PORTLAND, Maine — March 25, 2026 — The University of Southern Maine Foundation today announced a transformational $5 million anonymous trust commitment to the Promise 10 for 10 Campaign—issued as a matching gift challenge to inspire additional support for the University’s Promise Scholarship program.
Promise 10 for 10 was launched earlier this year with the aim of raising $10 million in endowed funds ahead of the scholarship’s 10th anniversary in 2027. The additional endowment investments will support USM’s goal of funding at least 100 Promise Scholars at a time, in perpetuity.
The match has already inspired an additional $250,000 gift.
“This is what momentum looks like,” said Corey Hascall ’99, President and CEO of the University of Southern Maine Foundation. “A bold commitment that says, ‘We believe in this program and its students—and we invite others to join us.’ The Promise Scholarship is one of the clearest expressions of The Power of USM, and this matching gift gives our entire community the chance to be part of something truly transformative.”
Since its founding, the Promise Scholarship has helped remove barriers to higher education for Maine students who are the first in their families to attend college, identifying talented, service-oriented Maine students and supporting their path to graduating with little to no debt. The program goes beyond financial support, surrounding them with unique supports including mentorship, career development, and a strong community of belonging.
“The essence of Promise is simply the belief in students—and their belief in themselves,” said Daniel Barton, Director of the Promise Scholars program. “I get to witness that transformation every day. Students arrive with incredible potential, and when you remove barriers and surround them with support, that belief starts to grow. This matching challenge means more students will have that opportunity—not just today, but for generations to come.”
With over $5 million now in place, the campaign enters a new phase—one defined by urgency, collective action, and the power of shared belief.
“Promise, for me, was about belonging and resilience,” said Promise alumna Elizabeth Muana, now an infectious disease specialist working in Bangor. “The support of the program made it easier to keep dreaming bigger, because I knew that my advisor and my fellow Scholars had my back. That’s what supporting Promise means – you’re allowing Maine students to follow bigger dreams.”
For more information about the Promise 10 for 10 Campaign, visit https://usm.maine.edu/foundation/current-priorities/promise-scholars-program/.