Maine Trails Coalition

What Maine Trails Coalition does

Maine Trails Coalition is a nonprofit, member-based advocacy coalition founded in 2019 and headquartered in Newport, Maine. Its mission is to advance trail stewardship, public access, and sustainable funding for trails across the state. The coalition represents more than 400 organizations spanning trail groups, businesses, and public agencies, and it functions as the coordinating voice for Maine's trail community in policy and funding decisions.

The coalition's core deliverables combine advocacy, programming, and lightweight digital infrastructure. Its signature achievement is the successful advocacy for a $30 million Maine Trails Bond passed in 2024, which is now being administered through the Maine Trails Program. The coalition runs a Trail Services Directory (a web-based resource for trail users and applicants), an MTP Ambassador Volunteer Program for grassroots stewardship, and applicant resources and tip sheets to support organizations seeking trail grants. In November 2025 it completed the inaugural funding round, distributing $7.5 million to 44 organizations from a pool of more than 100 applicants. It partners with the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL), the Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM), and the Outdoor Sport Institute to execute policy and on-the-ground stewardship.

The coalition operates on a lean, largely volunteer-driven cost structure with 1-10 employees and is led by Director Leigh Hallett through the 2025-2026 bond implementation period. Revenue mechanics are typical of a 501(c)-style nonprofit: member dues, private donations, and limited grants, with the state bond functioning as administered (not earned) capital. Go-to-market is member-driven coalition-building rather than commercial sales, and customer segments are member organizations and the broader Maine trail-using public rather than paying customers.

Name

Maine Trails Coalition

Legal name

Maine Trails Coalition

Website

https://mainetrailscoalition.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Maine Trails Coalition is a nonprofit member-based coalition founded in 2019 that advocates for trail stewardship, funding, and access across Maine, representing 400+ organizations and successfully securing a $30 million state trails bond in 2024.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Trail Advocacy and Stewardship

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Civic and Social Organizations (813410)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Training, Enablement & Talent Development Summits (THAHAMAH)

Keywords

• Trail advocacy coalition
• Outdoor recreation policy
• Trail infrastructure funding
• Nonprofit land stewardship
• Grant applicant support

Headquarters

HQ city

Newport

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Member Dues and Coalition Support: MTC is a member-based coalition founded in 2019, supported by organizations, businesses, and public agencies that pay dues or provide support to champion trails as essential infrastructure. Revenue supports coalition building, grant application assistance, and advocacy.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Maine Trails Coalition (MTC) is a nonprofit member-based coalition that unites organizations, businesses, and public agencies to advocate for trail establishment, stewardship, and access across Maine. MTC supports applicants to the $30M state-funded Maine Trails Program (MTP) through the MTP Ambassador Volunteer mentorship network, an interactive Trail Services Directory, applicant tip sheets and guides, and curated trail-industry job boards.

Product overview

The Maine Trails Coalition is a nonprofit coalition (founded 2019) offering a portfolio of programs and resources focused on trail advocacy, funding, and workforce development across Maine. The primary offering is the Maine Trails Program (MTP), a $30M bond-funded grant program administered by the Bureau of Parks and Lands, which provides capital funding for trail projects statewide. Supporting services include the Trail Services Directory (an interactive directory connecting users with contractors and mentors), the MTP Ambassador Volunteer Program (peer mentorship for applicants), and applicant tip sheets. The coalition also maintains curated job boards for trail industry careers and seasonal positions. These offerings work together to advance the coalition's mission of championing trails as essential infrastructure for health, community, and outdoor recreation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Maine Trails Program (MTP) Support A state-funded grant program administered by the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands providing up to $30M in trail capital improvements and acquisitions statewide. MTC supports applicants through Ambassador mentorship, tip sheets, and workshops.
• Trail Services Directory An interactive online directory connecting trail organizations with verified trail contractors, service providers, MTC Ambassador volunteers, Bureau of Parks and Lands contacts, and MTC committees to support trail projects across Maine.
• MTP Ambassador Volunteer Program A peer mentorship program connecting potential MTP applicants with experienced volunteers who provide guidance on project planning, application processes, and grant navigation by sector and geography.
• MTP Applicant Tip Sheets and Guides Custom guidance documents including guides on organization status and tax rules, state agency reviews, and MTP contracting and soliciting bids, designed to help applicants navigate the grant process.
• Trail and Outdoor Recreation Job Boards Curated lists of job boards and employment resources for trail and outdoor recreation careers in Maine, including state parks, land trusts, nonprofit organizations, and conservation corps.
• Seasonal Trail Jobs Listings Links to seasonal and internship positions tailored for students, young adults, and career changers, including hands-on trail crews, youth corps, and conservation internships at organizations such as the Maine Conservation Corps and Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

