It might be hard to find a bigger fan of MaineCF than Christopher Winstead.

He has long respected the work of the foundation and his enthusiasm has only grown through his role as a volunteer fund advisor for the past 12 years.

Winstead first became involved with MaineCF in 2012 as an Equity Fund advisor, then transitioned to the Penobscot County Committee two years ago. The work has allowed him to forge deeper connections across the county while helping organizations secure grant funding that transforms the lives of people in the region.

Winstead’s connections to Penobscot County run deep. While growing up in Bangor, his parents ran their own businesses and instilled in him the importance of giving back to the community that had supported them.

“I was taught at a young age that you either give time or you give money,” he said.

When MaineCF was looking for someone with connections to rural Maine to join the Equity Fund, he jumped at the opportunity. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community, he was looking for a chance to support organizations across the state.

“I found it very rewarding,” he said.

Since transitioning to the Penobscot County Committee and learning about the work of nonprofit organizations across the county, Winstead has found the same sense of fulfillment.

The Penobscot County Fund, established in 2009, supports organizations and projects that strengthen communities. Volunteer advisors are community leaders who live or work in their respective counties. They serve as ambassadors for MaineCF while reviewing proposals, recommending grants and helping to build philanthropic resources in the region.

“Each of us on the committee comes from a different part of Penobscot County,” Winstead said. “We all have diverse backgrounds. Everyone brings a different set of eyes to those proposals.”

Winstead enjoys reviewing proposals for organizations applying for funding, particularly smaller or newer organizations. He also appreciates the thoughtful and meaningful conversations he has with other committee members.

It is easy for Winstead to see how MaineCF’s focus on economic opportunity and the investments in community development in Penobscot County connects to and supports his day job as deputy executive director of workforce training for the Maine Community College System.

Maine is experiencing a workforce shortage, with an acute lack of health care workers in rural areas. Challenges like access to transportation and a lack of affordable childcare are critical barriers to employment, particularly for women.

He says community development is a major component to how well a workforce system operates. Maine needs vibrant communities where people want to live, which requires services that provide a higher quality of life and allow people to continue to work. This includes child care offerings and job opportunities.

Winstead said MaineCF’s county and regional funds help create thriving communities. Many of the organizations receiving funding provide critical support to rural Mainers – whether it’s through afterschool care or transportation.

“It helps folks not have to worry about things that could take them away from their job,” he said. ‘That service equates to a higher quality of life, which allows them to be there for their family and allows them to continue to work.”

For Winstead, looking at those investments, the scope of the projects and the lives they touch makes him feel good about volunteering his time with MaineCF.

“MaineCF and its philosophy around managing philanthropic funding is unparalleled,” he said. “We are so fortunate to have them as an organization in our state.”