The Maine Development Foundation (MDF) drives sustainable, long-term economic growth for Maine. MDF stimulates new ideas, develops leaders, and provides common ground for solving problems and advancing issues.

To accomplish its mission, MDF:

• Empowers leaders to act through Leadership Maine and Policy Leaders Academy. Leadership is the most important ingredient in the complex process of economic development.
• Strengthens Maine communities through the Maine Downtown Center, Capital Riverfront Improvement District, and The Fund for the Efficient Delivery of Local and Regional Services. Maine's downtown communities are vitally important economic assets.
• Guides public policy through the Maine Economic Growth Council, Employer Initiative, Mapping, and REALIZE!Maine. Effective decision making requires objective and reliable information.

MDF is private, non-profit corporation, with an IRS 501 (c) (3) status. MDF was created by the Governor and Legislature in 1978 with a broad mandate to promote the economy. We are funded by fee-for-service, private contributions, memberships, and foundations. Less than 10% of our revenue is from state government contracts. We receive no general state appropriation.

The MDF Board of Directors is comprised of no less than fifteen business people, educators, government officials and community leaders, who are elected each year from among the 300 corporators. MDF has a small staff of nine professionals and makes extensive use of volunteers, loaned executives and consultants to deliver its core programs, described below.

MDF's 300 members represent companies, educational institutions, municipalities, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations throughout the state. MDF provides a common ground for leaders to discuss and act on issues affecting Maine's economy.

For more information about the Maine Development Foundation, please send us e-mail at mdf@mdf.org . If you looking a particular staff person, please view our staff list.