Grantmaking is a hallmark of our work--and how we’re best known by most nonprofits--yet it is only one of the ways we accomplish our mission to build vibrant Maine communities.
In addition to grantmaking, we are involved in a number of special programs and initiatives like the Maine Compact for Higher Education, EncoreME, and the Maine Policy Scholars program, which recently conducted its graduation event at the University of Maine at Augusta. Conceived by the late Peter Cox and prompted by his experience as a college student, the program engages students at each of the University of Maine system campuses in the public policy process. Working with a faculty advisor, each student tackles a real-life policy issue facing Maine. After conducting research, the scholar produces a final report in the form of a memo to the governor or appropriate policy maker outlining the problem, the data available, and recommended policy solutions.
Maine has no systematic way to include funders in the conversation about issues we care about. For sure, we are a financial bit player: the sum total of annual philanthropic grantmaking in Maine would run state government for about a week. Yet philanthropy does provide significant funding to the nonprofit sector, and over the years, we have gained a great deal of insight into what works, what doesn’t, and how to strategically invest to achieve the desired results.
As I think about our future work and our traditional emphasis on grassroots philanthropy, I believe we should develop better partnerships with policymakers. As one board member asked me a few years ago, “Are we the Maine COMMUNITY Foundation or the MAINE Community Foundation?” I think the correct answer is that we’re both. Or, you can’t have one without the other. What do you think?