Rural Youth Institute Awards Three Maine Organizations with 2026 Grant Funding
Following the announcement for the Aspirations Incubator Request for Proposals in December 2025, the Rural Youth Institute has awarded three organizations with grant funding to propel their programming and growth in 2026.
Planning Grant: Augusta Teen Center
The Augusta Teen Center, located in the heart of Maine’s capital, is an organization dedicated to inspiring youth to reach their full potential and become active, engaged members of their community. The center provides a nurturing environment where teens can explore new interests, develop critical life skills, and build meaningful relationships.
The center was awarded a planning grant, designed to help assess their readiness to adopt an Aspirations Incubator long-term youth development and mentoring model that partners with local middle and high schools. Through this process, the organization will form a planning team, conduct a community needs assessment, ensure organizational capacity and develop an Aspirations Incubator conceptual design.
“Receiving the Aspirations Incubator planning grant gives us the momentum to bring educators, families, mentors, and—most importantly—youth themselves into a shared planning process. Together, we will design coordinated, youth-guided supports that help teens navigate critical transitions with belonging, purpose, and hope,” The center said.
Seed Grant: Lubec Community Outreach Center
The Lubec Community Outreach Center’s (LCOC) mission is to remove barriers and improve the lives of all people in their community. LCOC’s Aspirations Incubator program, Roots + Wings, is an opportunity for youth in grades 7-12 to explore their hopes and dreams while learning about how they can choose to live and thrive in the Downeast.
Funding from the Rural Youth Institute's Seed Grant provides LCOC with the financial support needed to implement their Aspirations Incubator model, ensuring consistent stability throughout the implementation process.
“We feel grateful and excited to be a part of the Aspirations Incubator network; working with the Rural Youth Institute provides intellectual and financial resources that will drive our program forward. Being a Seed Grant recipient gives us confidence that we can—and will—be an impactful part of supporting youth in our community through their middle and high school journey, and that our efforts will play a small part in their becoming healthy, thriving and engaged adults. Thank you, RYI, for investing in our future,” said Jennifer Bristol, Executive Director of LCOC.
Seed Grant: NorthStar 4-H Youth Mentoring Program
NorthStar 4-H has been an Aspirations Incubator partner since its inception in 2017, firmly dedicated to their goal of ensuring that every rural Maine youth has access to positive relationships and enriching experiences.
Since joining the RYI network, NorthStar 4-H has expanded programming into three Maine school systems—this grant will allow this work to continue. Funding from the seed grant will enable UMaine 4-H's NorthStar program to expand into the Oxford Hills schools and community.
“Rural Youth Institute funding expands NorthStar 4-H’s ability to reach more young people in Oxford County through hands-on experiences and relationships with supportive mentors, helping youth build confidence, skills, and meaningful connections. We’re grateful to be entering our third year in partnership with MSAD #17, the Oxford Hills community, and the generous funders who make this work possible,” The program’s team said.
Support Rural Youth
Make a difference in the rural communities of Maine by supporting initiatives like these grants. To learn more about how you can support the Rural Youth Institute and its partners, click the button below.
