Giving
Thank you for considering the Darling Marine Center as a recipient of your gift. We greatly appreciate it.
Your gift to the Darling Marine Center will bring more students to our Walpole, Maine to work with our scientists and business and community partners. In addition to gaining vital research experience, students in residence at the DMC in the summer and during our fall Semester-by-the-Sea also hone their professional skills through events such as the SEA Fellows Symposium and other opportunities for science communication and community engagement. No amount is too small and we appreciate whatever you can give.
Donations can be made using the University of Maine Foundation’s online portal and specifying Darling Marine Center as the recipient.
If you prefer to send a check, please make it payable to the University of Maine Foundation, designate “Darling Marine Center” on the memo line, and mail it to:
Jessica Hosford, Philanthropy Officer
University of Maine Foundation
Two Alumni Place
Orono, ME 04469
If you are in a position to fully fund an undergraduate summer intern ($8,500) or would like to discuss additional giving options with our philanthropy officer, please call Jessica at 207-581-5100.
A long and generous history of philanthropy
The Darling Marine Center was established in 1965 when Ira C. Darling donated his Walpole farm to the University of Maine with the expressed intent of establishing a marine laboratory on the shore of the Damariscotta River Estuary. To help maintain and improve the property, Mr. Darling also created the largest trust in the university’s history, which included endowments for two chaired professorships.
Other significant contributions followed. The waterfront property and cottage of Mr. George Willett now accommodates visiting researchers; the building that housed the first classroom and lecture hall, now part of the library, was a gift from the Kresge Foundation; Betty Noyce supported expansion of our first flowing seawater laboratory; and Professor John Dearborn and his wife Bethel created a trust to support capstone research and other educational opportunities for Darling Marine Center students.
Additional philanthropic donations to strengthen DMC programming and student research comes from many alumni, friends, foundations, and corporations and we are grateful to each and every one. Without ongoing support, our work would not be possible.