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MPC hit the road in August for an end-of-summer visit Downeast. Twenty funders joined MPC for the bus trip, making several stops en-route to Eastport to meet with nonprofit leaders working in the region.
The 2-day site visit was a revelation for those unfamiliar with the many Downeast communities, landmarks and landscapes they encountered. They all came away with a greater appreciation for the issues facing the region and with a new respect for a group of visionary nonprofit directors.
MPC is deeply grateful to the Belvedere Fund at the Maine Community Foundation and the C.F. Adams Charitable Trust for their help in making the trip possible. |
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 What's New
"Know Your Sector" - What We All Need To Know In Less Than 4 Mins.
- Nonprofits generate $1.1 trillion each year (more than the economies of Saudia Arabia and Sweden combined!)
- 1 in 10 American workers is a nonprofit employee (compared with 1 in 57 who wait tables)
- Of the 70,000 foundations in the US, the Gates Foundation is the world's largest (valued at $30 billion). It must give away $5.8 million every workday!
These are a few of the messages shared in a new 3 min. video posted on YouTube that lays out the impact of the nonprofit world.
"Know Your Sector" was assembled by a charity leader in Seattle who believes that it can help other nonprofit executives spread the word about philanthropy's economic value.
Ben Klasky, executive director of IslandWood, created the video for a class he teaches on nonprofit management. "My hope is that it'll go viral and that people will realize that, because so many people are involved with nonprofits, it's a powerful part of our economy, and it's doing a lot of important work."  Take a few minutes to watch this compelling message and share it with others.
Congressman Michaud Co-Sponsors Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act
Messages about the impact of nonprofits will be heard more loudly by Washington lawmakers if Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) is successful with the Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act (H.R.5533) she introduced this summer. If enacted, this law would provide a vehicle to study how nonprofit organizations and the federal government can work together more effectively and it would ensure that comprehensive data is gathered about the work and value of the nonprofit community.
The bill has 15 co-sponsors, among them Maine's own Rep. Michael Michaud - thanks for the support!
To find out more or read the bill...
Investing in Maine: Unleashing the Potential - Sept 24
 If you have been following the research undertaken over the past 8 months by the Maine Development Foundation (MDF) and the Maine State Chamber of Commerce around the opportunities for and barriers to investment in the state, you may want to reserve your place at MDF's Annual Meeting on Sept 24. The program builds off the successful research effort and its report Making Maine Work: Critical Investments for the Maine Economy. Meredith Jones, President of the Maine Community Foundation will moderate a candid conversation with some of Maine's most dynamic CEOs to explore how we create a business climate that encourages private investment. In addition, several other MPC members will be honored with 2010 Champion of Economic Development Awards. |
News You Can Use
 What's Next for Philanthropy
The Monitor Institute recently released What's Next for Philanthropy: Acting Bigger and Adapting Better in a Networked World. The piece updates their 2005 report, Looking Out for the Future, and represents more than a decade of work by the Institute in exploring the evolving "future of philanthropy." It highlights the changing context in which funders now operate, and identifies ten emerging next practices that can help funders of all sorts increase their impact over the coming decade. Download the full report or an executive summary. Working with Government: Guidance for Grantmakers  Are grantmakers pursuing partnerships with government more than in the recent past? Government's resources matched with philanthropy's flexibility with funds can make a persuasive case for cross-sector collaboration. But what are the risks, and how can grantmakers mitigate them? In this guide, funders discuss multiple ways of working with government, finding entry points that leverage their resources, and managing partnerships across differences in roles, power, and regulatory considerations. Download a copy.
Shaping the Future: Solving Social Problems through Business Strategy
 A new report from the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy (CECP) and McKinsey & Company explores the evolving relationship between business and society, forecasting that societal problems will become more complex, requiring corporate leaders to rework their business, philanthropy and community strategies. You can download the report and view a brief video introduction on CECP's website.
New GIH Report on Funder and Advocate Response to Health Care Reform Implementation With provisions in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act set to take effect over the next four years, grantmakers and advocacy groups have been developing activities to address the early stages of health care reform implementation. To support philanthropy's response to this sweeping and unprecedented legislation, GIH has released Implementing Health Care Reform: Funders and Advocates Respond to the Challenge, a report based on over 40 interviews with national and state grantmakers and advocacy organizations about their initial work around implementation. The Maine Health Access Foundation (MeHAF) is featured throughout the report for its health reform work. Download the report or executive summary. |
MPC Member News
Maine Technology Institute Wins National Award
The Maine Technology Institute (MTI) was one of four national recipients of the Excellence in Technology-Based Economic Development Award from the State Science and Technology Institute (SSTI), a national nonprofit organization based in Ohio that leads efforts to improve state and regional economies through science, technology and innovation. MTI received the award for its Maine Technology Asset Fund (MTAF), a voter-approved $50 million bond funded program that supports research, development and commercialization of technologies that boost Maine's economy and create high-paying jobs. In presenting the award, SSTI's President and CEO, Dan Berglund said "The Maine Technology Asset Fund stands out for its ability to build R&D collaborations between universities, companies and nonprofit research institutions. Our awards committee was highly impressed by the impact the program is having in just three years of existence." Read more.
