Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center

What Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center does

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center is a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the University of Maine, established in 1989 and named in honor of Senator Margaret Chase Smith. The center conducts interdisciplinary applied policy research across ten academic disciplines (Anthropology, Ecology, Economics, Engineering, History, Politics, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, and Sociology) and serves four primary constituencies: University of Maine students, state and local policymakers, Maine community leaders, and university faculty. Its core programmatic offerings are the Maine NEW Leadership Institute (a free six-day residential undergraduate women's leadership program), the Maine Government Summer Internship Program (~45 interns per cohort placed in state and municipal government), the Maine Policy Review peer-reviewed journal (published twice yearly), and the Maine Policy Matters podcast. The center also operates the Community Environmental Health Laboratory and co-develops Anecdata.org, a global citizen science platform hosting hundreds of projects including NASA-funded initiatives.

The center generates no commercial revenue. It is funded through University of Maine institutional allocations, external grants from federal agencies (NIEHS, HUD, NASA, EPA), and donations processed through the UMaine engagement platform. Pricing is effectively zero for student-facing programs, and no subscription, licensing, or fee-based services are disclosed. The center's distribution mix includes a website, organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, YouTube), the journal and podcast (mid-funnel content), and community events such as the Women of Power Networking Reception and the annual Minerva Award. The organization is not an investable entity in the conventional sense; it is a publicly-supported nonprofit research arm whose value is measured in policy influence, student outcomes, and civic engagement rather than financial returns.

Name

Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center

Legal name

Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center

Website

https://mcspolicycenter.umaine.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center is a nonpartisan, University of Maine-affiliated research center founded in 1989 that conducts interdisciplinary policy research and runs student leadership and government internship programs serving Maine students, state policymakers, and community leaders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Public Policy Research

NAICS

Research and Development in the Social Sciences and Humanities (541720), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Think Tanks, Policy Research & Public Policy Institutes (BPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Public Health Strategy, Policy & Legislation (HLAJAMAA), Environmental Policy, Advocacy & Litigation (BPAGAGAG)

Keywords

• Public policy research
• Applied policy analysis
• Civic leadership programs
• Student leadership training
• Nonpartisan research services

Headquarters

HQ city

Orono

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. University of Maine Funding: As a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the University of Maine, the center receives institutional funding from the university and state appropriations.
2. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The center accepts donations through the University of Maine engagement platform to support programs like Maine NEW Leadership.
3. Grants and Sponsored Research: Center faculty and staff conduct research funded by external grants, including federal agencies (NIEHS, HUD, NASA, EPA) mentioned in podcast discussing community-university research partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center is a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the University of Maine that conducts interdisciplinary applied policy research across disciplines including Anthropology, Ecology, Economics, Engineering, History, Politics, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, and Sociology. It offers student leadership development programs (Maine NEW Leadership Institute and Maine Government Summer Internship Program), disseminates research through the peer-reviewed Maine Policy Review journal and Maine Policy Matters podcast, and engages in community outreach and collaborative programs addressing policy issues facing Maine and the nation.

Product overview

The Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center offers a portfolio of civic engagement and policy research products and programs. Core offerings include the Maine Policy Review academic journal and the Maine Policy Matters podcast for disseminating policy research. The Center runs two flagship student development programs: the Maine NEW Leadership Program for women's leadership and the Maine Government Summer Internship Program. Additional offerings include the Minerva Award and Women of Power Networking Reception for recognizing civic leaders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Maine Policy Review: Peer-reviewed academic journal published by the Center focusing on policy analysis and research in Maine
• Maine Policy Matters Podcast
• Maine NEW Leadership
• Maine Government Summer Internship Program

