Campaign for the Gulf of Maine Raises Over $22 Million
PORTLAND, Maine (PRWEB) July 10, 2018 -- Last month, the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) announced a total of $22.8 million was raised at the conclusion of their Campaign for the Gulf of Maine. The organization celebrated this achievement with campaign supporters at its annual Leadership Dinner in Portland.
This comprehensive campaign stretched from 2014–2018, and included a mixture of endowment and operating gifts. New endowment funds will provide long-term support for:
- Senior scientists and marine research focused on the Gulf of Maine ecosystem;
- Science education to benefit students and teachers from all 16 of Maine's counties; and
- Institutional leadership positions.
A Growing Organization:
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has grown rapidly since building their Commercial Street lab in 2005. The organization — then a staff of fewer than 20 and an operating budget of $3.5 million — now operates at $11 million annually, employing over 70 scientists, seafood experts, and education professionals, along with administrative staff.
“As a young institution, we are humbled by the many donors who stepped forward and expressed confidence in our work,” said GMRI CEO/President Don Perkins. “When we first built the lab, we had a dream about what this place could be. Today, we’ve realized that dream, and I now share it with a lab full of dedicated coworkers and external partners. People around here know the Gulf of Maine is special — and nothing proves that more than the support we’ve received from our community. We’re so grateful for their commitment to our shared goals.”
The mission of the Gulf of Maine Research Institute is to pioneer collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. Located in Portland, GMRI is dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. GMRI takes an integrated approach to this mission, combining internationally recognized research scientists, commercial fishing and seafood supply chain experts who work directly with fishermen and seafood markets, and a team of education specialists who have engaged over 120,000 Maine students in hands-on science learning. The organization also recently completed a new strategic plan, which will guide their next half-decade of work in the Gulf of Maine.
Local Leadership:
The campaign reached its $22.8 million conclusion with the support of over 1,200 donors, many of whom were first-time contributors. In addition to these new gifts, longtime friends of the organization provided crucial leadership. Among these leaders is local entrepreneur Corky Ellis, founder of Portland’s Kepware Technologies. Ellis and his wife, GMRI Honorary Director Marion Freeman, have been steadfast champions of the organization for many years. In addition to financial support, Ellis helped lead the organization as a board member, board chair, and volunteer fundraiser during the campaign.
“Marion and I have made the Gulf of Maine Research Institute a top priority for our financial and post-career support,” said Ellis. “GMRI addresses critical global issues with leading edge scientific research, and makes it “real” by applying that data to Maine coastal communities and educating young people about the future of the ocean. Their scientific research on climate change and its effect on the ocean addresses a big challenge to the world, and helps Maine and its coastal communities prepare for the consequences of a warming Gulf of Maine. They do critical work in this area, and we are happy to support them.”
What’s Next?
The campaign celebration kicks off a busy summer for GMRI. Concurrent with the campaign, a separate fundraising initiative has positioned the organization to redesign its cornerstone education program, LabVenture.
LabVenture has provided hands-on science education to over 120,000 Maine middle schoolers — roughly 10,000 each year since its inception — and is slated for big changes. GMRI will spend the summer updating the program’s content, technological platform, and physical space. The organization plans to celebrate these updates in September, when the first students will join them on Commercial Street for the new LabVenture experience.
About the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI):
The Gulf of Maine Research Institute pioneers collaborative solutions to global ocean challenges. Located in Portland, ME, GMRI is dedicated to the resilience of the Gulf of Maine ecosystem and the communities that depend on it. For more information, visit http://www.gmri.org.
Elijah Miller, Gulf of Maine Research Institute, http://www.gmri.org, (207) 577-2886, [email protected]
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