Maine Local Living School
Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.
What it says it does
Our mission is to nurture the human-earth relationship through the practice of living locally. We share traditional and contemporary skills for living wisely in our place. It is our belief that through living locally we can invigorate a world-view of gratitude and responsibility toward human and earth communities.
- Income
- $114,364
- Spending
- $101,539
- Reserves
- 13.3 months of spending
- Largest source of income
- donations and private grants, 60%
- Highest pay
- $33,800, executive director
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Financial health
Strong: 100 out of 100. Higher than 82% of charities in its peer group (education, under $250k).
Reserves
35 of 35Spendable reserves would cover 13.3 months of spending.
Debt
20 of 20It owes 0% of what it owns.
Living within its means
15 of 15Income exceeded spending by 11% of income.
Source: Form 990EZ for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate
Governance
This organization files the short tax form, which does not ask about boards, policies or audits. That is normal for a small charity and is not a mark against it.
Source: Form 990EZ 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)
- $36,600 spent. Homestead Immersion: The multi-day immersion experientially connects high school and college students to ecological, historical and social aspects of place. The program stretches youth to do real work in community, explore their potential as agents of positive change in an ecosystem, and develop strong relationships with the earth and each other. Each program is embedded in seasonal rhythms and incorporates regenerative organic agriculture and food preservation; appropriate technology; climate change mitigation and adaptation; ecology, botany, and forestry; handcraft; social and emotional learning; and silence, observation, and reflection.
- $28,226 spent. Day Programs for Schools & Earth Is Our Home: Day programs for school groups engage ecology, history, sustainable systems, and handcraft to help students better understand themselves and their place in the earth community. Lessons are experiential and place-based. Students not only learn about ecological principles, they participate in the ecosystem as a place of sustenance that provides for their core needs. Lessons align with Common Core or Next Generation Science Standards to support learning goals. Earth Is Our Home is a bi-weekly program for homeschooling elementary-aged children.
- $23,100 spent. Apprenticeship & Community Programs for adults: The 8-week spring and fall Apprenticeship provides hands-on training for energy downshift, climate resilience, bioregionalism, community living, land ethics, and reciprocity with the living world. The day-to-day revolves around building skills and tending the systems that reflect these big ideas--and sharing learning with others through educational programming. Community Programs provide an opportunity to learn or practice a skill to deepen relationship with earth and other-than-human communities. Workshops focus on cultivating, foraging or processing food; handcraft; or the practice of meditation or yoga.
Source: Form 990EZ 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 October 2021.
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.