The organization's mission statement is: It further states that it "harnesses the power of the law, science, and the voices of more than 30,000 supporters statewide and beyond ... to protect the health of Maine’s rivers, lakes, streams, and coastal waters; promote sustainable communities through initiatives that reduce toxics pollution and waste; decrease air and climate-changing pollution through energy efficiency and renewable sources; conserve Maine lands and wildlife habitat, including our treasured North Woods; and defend the federal environmental policies and programs that help protect Maine".

In addition to working on a number of different specific program areas, NRCM monitors the legislative and executive agency rulemaking process at the state government level.

Chellie Pingree, US House of Representatives from Maine's 1st Congressional District 2008–present, is a member of NRCM's National Advisory Board.

Senator Mitchell addressed a number of different issues, including political gridlock in Washington D.C., the success of the Clean Water Act, and the need to keep working to find solutions to the challenges posed by Climate Change.

[29] In 2008, the Natural Resources Council of Maine, as part of the Partners in Penobscot River Restoration Project, received the United States Department of the Interior's Cooperative Conservation Award for their work to restore 11 species of sea-run fish and balance hydropower generation and ecological integrity in the Penobscot river watershed.