Products and services

• Maine Policy Review A peer-reviewed academic journal published twice yearly focusing on policy analysis and research relevant to the state of Maine, distributed to policymakers, academic institutions, and researchers.
• Maine Policy Matters Podcast Official podcast of the Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center featuring interviews with experts on policy matters affecting Maine at local, state, and national levels, with full transcripts available on all major podcast platforms.
• Maine NEW Leadership Program A nonpartisan six-day residential undergraduate student leadership training program energizing and empowering young women to become effective civic and political leaders in Maine, offered free of charge to participants.
• Maine Government Summer Internship Program Program placing students in state and municipal government positions across Maine, providing hands-on experience in public service with approximately 45 interns per cohort.
• Maine Violent Death Reporting System / SUDORS Research Applied research program (Maine Violent Death Reporting System and Maine's Sudden Unintentional Drug Overdose Reporting System) directed by the center's research staff, providing data for public health policy.
• Rural Drug and Alcohol Research Program Applied research program directed by the center focusing on opioid use, drug overdose, and prevention in rural Maine communities.
• Anecdata.org Citizen Science Platform Online citizen science data portal co-developed by center staff, hosting hundreds of environmental monitoring projects accessible to volunteers worldwide, including NASA-sponsored projects like Night Sky Pollution and Satellite Streak Watcher.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 4,800 water samples collected through citizen science programs
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• University of MainecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center is a nonpartisan, independent research and public service unit of the University of Maine. The center brings together faculty, staff, and students from various University departments including Anthropology, Ecology, Economics, Engineering, History, Politics, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, and Sociology.
• Margaret Chase Smith FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe foundation partners with the Policy Center to co-publish Maine Policy Review journal. The foundation also operates the Margaret Chase Smith Library in Skowhegan, Maine, honoring the senator's legacy.
• Margaret Chase Smith LibrarycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe library, operated by the Margaret Chase Smith Foundation, houses archives of the senator's papers and hosts educational programs. The Policy Center collaborates on events and panel discussions at the library location.
• Gulf of Maine Research InstitutemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGulf of Maine Research Institute works with the Policy Center on research and economic development initiatives, including the Maine Economic Development Multi-Institution Collaborative.
• NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNASA funds citizen science projects and initiatives through the center's collaborative network. The center's citizen science platform Anecdata.org hosts NASA-sponsored projects including Night Sky Pollution, Smartphone Astrophotography, and Satellite Streak Watcher.
• Maine Development FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe center collaborates with the Maine Development Foundation on policy leadership initiatives, including serving on the planning committee for the Policy Leaders Academy.
• Maine Education AssociationminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as a sponsor for the 2021 Minerva Awards recognizing Maine women leaders.
• Maine State Chamber of CommerceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerServed as a sponsor for the 2021 Minerva Awards, supporting the Maine NEW Leadership program.
• Hannaford SupermarketsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the 2021 Minerva Awards recognizing Maine women leaders.
• Bangor Savings BankminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the 2021 Minerva Awards recognizing Maine women leaders.
• Bernstein ShurminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCorporate sponsor of the 2021 Minerva Awards, supporting Maine NEW Leadership program.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• RAND Corporation: Major nonprofit research institution producing interdisciplinary policy analysis, frequently funded by federal agencies. Comparable as a high-output interdisciplinary policy research organization supported by federal grants.
• Bipartisan Policy Center: Washington, D.C.-based think tank explicitly organized around bipartisan, civil-discourse principles aligned with the Margaret Chase Smith legacy. Comparable on the nonpartisan-branding dimension of the mission.
• Brookings Institution: Large, established nonpartisan think tank producing policy research across economics, governance, and social policy. Serves as the broader-incumbent reference point for nonpartisan academic-style policy research.

Direct peers

• Maine Center for Economic Policy: Maine-based nonprofit producing data-driven policy research and analysis on state budget, tax, and economic issues, distributing findings to policymakers and the public. Direct geographic and policy-research peer.
• Howard H. Baker Jr. Center for Public Policy: University of Tennessee policy research center named after a U.S. Senator that combines student leadership development, applied policy research, and public programming. Closest analog in mission and namesake structure.
• University of Maryland School of Public Policy: Public university policy school conducting state and federal policy research with applied student programs. Comparable as a university-anchored interdisciplinary policy research and training center.
• Rockefeller Institute of Government: State-focused public policy research institute housed within the State University of New York at Albany, conducting interdisciplinary research and serving as a bridge between academia and state government. Highly comparable as a university-affiliated policy research center serving a single state.
• University of Virginia Center for Politics: University-affiliated center combining political research, student civic engagement programs, and public-facing analysis. Comparable as a university-based center that pairs research with leadership/civic development programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/umainepolicy
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC6wgWkIT3-42waIG5rZxt8A
• Facebookfacebook.com/umainepolicycenter
• Instagraminstagram.com/mcs.policy.center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/umainepolicy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Margaret Chase Smith Policy Center