Funder Networks

At MPC, we believe that building community and advancing learning are integral to our vision of a vibrant, just, and equitable Maine. By fostering relationships between Maine funders and increasing opportunities for learning, alignment, and collaborative action  we work to  strengthen their collective impact on the community.

While each funder network is different, they typically convene 2-6 times a year, with members who are connected through their position, funding focus, or geographic location. Maine funder networks range from informal conversation groups to pooled funding collaboratives. We directly host several funder networks and support existing funder networks throughout the state by sharing their work, creating connections between groups, and offering additional assistance such as fiscal sponsorship or meeting support.

If you are a funder who would like to join a network, we encourage you to reach out to MPC staff or the listed network coordinator. If you are interested in support for convening a group of funders, please contact Sarah Lentz at sarah@mainephilanthropy.org.

Arts and Culture Funder Network

MPC’s Arts and Culture Funder Network convenes quarterly to give funders in the arts and culture sector the opportunity to connect and learn together. The main goals of this group are currently:

  • Deepen members’ knowledge of arts and culture philanthropy
  • Expand members’ professional networks
  • Explore topical issues affecting Maine arts and culture
  • Develop collective impact strategies

2023 Meeting Dates:
To be scheduled

Arts and Culture Funder Network meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.

Contact: Sarah Lentz

BIPOC Funders in Maine

MPC’s BIPOC Funders in Maine convenes regularly as an opportunity to hold space for individuals working in philanthropy that identify as BIPOC. These gatherings are meant to build community, solidarity, and deepen connections amongst participants and create a container to share the joys, opportunities, and challenges of being a person of color in philanthropy in Maine.

2023 Meeting Dates:
To be scheduled

BIPOC Funders in Maine meetings are held via Zoom.

Contact: Jeannette Andre

Downeast Funders Network

2023 Meeting Dates:
January 11, 2023 10:00am - 11:30am
March 16, 2023 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Contact: Jeannette Andre

Early Childhood Funders Group

The mission of the Early Childhood Funders Network is to encourage and advance strategic systemic changes that will improve results for large numbers of young children birth through age eight throughout the state. 

2022 Meeting Dates:
March 11, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm - Joint meeting with Education Funders Network
May 13, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm
July 15, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm
September 9, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm
November 18, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm

*Meetings are subject to change.

Early Childhood Funders Group meetings are held via Zoom.

Contacts: Effie Rorke

Education Funders Network

Purpose of the Education Funders Network:

  • Learning that is useful to my organization’s work in education
  • Building connections, developing relationships, and having meaningful conversations with other funders working in education
  • Raising our collective awareness of the bigger picture and what is happening on the education landscape in Maine
  • Inspiring individual funders to take actions that increase the effectiveness of their education funding activities

2022 Meeting Dates:
March 11, 2022 10:00am - 12:00pm - Joint meeting with Early Childhood Funders Group
June 2, 2022 1:00pm - 3:00pm
September 13, 2022 1:00pm - 3:00pm
December 8, 2022 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Education Funders Network meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.

Contact: Erin Cinelli

Funders for Indigenous Communities

Funders for Indigenous Communities meets regularly for conversations and information sharing on supporting and partnering with Maine's Tribal communities. This newly launching funder network from Maine Philanthropy Center connects colleagues interested in or currently investing in Indigenous communities and organizations. Meetings serve as an opportunity to share learning, advance collaboration, and innovate.

2023 Meeting Dates:
May 19, 2023 10:00am - 11:30am
September 19, 2023 10:00am - 11:30am
November 16, 2023 10:00am - 11:30am

Funders for Indigenous Communities meetings are held via Zoom.

Contact: Jeannette Andre

Grant Managers Network

MPC’s Grant Managers Network is made up of grant managers or administrators at grantmaking organizations. Quarterly convenings offer community and connection for those who perform some aspect of grant management and are seeking to find support and colleagues. Meetings are loosely facilitated and the discussion is generated by those that attend.

2023 Meeting Dates:
March 9, 2023 11:00am - 12:30pm
May 18, 2023 11:00am - 12:30pm
September 7, 2023 11:00am - 12:30pm
November 30, 2023 11:00am - 12:30pm

Grant Manager Network meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.

