Quality of Place Initiative

Welcome to the Environmental Funders Network e-newsletter. 

The term "quality of place" conveys the essential relationship between Maine's environmental well-being, its economic prosperity, and the overall quality of life. Through financial support, collaborative grantmaking, and learning opportunities, the EFN is bringing nonprofits, governmental agencies, business, and philanthropy together to implement sustainable quality of place strategies. Learn more.

Grantees on the Ground:

Maine Farmland Trust

EFN funding has enabled the Maine Farmland Trust and its partners to move forward with an innovative effort to enhance working farms, wild lands, and economic activity in three small rural communities, Albion, Freedom, and Unity. In addition to making sure that more local farmland, forestland, and wetlands are permanently preserved, this effort is resulting in three "community scale" economic development projects: creating a local cider press; restoring an historic grist mill for new agricultural uses; and developing a local food storage and distribution center that supports farmers and the local food pantry. Learn more.

"The new services and projects we've launched support farms and help revitalize local village centers, but more than that, this work engages local people and shows them how their actions can improve where they live." -- John Piotti, Executive Director, Maine Farmland Trust

(Bridget Besaw photo courtesy of Maine Farmland Trust)

Who’s in the Network:

Eleanor Kinney

A life-long summer resident, Eleanor Kinney moved to Maine year-round in 2002. She is engaged in North Woods conservation and sustainable agriculture, believing that investment in Maine’s working lands can help build prosperity for its people. "Maine's farms and forests must remain economically viable," she states, "in order to provide the tremendous environmental and cultural benefits that contribute to our quality of place." Kinney is a member of EFN's steering and grantmaking committees and serves as its representative on the Keeping Maine's Forests steering committee. She values the shared knowledge and collaborative funding opportunities that the network offers. More about the network.

From Around the State ...

This month, Governor Baldacci nominated six people to the Maine Quality of Place Council: Edward Barrett, City Administrator of Lewiston; Richard Barringer, Research Professor, Muskie School of Public Service; Eleanor Kinney, public policy and conservation advocate; Ryan Pelletier, Director of Workforce Development, Northern Maine Development Commission; Robert Thompson, Executive Director, Androscoggin Valley Council of Governments; and Robin Zinchuk, Executive Director, Bethel Area Chamber of Commerce. All of the nominees served on the Governor's Council on Maine’s Quality Places, the forerunner to the council.

... And Across the Nation

We're online, we're connected, and we're networking! A new report from the University of Massachusetts's Dartmouth Center for Marketing Research reveals that nonprofits are outpacing business and academia in the use of social media. U.S. charities lead all other sectors for the third year in a row. The latest study reports that a remarkable 97% of charitable organizations are using some form of social media, including blogs, podcasts, social networking sites such as Facebook, video blogging, wikis, and Twitter.

Coming Up Next from EFN

In the second round of Quality of Place Initiative grantmaking, EFN received 33 letters of inquiry while all eight of the 2009 grantees have requested renewal. Following review, full proposals will be requested at the end of September. Renewal grant decisions will also be made at that time. Grant awards to new applicants will be made in December.

Program reminder: "Keeping Maine's Forests: New Strategies for Changing Times," October 5 in Freeport. Please join the conversation about the future of Maine’s North Woods. For more information, click here.

Our Mission

The Environmental Funders Network helps to identify and create ways to improve and sustain Maine’s natural environment. We accomplish our mission by identifying opportunities for individual or joint funding of initiatives, providing opportunities for education and sharing of information to gain a deeper understanding of trends, challenges, and solutions, and encouraging networking. Learn more.