Networking: Key to Keeping Maine a Quality Place?

Networking: Key to Keeping Maine a Quality Place?: The goal of the unique funding effort was to improve not only Maine's renowned landscapes and recreational attractions, but also its forests, farms and waterfronts, and its historic downtowns. So it's not entirely a "green" initiative, but more broadly, a "quality" one.

To test the idea that pooling resources can lead to greater impact, the Maine Philanthropy Center and the Maine Community Foundation assembled the Environmental Funders Network. Jo D. Saffeir explained what's meant by "quality of place."

"All the qualities that make Maine unique and attractive for people to live" go into that, she declared. "So, it's making sure that Maine's natural environment is protected, but also its historic downtowns."

Man Runs to DC From Maine for Charity - ABC News

Man Runs to DC From Maine for Charity - ABC News: Gary Allen, an avid runner and Maine resident, is lacing up his sneakers in an attempt to run from Mount Desert Island to the nation’s capital.

Allen hopes to run about 40 to 50 miles per day to complete his 700-mile trek to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 21, the day of President Obama’s second inauguration.

Philanthropy center releases 2012 update on giving — Living — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine

Philanthropy center releases 2012 update on giving — Living — Bangor Daily News — BDN Maine: PORTLAND, Maine — The Maine Philanthropy Center released its 2012 update on foundation and individual giving in Maine as part of its ongoing “Giving in Maine” report. The update reveals growth in philanthropic assets of foundations, but challenges in individual giving levels.

Philanthropy's Sweet Spots

Philanthropy's Sweet Spots: Around 120 friends of the Maine Community Foundation gathered in the Leonard and Renee Minsky Recital Hall at the University of Maine on May 10 for “Philanthropy’s Sweet Spots.” Foundation leaders considered the relevance of philanthropy in changing times and where it is making the greatest impact.

Open up New Hampshire - Entertainment and travel in the Granite State

Open up New Hampshire - Entertainment and travel in the Granite State: February 6, 2012 - EASTPORT, ME - The Boat School is on schedule to complete its separation from Husson College in May 2012. The Boat School's facility, Maine's Marine Technology Center, is now wholly owned and operated by the independent nonprofit corporation Friends of the Boat School. Classes are remaining uninterrupted during the transition, and students are now being accepted for The Boat School's 2012-2013 academic-year programs. Moving forward, The Boat School will continue to offer its Wooden Boat Building and Composites Boat Building vocational courses, and will add a much-anticipated Marine Mechanics program beginning in fall of 2013.

MAINE COMPASS: Charitable giving is a tradition for state employees | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

MAINE COMPASS: Charitable giving is a tradition for state employees | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME: State employees perform remarkable work throughout the year. They connect Maine people with needed services. They provide guidance and resources to entrepreneurs and small business owners.

In countless ways, they help families, strengthen the economy, improve communities and make Maine a more productive and inviting place to live.

Two of the county's largest nonprofits to merge | Portland Daily Sun

Two of the county's largest nonprofits to merge | Portland Daily Sun: to combine the two nonprofits, beginning Oct. 1. It will start the at least year-long process of bringing the two together, the providers announced Thursday. Both have a combined total of nearly 500 employees, operate tens of millions of dollars in annual budgets and together serve about 24,000 people."

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Hard Times at Maine Historic Site

The Nonprofit Quarterly | @npquarterly | Hard Times at Maine Historic Site: "July 20, 2011; Source: Keep MEcurrent.com | The Willowbrook Village Museum is an historic museum that focuses on rural life in 19th and early 20th-century Maine, but the challenges that the organization is facing reflect a current and very real trend with nonprofits generally and historic sites specifically throughout the state. KeepMecurrent.com reports that because the museum has fallen short of some $120,000 in annual operating costs, it only has cash on hand to operate through October 2012."

Businesses' best practices channeled to Maine nonprofits | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Businesses' best practices channeled to Maine nonprofits | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: "The Portland-based group works behind the scenes, coaching and advising other, more visible nonprofits. Its work has supported everything from youth programs to homeless shelters to wildlife protection."

Inspiring Philanthropy: An Evening with Tom and Kate Chappell

Inspiring Philanthropy: An Evening with Tom and Kate Chappell: "More than 100 friends of the Maine Community Foundation gathered at the Lucerne Inn to hear Tom and Kate Chappell share their thoughts on business, art, the environment, and philanthropy. The couple highlighted how their giving grows out of a sense of responsibility to the planet -- and to Maine, which has been the foundation of their success."