New Name for Maine Bank & Trust
Maine Bank & Trust officially adopted its parent company's name, People's United Bank, over the summer. The name change reflects People's 2008 purchase of the Burlington, VT-based Chittenden Corp, the parent company of Maine Bank & Trust. That purchase also included Bangor's Merrill Merchants Bank and Kennebunk's Ocean National Bank. People's United now has more than 300 branches throughout New England, and with the expansion of the bank's footprint into Maine, their philanthropic arm, the People's United Community Foundation, has become a more visible local funder. |
Comings & Goings
New Trustees at Cohen Foundation
The Sam L. Cohen Foundation welcomes two new board members this month - Elinor G. Miller, who for many years helped lead Pine Tree Legal Assistance and until recently was director of the Levey Day School, a small K-5 Jewish day school in Portland; and Kenneth S. Spirer, who moved to Maine in 1995 after a law career in NYC and with the SEC in Washington, DC. Ken serves on the board of numerous organizations and for the past decade served on the board of the Maine Community Foundation.
MaineCF Elects New Board Members
The Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF) elected three new members to its Board of Directors this summer. They are Andrea Cianchette Maker of North Yarmouth, Candace Sanborn of Auburn, and John Witherspoon of Kingfield. Maker is Vice President for Corporate Affairs at Martin's Point Health Care. Sanborn is Managing Partner at Encompass Marketing & Design, LLC, in Auburn. Witherspoon is President and CEO of Skowhegan Savings Bank.
JTG Foundation Welcomes New Trustee
Richard W. Petersen of South Portland has been elected to join the JTG Foundation Board of Directors. "Rich's wealth of experience in healthcare and organizational strategy will be a tremendous asset to JTG's Board. He is a principled and results-oriented leader with a proven track record in setting strategic direction and developing highly effective teams," said Shawn Gorman, President of the JTG Foundation's Board of Directors. Petersen currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer of Maine Medical Center. |
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PROGRAMS
GRANTMAKERS |
SEPT. 22, OCT. 6 & 20 12:30-1:30 pm
Expanding the Philanthropic Toolbox: Introduction to PRIs Series This series of webinars introduces key concepts, discusses critical questions, and details the steps to establishing an effective PRI program (program-related investments).
Keeping Maine's Forests: New Strategies for Changing Times
Environmental Funders Network No fee for this event for MPC Members.
OCT. 14, Noon - 1:30
Family Giving Beyond Borders for Long-Term Results
Family Philanthropy Teleconference No fee for this event for MPC Members Learn More...
OCT. 14, 9:00 - 2:00 Funders Briefing on Water Resources
Learn what is happening with groundwater issues around New England, why they matter and what other foundations are doing to protect this natural resource. ($25) Learn More...
OCT. 14-15
Advanced Grant Portfolio Management
Boston
Learn about athe strategic benefit of developing a foundation lens to inform strategy development.
NOV. 18, Noon - 1:30
The Power of Mission Investing - One Family's Story
Family Philanthropy Teleconference
No fee for this event for MPC Members
Learn More...
SEPT. 22, 9am - 3 pm
Grantwriting 101
OCT. 6, 9am - 12pm
Successful Grant Proposals: Research Strategies
NOV. 4, 9am - 12pm
Intro to Government Grantwriting
Grantseeker Research Tutorials & Research Sessions
Portland (Free!)
Webinars from the Foundation Center (Free!)
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BOOKSHELF | |
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The Nonprofit Social Media Decision Guide
Social media can be useful to your organization... but how useful? For what? What tangible results are people seeing from it? In partnership with the New Organizing Institute, Portland-based Idealware recently released the Decision Guide which walks you through a step-by-step process to decide what social media channels make sense for your organization. An included Consultant Directory can help you find a professional to help define and implement your strategy. Download the report.
Are Foundation Leaders Using Social Media?
The Foundation Center's recent survey finds that about one-third of foundation CEOs regularly use Facebook or read blogs, and only six percent use Twitter. Are Foundation Leaders Using Social Media? documents the usage of social media tools by foundation executives based on survey responses from 73 members of the Center's Grantmaker Leadership Panel. Download the Report. |
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 What is News?
Get your good work noticed!
Send us your foundation's news. We'll share it with other foundations and news media throughout Maine. We're also eager to hear about the comings and goings of Board and senior staff, RFPs and new grants, announcements of events open to the public, your ideas and tips...
So go ahead, tell us your news. We can't wait! |
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