by Sarah Ruef-Lindquist 

The options for fixed-income investments for portfolios is pretty grim. T-bills? The rate on a 10-year is under 3%, and hit a record low of 2.32% on August 15, 2014.

What's an investor seeking stability in monthly income to do when CD rates and dividends are at all-time lows as well?

Enter the Maine Women's Fund Charitable Gift Annuity. With a minimum of $10,000 in cash, CD's or stock, a Charitable Gift Annuity will pay up to two annuitants a fixed income based on their age(s), and provide an income tax deduction the represents the projected remainder value of a gift to the Fund.

Here are some examples of payments for a single annuitant for a $10,000 or $100,000 gift:

You and/or your financial advisor are encouraged to contact Sarah Ruef-Lindquist at sarah@mainewomensfund.org or 207-975-5165 to explore this giving option. You can expect to obtain an illustration of how a Charitable Gift Annuity can fit your financial plans and provide a higher rate of income for you.   

Maine Women's Policy Center releases "Building a Prosperous Maine: A Roadmap to Economic Security for Women and Their Families"

On August 26, 2014, the Maine Women's Policy Center released a set of policy recommendations to strengthen women's economic security.  

The recommendations would bring workplace policies into the 21st century, meet working families' basic needs, ensure that children get a strong educational foundation and adults have the tools they need to support themselves and make sure all Maine people have access to a full range of health care services. Partial funding from the Maine Women's Fund helped make the report possible. Download the report here.  

Photos left to right: Cover of report; Eliza Townsend, Executive Director of MWPC speaking at the State House, August 26, 2014.  

Planned Parenthood of Northern New England (PPNNE) is pleased to announce that they are now a health insurance Certified Application Counselor organization, working to help people enroll in the best health care plan for them. There has been an expansion of outreach and education efforts about the Affordable Care Act to include this enrollment work for patients and the many uninsured Mainers.  In order to help the most people possible, PPNNE is seeking to recruit and train a group of dedicated volunteers as application counselors. If you're interested in making a difference in people's lives by helping them understand and navigate their health care options, please contact Outreach Coordinator Bridget Mancini for more details. Your work could help empower women to take control of their health care, making them, their families, and Maine communities healthier for years to come.  

2nd Annual Great Falls Yoga Festival

September 13, 2014 

There will be a wide range of offerings that will be hosted at various locations on Lisbon Street, Lewiston.  With thanks to the enthusiastic support of the local business and yoga community, this promises to be a successful fundraising event for the YWCA of Central Maine.    

Save the Date!  Thursday, October 9th, 6:00PM in Portland

Wayfinder Schools' 2014 Farm to Sea Auction 

Current and former grantees of the Maine Women's Fund may send news, events, program updates or other happenings to Marcie@mainewomensfund.org by the 20th of each month.  

September 27, 2014 at the Wells Conference Center 

Elect Her - Campus Women Win is the only program in the country that encourages and trains college women to run for student government and future political office. A collaboration between AAUW and Running Start, Elect Her addresses the need to expand the pipeline to women running for office and to diminish the longstanding political leadership gender gap.   >>Read more 

Saturday, September 27, 2014 at the Portland Club 

Maine Women's Lobby Gala | 5:30 PM

"The Voice of Maine Women - Loud & Clear"  

Join the Maine Women's Lobby in honoring five inspiring women leaders: Mary Herman, Cheryl Miller, Attorney General Janet Mills, Zam Zam Mohamud, and Abbie Strout. 

Tickets available here.

Save the Date! October 25, 2014

Town & Country's Money Conference, featuring award winning author and journalist Jean Chatzky, financial editor for NBC's Today Show.

At the Community Education Center on the University of Southern Maine campus in Portland. The information-packed day will include workshops on money matters that interest you and provide ideas and suggestions to get your finances on track in order to build a better life. Local resources will be on hand to share information about a range of financial topics including buying a car and investing for the future, plus other community resources. 

Save the Date! Friday, November 7, 2014

The Unfinished Agenda: New England Women's Policy Conference 

RESOURCES

New York Times article: "Among the Poor, Women Feel Inequality More Deeply "  

"Inequality is rising among women as well as men, but at the bottom, women are struggling with some dimensions of these problems that men aren't, which is raising and supporting these families as single heads of households," said Francine Blau, an economist at Cornell University.  

 "21st Century Barriers to Women's Entrepreneurship" report conducted by the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. Read the full report here.  

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES

The John T. Gorman Fellowship is for nonprofit and public sector professionals working in fields related to the Foundation's four priorities. The Fellowship aims to help participants become more results-focused and enable them to build the vision, confidence and competence required to advance change and improve the lives of vulnerable people in Maine. The four priority areas are: improving educational achievement for young children, promoting successful adult transition for vulnerable older youth, helping struggling parents to support their families and enabling more low-income seniors to age in place. 

Deadline for application: September 19

>>Read more