Because MPC members work on every side of an issue--as funders, nonprofits, foundation trustees, and volunteers--MPC is uniquely positioned to make connections among our members and make Maine a better place to live, work, and play.
MPC is lucky to have a dedicated, engaged board. Over the next few months, we'll be welcoming our new board members in Member Spotlights - Board Edition. Read on to meet Erin Cinelli of The Emanuel & Pauline A. Lerner Foundation.
Welcome, Erin!
It’s back to school time! What’s one interesting thing you learned recently?
As part of the research I have been doing on the Lerner Foundation's new focus on education and raising student aspirations I was reviewing the Mitchell Institute's recent data brief on college going in Maine. I found out that the number of economically disadvantaged high school seniors increased from 22% to 45% of their graduating class between 2008 - 2014. If almost half of the students graduating from high school qualify for free or reduced lunch, it's no wonder that attending college seems out of reach, financially, for many Maine students and their families.
What drew you to join the MPC board?
I have learned so much from MPC and my colleagues in philanthropy over the past few years. Joining the board of MPC gives me an opportunity to continue my own learning while supporting the growth of the philanthropic field in Maine at the same time.
What are you most excited about for MPC for the coming year?
I am really excited about the Get on the Map project. The Lerner Foundation was one of the first Maine foundations to pledge our participation and we are working on getting all of our historical grantmaking data posted on the map. Being able to get timely data about who is giving in Maine, for what purposes, and where the funds are distributed around the state will help us all understand more about the evolving needs in our state.