENT. MAINE STUDENTS INTERESTED IN APPLYING FOR THE SCHOLARSHIP MAY DO SO THROUGH THE MAINE BLUE COLLAR SCHOLARSHIP FOUNDATION ON THEIR WEBSITE, MAINEBLUECOLLAR.COM.WE RECENTLY PARTNERED WITH MEMIC TO PROVIDE INSTRUCTOR SCHOLARSHIPS. THE GOAL OF THE SCHOLARSHIPS IS TO INTRODUCE EDUCATORS TO THE BEST-IN-CLASS BUSINESS IN THEIR INDUSTRY. THESE CONNECTIONS ARE CRUCIAL TO HELP INSTRUCTORS PROVIDE THE SKILLS NECESSARY FOR THEIR GRADUATING CLASSES TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 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 December 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 September 2018.
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.