Causes: Community & Neighborhood Development, Economic Development, Education, Environment, Natural Resources Conservation & Protection, Philanthropy, Philanthropy, Voluntarism & Grantmaking Foundations, Scholarships, Scholarships & Student Financial Aid

Mission: The island institute works to sustain maine's island and remote coastal communities and exchanges ideas and experiences to further the sustainability of communities here and elsewhere.

Programs: Community and economic development:community development programs strengthen island and coastal communities through workforce development in the form of a scholar support network, college scholarships and internships, post-graduate community-based fellowships, and adult leadership and entrepreneurship training. Economic development programs support individuals looking to start or grow businesses through mentoring and technical assistance, provide networking and convening on topics of regional interest, promote economic diversification, and provide low-interest loans and investments for promising new enterprises.

education:education programs provide support for k-12 and early childhood education in island and remote coastal communities through place-based, inquiry-driven stem education initiatives; direct classroom support for remote, rural, and multi-grade schools, focusing on linking remote schools with each other via technology; professional development and training for teachers and administrators; technical and financial support for interactive, digital classroom equipment; and curriculum development.

marine resources:marine resources staff facilitate the exchange of information among local and regional fishermen, ocean resource planners and stakeholders, ocean researchers and scientists, and natural-resource business advisors. The program also provides access to technical resources and training for fishermen and other community members to learn about and pursue diverse, sustainable marine-related livelihoods, including emerging fisheries, aquaculture, and fisheries tourism businesses. Working closely with island and remote coastal community residents, programming is designed to ensure their access to timely, accurate, and useful information on policy and regulations, and the latest research on topics such as climate change, and to ensure that their questions, concerns and feedback are heard by decision-makers.