Named customers6 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

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and flagship.

• Bureau of Parks and Lands (BPL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBPL administers the Maine Trails Program within the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. MTC works alongside BPL to help organizations across the state navigate the MTP application process, providing applicant support, workshops, and feedback that shapes the program's development.
• Natural Resources Council of MainesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNRCM supported MTC's MTP Task Force and Ambassador volunteer network, helping ramp up applicant support efforts. Collaboration between organizations to advance trail funding and stewardship across Maine.
• MTP Ambassador VolunteerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of experienced volunteers ready to help potential MTP applicants plan projects, align with program requirements, and navigate the application process. Available by sector expertise, geographic area, and technical knowledge.
• Outdoor Sport InstituteflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOSI is the lead organization for Katahdin Area Trails initiative, partnering with MTC and BPL to deploy MTP funds. MTC features OSI projects as success stories demonstrating how MTP grants accelerate regional trail development.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Rails-to-Trails Conservancy: National nonprofit that converts abandoned rail corridors into multi-use trails. Comparable to MTC as a nonprofit trail advocacy organization focused on building, protecting, and connecting trail networks and mobilizing public funding for trails.
• American Hiking Society: National nonprofit dedicated to hiking and trail stewardship across the U.S. Highly comparable to MTC as a trail advocacy and volunteer-driven organization, but operating nationally and at a much larger scale rather than within a single state.
• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit that creates parks and protects land for public use, including trail projects. Comparable to MTC's mission of building trails as essential public infrastructure and mobilizing public funding.
• National Recreation and Park Association: National nonprofit advancing park and recreation development, advocacy, and workforce training. Comparable to MTC's mix of trail advocacy, funding support, and workforce development programming.

Direct peers

• Appalachian Trail Conservancy: Nonprofit steward of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail, focused on trail management, volunteer coordination, and protected-land advocacy. Comparable to MTC in operating Ambassador-style volunteer programs and trail workforce pipelines.
• Outdoor Sport Institute: Nonprofit partner organization leading the Katahdin Area Trails initiative with $250K of MTP funding. Comparable to MTC member organizations building and maintaining community trail systems in Maine.
• Partnership for the National Trails System: Coalition of 30+ national trail organizations coordinating stewardship, advocacy, and funding for America's scenic and historic trails. Closely analogous to MTC's role as a unifying coalition voice for trails.
• Great Works Regional Land Trust: Maine-based nonprofit land trust using MTP funding to build its first universally accessible trail at Old Boston Preserve. Comparable as a Maine land trust member of MTC navigating MTP grants.
• Natural Resources Council of Maine: Maine's leading environmental advocacy organization and an MTC partner on the MTP Task Force and Ambassador network. Directly comparable as a state-level advocacy nonprofit working on conservation funding and policy.

Emerging players

• Student Conservation Association: National nonprofit placing young adults in conservation service, including trail-building crews. Comparable to MTC's trail workforce and seasonal job board programming.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/MaineTrailsCoalition
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/maine-trails-coalition

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Maine Trails Coalition