Maine
New Hampshire
Massachusetts
Do you need support?
New Hampshire-based nonprofit Friends Forever International has a straightforward mission: to help youth become the best versions of themselves so they can help their community become the best version of itself. Although headquartered in Durham, NH, they run programs around the world that empower youth from diverse backgrounds to tackle local and global issues. Although they went solar with ReVision Energy in 2016, they are now looking to expand their solar energy production with a second array – and they’re hoping to fund it with community-driven donations.
Two quick points you need to know about FFI’s solar fundraiser:
“It’s not theoretical,” FFI’s CEO Stephen Martineau explains. “Every couple thousand dollars we save is an extra scholarship. I look at the books and when our electric bills go down, I tell our program director that we can take more students.”
Their existing 18 kw solar array, installed on their Durham office by ReVision Energy in 2016, has performed well, generating over 142 megawatt-hours of clean energy. But as electric rates increase, and FFI works to get away from fossil fuels on their campus, they need more solar energy to offset their bills.
FFI's Durham farmhouse, where their new solar array will go. “We love working in New Hampshire and our community here is so supportive,” says Stephen. “But New Hampshire is 50th in the nation in charitable giving per capita. As nonprofits, we can’t just be frustrated by that. We need to find creative ways to make up the difference through dollars earned or donated – or dollars saved. When we looked at our budget, our energy bill was the best way to save money.”
Before going solar in 2016, FFI had an energy audit done, and has worked to weatherize their buildings. They’ve cut down on costs as much as possible, and are lean on staffing, events, and other organizational expenses.
“For us, solar is also about independence,” says Stephen. “The more a nonprofit can avoid the variables and chaos of the world, the stronger it becomes. We emphasize reliability and independence in the young people we work with, and solar is a tangible way of doing that for our organization. Our energy rate will be steady because we’re doing solar, regardless of what happens in the world.”
The educational and demonstratable use of solar is also important to FFI. FFI models the behaviors they teach: they operate a fully plant‑based campus, encourage energy conservation and composting, and have rewilded their outdoor spaces to support native pollinators. Solar is the final major element of a long‑term sustainability strategy that they hope will inspire the local community. More than 20,000 cars pass FFI’s uniquely colored farmhouse each day on Route 4. With a new solar array on its roof, the building will become a visible reminder that solar belongs everywhere, including traditional New England buildings.
As an organization rooted in conflict-resolution – the first group of FFI leaders were based in Northern Ireland in 1986 – safety and security are top priority when establishing programming. And solar is an integral part of that security plan.
“Safety, security, and solar. That’s the model we’re using as we build out our hubs,” says Stephen. “You can’t plan for young people or the future without thinking about energy. It sits at the intersection of mental health, global conflict, and every challenge our communities face.”
For many nonprofits, the greatest barrier to solar is the upfront cost, even though long‑term savings are significant. This is where donor support becomes critical.
Every contribution to FFI’s solar project helps:
The impacts are immediate, and clear. When FFI reduces their electric bill by going solar, they help more young people become leaders in their communities – including right here in Maine and New Hampshire.