New Balance giving UMaine $5M gift for naming rights to field house, fitness center — Maine Sports — Bangor Daily News

New Balance giving UMaine $5M gift for naming rights to field house, fitness center — Maine Sports — Bangor Daily News: "ORONO, Maine — The University of Maine’s field house and Memorial Gym project has received a huge boost as the result of a $5 million gift to the institution from Boston-based athletic products company New Balance."

Nonprofit groups unite to fight hunger in Maine | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME

Nonprofit groups unite to fight hunger in Maine | The Morning Sentinel, Waterville, ME: "Six nonprofits are teaming up to expand food supplies to hungry Mainers and reverse the rise in the rate of people struggling to feed their families.

Leaders of the coalition, called the Maine Hunger Initiative, hope to generate more funding and food donations for pantries, which facing increasing demand. They also plan to push for statewide policies and legislation to reduce hunger and the poverty that causes it."

Penobscot East Resource Center Gets a New Year’s Gift

Penobscot East Resource Center Gets a New Year’s Gift: "Penobscot East’s announcement of the gift came just days after it reported that it was transferring financial management of its endowment funds to the Maine Community Foundation (MCF). Penobscot East was successful in meeting the foundation’s 25/25 Endowment Challenge, which began in 2008.

“The Maine Community Foundation has an excellent track record of managing nonprofit endowments,” Walter Reed, chairman of Penobscot East’s board, said in a statement. “This service allows us to focus on our mission and strengths, working with eastern Maine fishing communities.”"

MAINE COMPASS: Charitable appeal highlights generosity of state employees | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

MAINE COMPASS: Charitable appeal highlights generosity of state employees | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME: "or state workers, the opportunity to support charities through the Maine State Employees Combined Charitable Appeal is a familiar tradition this time of year.

Those who are not employed by a state agency may be surprised to learn that during difficult economic times, as well as periods of greater prosperity, thousands of state employees have consistently reached deep into their pockets to donate millions of dollars to charities."

The Dempsey Challenge: He's really riders' Maine man | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

The Dempsey Challenge: He's really riders' Maine man | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: "LEWISTON — Patrick Dempsey didn't mind slowing down as he rode the 50-mile course in the Dempsey Challenge. He did so a few dozen times Sunday to listen to another story about a friend or family touched by cancer, or to hear a new goal for better health."

Alumni respond to fledgling UMA donation program | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

Alumni respond to fledgling UMA donation program | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram: "September 12
Alumni respond to fledgling UMA donation program
Gifts from graduates were non-existent until 2008, when the school set up its advancement office.

By MATTHEW STONE Kennebec Journal

Cash gifts to Maine's public universities dropped 30 percent last year as the University of Southern Maine finished up fundraising for a major building project.

And donations to colleges and universities nationwide dipped about 12 percent in 2009,"

Philantropist Doris Buffett Revels in "Giving it All Away"

Philantropist Doris Buffett Revels in "Giving it All Away": "This fall, an innovative early childhood education program and center will open in Waterville to try to help boost school readiness for at-risk kids from birth to five. Known as Central Maine Educare, the program has received a $3 million commitment from philanthropist and part-time Rockport resident Doris Buffett, sister of billionaire Warren Buffett. Recently Doris Buffett sat down with Susan Sharon at a Waterville hotel to discuss her interest in Educare and her personal brand of philanthropy."

MaineBusiness.com | Hard times fail to undermine Maine philanthropy

MaineBusiness.com | Hard times fail to undermine Maine philanthropy: "'There is good news,' said Meredith Jones, who took over as chief executive officer on Jan. 2.

Not only are the foundation's grants ahead of last year, but its assets by the end of September were slightly ahead of where they were last year at that time. Some other philanthropic foundations are reporting similar stories as they emerge from one of the toughest economic crises in years."

State employees help others even in bad times

State employees help others even in bad times: "Some stories need to be told.

For 29 years, Maine state employees have participated in a charitable giving project that has received little attention from the media and the public.

Always cited when things go wrong, state employees seldom receive the attention they should get when their efforts go right -- when they respond to the call to help their neighbors, when they save lives, strengthen families and improve communities."

WCSH6.com | Portland, ME | 6,000 Runners Have 6,000 Different Motivations

WCSH6.com | Portland, ME | 6,000 Runners Have 6,000 Different Motivations: "Many runners run for charity. While the race will benefit Maine Handicap Skiing this year, many runners run the race to raise funds or awareness for their own personal causes."