Contact: Sarah Lentz

Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative

The Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative is a group of private and community foundations that meets bi-monthly to share information and explore funding strategies to support the refugee and immigrant community in Maine.

2023 Meeting Dates:
February 21, 2023 9:00am - 10:30am
April 25, 2023 9:00am - 5:00pm (Retreat)
June 21, 2023 9:00am - 10:30am
August 23, 2023 9:00am - 10:30am
October 24, 2023 9:00am - 10:30am
December 20, 2023 9:00am - 10:30am

Immigrant and Refugee Funders Collaborative meetings are held bi-monthly via Zoom.

Contact: Sarah Lentz

Lewiston/Auburn Funders Network

The Lewiston-Auburn Funders Network is a group of funders focused on the Lewiston and Auburn region of Maine. This new funder network will meet in order to develop ways to improve flow of information and resources to build capacity and better support collective work in Lewiston and Auburn.

2023 Meetings:
To be scheduled

Lewiston/Auburn Funders Network meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.

Contact: Sarah Lentz

Maine Climate and Environmental Funders Network

This new network is the result of a merger between the Climate Change Funders Forum and the Environmental Funders Network. The new network will address the confluence of environmental issues, topics, and synergies to create a robust and cohesive network to better connect, learn, and engage in shared actions. MCEFN will work to create greater connections among funders, create connections among funders, collectively identify learning opportunities, invite action to shared goals, and create value as “more than the sum of our parts.”  We are actively seeking funders to participate in program development or join the Advisory Committee.

2023 Meeting Dates:
April 26, 2023 from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

Maine Climate and Environmental Funders Network meetings are held periodically with a combination of Zoom and In-person gatherings.

Contact: Jeannette Andre

Maine Food Funders Network

Maine’s Food Funders Network is a newer funder network made of foundations, CDFIs and loan funds, credit unions and banks, organizations that regrant funding, philanthropy supporting organizations, Department of Agriculture and Forestry and the USDA. Come deepen your connections and collaborations in the food system funding ecosystem in Maine.

2023 Meeting Dates:
January 25, 2023 2:00pm - 4:00pm
[April meeting to be scheduled]
June 15, 2023 2:00pm - 4:00pm
September 27, 2023 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Maine Food Funders Network meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.

Contact: Sarah Lentz

Maine Health Funders

The Maine Health Funders group meets twice a year for informal discussion around health related topics in Maine. Funders share resources and updates on their Foundation’s priorities and recent awards.

2022 Meeting Dates:
February 8, 2022 1:00pm - 2:30pm

Maine Health Funders meetings are held twice yearly.

Contact: Katie Howard

Maine Oral Health Funders

The Maine Oral Health Funders (MOHF), an affinity group of funders including PCOH that first convened over 15 years ago, have been developing an initiative to promote strategic systemic changes focused on improved oral health care access and quality for all people in Maine. The MOHF have developed a 3-year plan for the initiative working toward the following goals:

  • Sustain, immediately and long-term, Maine’s five core safety-net dental centers;
  • Grow the dental workforce to increase the system’s capacity, especially the number of providers that provide care for patients with MaineCare;
  • Support provider and patient readiness for and the implementation of the MaineCare adult dental benefits taking place in July 2022; and
  • Ensure the oral health system is financially sustainable to achieve greater access to quality of oral health care for all people in Maine.

Maine Oral Health Funders meet quarterly via Zoom.

For more information, visit the Maine Oral Health Funders page.

Contact: Joy Osterhout

New to Philanthropy Network

Members of the New to Philanthropy Network are funders who have been in the field of philanthropy for less than three years. Quarterly lunchtime conversations are lightly facilitated and help build connections with others who are in a similar phase of their career. The goals of this group are to connect, learn and share learn about each other’s work and experiences.

2022 Meeting Dates:
March 8, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm
June 7, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm
September 13, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm
December 6, 2023 12:00pm - 1:00pm

New to Philanthropy Network meetings are held quarterly via Zoom.

Contact: Sarah Lentz