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MPC 2009 Annual Meeting
 MPC's Annual Meeting celebrated the accomplishments of the past year and acknowledged the work of our members and the state's philanthopic sector during what was one of the most tumultuous years in recent history.
We are delighted that Ralph Smith, Executive Vice President of The Annie E. Casey Foundation was our guest speaker this year. Ralph's remarks focused on Casey's work in Maine around children and youth as well as on the leadership role of philanthropy in this economy and with the new administration in Washington.
As one of the country's largest private foundations, the Casey Foundation focuses on helping vulnerable children to thrive in safe, nurturing, and strong families. Its funding helps families throughout Maine through the Casey Family Services program in Portland. Currently the board chair for the Council on Foundations, Mr. Smith also brought a broad view of the changes affecting philanthropy in this country.
We also featured an inspiring Maine film project that tells a powerful story of three senior citizens who use a simple handshake to change their own lives while touching the lives of nearly one million U.S. troops they’ve greeted at the Bangor airport. We showed a preview of The Way We Get By and heard from the film's directors, Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly, as well as how Bangor Savings Bank got involved to make sure this story was told beyond Maine.
We are especially grateful to Bangor Savings Bank
for sponsoring this program.
The Annual Meeting will be held in the Abromson Center on the USM campus at 3 p.m. with a reception to follow. Click here to register!
Philanthropy in a Changing Economy
The dramatic impact of the economic downturn on philanthropy (including endowments, grant budgets, charitable giving, communities, policy decisions, nonprofit organizations and vulnerable populations) will require new navigation skills. At the Maine Philanthropy Center, we are tracking and compiling news, resources, tools and local ideas to help the philanthropy community lead and respond to the changing economy in Maine. For a selection of the information and resources related to grantmaking and the new economic reality, click here.
Recent Events
 Go Local: Supporting Sustainable Agriculture
A recent program co-hosted by the Maine Community Foundation and MPC was the perfect setting to unveil a new initiative to provide greater philanthropic support for local agriculture and announce a $1 million funding commitment to preserve working farms in Maine. The program brought together funders interested in exploring how philanthropy can do more to help sustain Maine agriculture in the 21st century. To learn more about the information shared and to download materials from the program, click here.
 Turning Up the Heat on Maine's Energy Crisis: Philanthropy's Role in Creating Local Solutions
With the mercury climbing higher every day, it becomes a little easier to forget the worry that many Mainers shared last fall when fuel prices were at record levels. Though fuel costs did drop before the real chill of winter set in, the worsening economic situation made it even tougher for many residents to meet their basic human needs last winter. In the face of this crisis, the philanthropic community stepped up to help families around the state. A new report, Philanthropic Investments in Energy and Food Security, compiled by the Maine Philanthropy Center tracks the $3.2 million in charitable gifts made by foundations during the fall and winter months last year. Recently MPC brought together a group of grantmakers, state policy makers, and community leaders for another look at philanthropy’s role in partnering with the public, private and nonprofit sectors to create solutions to Maine's energy and food security challenges. To learn more, click here.
New Reports & Publications
 Philanthropic Investments in Energy and Food Security - 2009 Report
A new report compiled by the Maine Philanthropy Center tracks the charitable gifts made by foundations during the fall and winter months last year. Altogether some $3.2 million dollars were given to initiatives around the state to help with fuel assistance, home weatherization, and food security. Of the $3.2 million in funds raised and grants awarded, $2,487,380 went to energy-related programs while $713,535 went to food security. Click here to download a PDF copy of the report and associated appendixes.
PHI's Northern New England LEADS Institute
A recent report on PHI’s Northern New England LEADS Institute provides an evaluation of this three year culture change initiative that worked with nursing homes and home health agencies in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. Supported by Jane’s Trust and the Langeloth Foundation, the goal of the LEADS Institute was to improve, over the course of three years, the quality of direct care jobs by providing training, technical assistance, and cross-learning opportunities among 12 provider partners. Five of these 12 sites are located in Maine. To read the full executive summary …
Giving in Maine - 2009 Update
This update on the status of Giving in Maine was released at the 2009 convening of the State of Maine Philanthropy: Philanthropic Leadership in Challenging Times. Click here to download a PDF copy.
Giving in Maine
Giving in Maine: A Report on Philanthropy in 2008 by the Maine Philanthropy Center and the Maine Community Foundation was released at the 2008 Philanthropy Partners Conference.
Click here for more information and to download a copy.
Project Streamline
This new report explores current practices in grant application and reporting and their impact on grantseekers and grantees. "Drowning in Paperwork, Distracted from Purpose: Challenges and Opportunities in Grant Application and Reporting" was prepared by Project Streamline.
The report offers principles grantmakers can adopt to reduce the burden on nonprofits, and free up more time and money for mission-based activities. Click here for more information and a PDF of the report.
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