For more than 50 years, the Mayhew Program has quietly changed the lives of New Hampshire boys by giving them structure, consistency, and something to believe in. A recent $1 million donation is now positioning the organization for its most significant moment of growth in decades.
Executive Director Peter Saliba said learning about the gift took a moment to fully register.
“I did a double take,” he said. “It was amazing news. We were incredibly humbled to be the benefactor of something like this. It’s truly a game changer and gives us the opportunity to serve more boys.”
The donor—who has been connected to Mayhew since the 1980s—had included the organization in an estate plan. However, the full scale of the gift was not known to Mayhew until recently. For a program that is entirely tuition free and relies almost exclusively on private donations, the impact is substantial.
An Overview of Mayhew
The Mayhew Program serves boys from low income, foster, or otherwise at risk backgrounds. Each year, about 225 boys participate in a long term model that combines a multi week residential summer experience with year round mentoring and support.
At Mayhew, boys learn important life skills.
Along the way they learn teamwork, responsibility, and perseverance through outdoor challenges, leadership opportunities, and consistent adult guidance. The program currently reaches only about a third of the boys who apply.
Plans for Future Growth
Saliba emphasized that the $1 million donation will be used thoughtfully, with decisions guided by an ongoing strategic planning process and the organization’s board of directors.
One immediate need is facilities. To serve more boys, Mayhew will need to construct an additional cabin on the island and hire at least one more full-time staff member. The larger goal, however, is long term sustainability through endowment growth.
Mayhew’s target endowment is between $2 million and $2.5 million. This gift brings the organization roughly halfway there.
“If we can grow the endowment and bring in additional donors, we could realistically serve about 30 more boys,” Saliba said. “That’s the hope.”
Endowment funds take time to impact day to day operations. Saliba noted it typically takes about three years before endowment growth is reflected in the operating budget, underscoring why careful planning is essential.
Investing in People Who Do the Work
Beyond expanding capacity, the donation also opens the door to strengthening staff support. Mayhew employs year round staff who work directly with boys both on the island and during monthly school year check ins across the state.
“If the endowment reaches the level we’re aiming for, it allows us to improve compensation, benefits, and professional development for staff,” Saliba said. “That’s critical when the work is this demanding and this important.”
Mayhew receives no government or state funding, aside from a small meal grant tied to federal lunch eligibility. About 80 percent of donations go directly toward programming for boys. Many participants come from households facing poverty, housing instability, or family disruption; roughly 90 percent do not live with both parents.
“There’s a sense of urgency,” Saliba said. “We know the need is there. We just have to grow wisely.”
A Reflection of Community Trust
Saliba sees the donation as a broader statement about confidence in Mayhew’s mission and in community based solutions more generally.
“New Hampshire is unique,” he said. “There isn’t a lot of state funding for organizations like ours. People here choose to come together and make a difference rather than waiting for a government agency to do it.”
That trust, he said, has been earned over generations. Mayhew’s roots date back to 1893, and many donors remain involved for decades because they believe their contributions are being used responsibly and effectively.
“People stay because they see the impact,” Saliba said. “They have faith in what we’re doing.”
Building What Comes Next
Over the next year, Saliba said the community should expect deliberate progress rather than sudden change.
“This gift deserves thoughtful use,” he said. “What people will see is an increase in both the quantity and quality of what we’re doing for our boys, while staying true to our historical formula of believing in them so they can believe in themselves.”
He added that the board expects to solidify the organization’s growth direction within the coming months, with the hope of serving more boys as early as 2027.
Above all, Saliba stressed gratitude.
“We’re incredibly thankful,” he said. “To this donor and to everyone who supports Mayhew at any level—you are making a real difference in the lives of boys across New Hampshire.”
If you would like to donate to Mayhew, visit https://www.mayhew.org/giveonline.
