Spring Cleaning:

A Simple Tune-Up for Your Future Education Plans

Does planning for your child’s future feel daunting? The good news is that small, simple steps can make a big difference over time. This spring, take a few minutes to “clean up” your college-prep to-do list with these easy tasks:

1. Update your Alfond Grant contact information: Are you receiving quarterly updates about your child’s Alfond Grant? If not, be sure your contact information is up to date so you don’t miss important summaries and reminders. If your Alfond Grant is linked to a NextGen 529 account, contact your account servicer to update your address.
2. Check your child’s Alfond Grant value: Take a moment to review your child’s latest Alfond Grant Value, or view an Estimated Grant Value online.
3. Try our Education Savings Calculator: See how even small monthly contributions can grow over time with our free Education Savings Calculator.
4. Register for a free webinar: At 1pm on May 13, join FAME for their free Wednesday Webinar: “Multiple Pathways for Education After High School.” Did you miss the live webinar? FAME posts recorded webinars on their YouTube channel -- check it out!

Big News for Maine Students!

Have you heard the news? Maine has officially made the Maine Free College Scholarship permanent for high school graduates in the Class of 2026 and beyond.

Maine Community College President (and Alfond Scholarship Foundation Board Member) David Daigler says, “This gives future high school graduates the means and opportunity to pursue a path they may have felt was financially out of reach. And now that it’s a permanent program, a generation of young people can move with confidence and intention toward a brighter future for themselves and Maine.”

If tuition for these students is free, how can they use their Alfond Grant? Alfond Grants can be used for a variety of program-related expenses such as fees, books, supplies, and required equipment, in addition to tuition and room and board.

May 29th is National 529 Day

National 529 Day is right around the corner! It’s a great reminder that saving for a child’s future education can be simple—and anyone can help. Contributing to a 529 education savings plan is an easy way to support a child’s goals, no matter what path they choose.

NextGen 529 is Maine’s education savings plan, designed to help families save for future education and training expenses.

Nearly 180,000 Maine children have received the $500 Alfond Grant—join tens of thousands of parents like you from across the state who have opened their own NextGen 529 account to help build on that head start! Anyone can open a 529 account for a child, including parents, grandparents, relatives, friends, or mentors—and anyone can contribute.

Why save with a 529 plan?

• Earnings grow tax-deferred
• Withdrawals are tax-free when used for qualified education expenses
• Maine offers a state tax deduction for contributions
• Funds can be used for college, trade school, certifications, and more, along with related qualified expenses
• Easy online enrollment with multiple account options based on your level of comfort with investment products
• Unused funds have flexible options

Learn more and open an account online through the NextGen 529 website below.

Alfond Scholarship Foundation is not an authorized distributor of NextGen 529.

Click here for more information.

From the Blog Archives:

Bug ID Checklist

As Maine’s trees and gardens come to life, so do the insects that call them home!

Download our free printable Bug ID Checklist and see how many bugs you can find in your yard, at a nearby park, or on your next outdoor adventure.

It’s easy to download and print at home, and it might even inspire a future entomologist (bug scientist)!

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