Volunteer Maine

Volunteer Maine, the state service commission, builds capacity and sustainability in Maine's volunteer and service communities. Our work is guided by the core beliefs that service

• engenders personal and civic responsibility that is fundamental to an inclusive, civil society;
• is a strategy for solving community problems;
• strengthens communities by cultivating a sense of civic identity and common purpose; and
• works best when it is community-driven and government-supported.

Volunteer Maine was established in 1994 by Executive Order and under state statute in 1995. The 25 board members of the  Volunteer Maine Commission are appointed by the governor to three-year terms and each represents a specific segment of Maine's volunteer sector. 

Volunteer Maine is Maine government’s partner for the federal Corporation for National Service, the federal funder of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. 

On October 16, 2019, the Maine Commission for Community Service adopted Volunteer Maine as its new public identity. 

Volunteer Maine's mission is to foster and inspire community service and volunteerism to address critical needs in the State of Maine.

We serve 

• managers of volunteers,
• Maine national service grantees,
• public and private nonprofit organizations seeking to engage volunteers, and
• public and private agencies seeking to develop national service programs.

Volunteer Maine fulfills its mission through 

• making, administering and evaluating volunteer program grants;
• developing managers of volunteers;
• fostering adoption of high quality volunteer management practices;
• providing support to organizations applying for national service;
• providing support to organizations implementing national service programs;
• raising awareness of volunteer sector issues through research related to the status of volunteering and volunteer management; and
• promoting service as a strategy to tackle local challenges.