Breaking down barriers so everyone can be water-safe.
Our Mission
Maine Community Swimming breaks down barriers to swimming by providing financially accessible and inclusive programs, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to become water-safe. Through education and community engagement, we strive to build a water-safe community, fostering a safer and healthier society and promoting lifelong water safety.
Maine Community Swimming is Now a Nonprofit
Big News!
As of July 1st, 2026, Maine Community Swimming is a 501(c)(3) organization and all donations are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. You can make a donation directly to our work here.
Thank you for your support!
We would like to share our gratitude to the Foundation for Portland Public Schools for their two years of partnership as our fiscal sponsors.
Thank You, Noel Mallory!
Gatorade Player of the Year
This June we were thrilled to receive a $1,000 donation from Noel Mallory, 2026 graduate of Cape Elizabeth High School and Maine Girls Soccer player, and Gatorade Player of the Year.
Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation’s best high school athletes for their excellence in sport, academics and community. As part of Gatorade’s commitment to breaking down barriers in sport, every Player of the Year also receives a grant to donate to a social impact partner. To date, the Gatorade Player of the Year program has provided more than $6.4 million in grants to winners across more than 2,200 organizations. Noel chose Maine Community Swimming. Thank you, Noel!
Our Programs
1,500 lessons taught
315 people served
46 volunteers engaged
500 volunteer hours clocked
18 organizational partners
Our programming provides water safety education and swimming lessons ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to learn essential swimming skills, regardless of their background or abilities. By making swimming education more accessible, we intend to reduce the risk of drowning incidents, particularly among those who may face barriers to accessing traditional swimming programs.
Connect
Schools with local swim lesson providers and partners, both municipal and nonprofit.
Provide
Water safety education materials and water safety instructor programs that are culturally relevant and trauma informed.
Share
Events, perspectives, and stories to build awareness around the need for water safety education in our communities.
Our Community Partners
At Maine Community Swimming, we believe our partnerships make us stronger. We are grateful to many organizations for their collaboration that makes our work and programming possible.
Testimonials from Our Community
“Over the past few weeks, we’ve worked hand-in-hand to break down barriers to accessibility, educate, and challenge stereotypes around Black/Immigrant communities and water safety…From limited access to facilities, lack of culturally relevant education, to stereotypes that have long discouraged participation-these barriers can be life-threatening. That’s why our partnership with Maine Community Swim has been so crucial. Together, we’ve provided a safe, supportive environment for everyone to learn and grow.
We’ve seen participants of all ages make incredible progress, gaining not just swimming skills but also confidence in and around the water. Thank you to everyone who joined us, supported us, and believed in the power of community. Let’s keep swimming towards a future where everyone has the skills and confidence to stay safe and enjoy the water!”
“It’s really a good thing for the Maine community especially for the newcomers who want to know how to swim for their safety and also to have fun.”
— Swim Lesson Participant Eugenie Mukankwiro
