Keepers Preservation Education Fund

Name: Keepers Preservation Education Fund

Award Amount: Varies (typically one or more awards each cycle)

Information And Eligibility:
The Keepers Preservation Education Fund is a scholarship and financial support program administered by the Maine Community Foundation to assist Maine residents who are pursuing education or training that preserves and promotes the state’s cultural heritage, traditional crafts, natural resource stewardship, and community history. This fund honors the legacy of individuals and organizations dedicated to safeguarding Maine’s heritage by providing educational opportunities that strengthen cultural preservation, craft traditions, local knowledge, and place-based understanding. Scholars are selected based on their commitment to educational goals that align with preservation and educational outreach, reflecting the fund’s mission to support students and learners who will contribute positively to Maine’s cultural and natural legacy.

The scholarship is open to Maine residents who are either high school seniors planning to continue their education or current college students and lifelong learners seeking formal training, certificates, workshops, apprenticeships, or degree programs that support preservation education. Eligible fields include—but are not limited to historic preservation, traditional craftsmanship, cultural documentation, community heritage studies, environmental stewardship, and museum or library sciences. Because the focus of the fund is educational growth with real-world community impact, applicants are evaluated on both academic or professional potential and their connection to preservation work that benefits local communities and cultural landscapes.

Award amounts vary by year based on available funding and applicant pool strength, and recipients may receive one-time grants or renewable support depending on the specific award guidelines and needs. Funds may be applied toward tuition, course fees, books, travel for educational immersion experiences, workshop or certification fees, materials necessary for hands-on craft training, or other expenses directly linked to educational goals.

Eligibility Requirements:

• Must be a current Maine resident.
• Must be a high school senior, undergraduate student, graduate student, or adult learner pursuing education or training related to preservation, heritage, or traditional skills.
• Must plan to enroll or be enrolled in an accredited college, university, training program, certificate course, workshop, or apprenticeship that supports preservation education goals.
• Must demonstrate a strong connection to preservation, cultural heritage, traditional craft, environmental stewardship, or community documentation through past activities or future plans.

Application Requirements:

• Completed online application for the Keepers Preservation Education Fund through the Maine Community Foundation portal.
• Academic transcript(s) or documentation of current or planned enrollment.
• Personal essay or statement describing educational goals, connection to preservation work, and how the scholarship will support these goals.
• Resume or summary of relevant experience, volunteer work, community engagement, or craft training.
• Letters of recommendation from educators, mentors, or community leaders familiar with the applicant’s goals.

Additional Details:

• Award amounts and number of scholarships vary each cycle based on available funding and applicant demand.
• Funds may be used for tuition, fees, books, workshop costs, certification fees, or other educational expenses tied to the applicant’s preservation or heritage goals.
• Recipients may be recognized in MaineCF communications and at related community or foundation events.
• Applications are reviewed through a competitive process that considers both academic and experiential strengths.

Deadline: March

Apply Now

View Scholarship Data

Scholarship Categorization