Our Work
Founded in 1995, and consisting of over 500 member organizations, Maine Philanthropy Center's mission is to provide opportunity, leadership, and support to advance the effectiveness of philanthropy in Maine and its ability to make a meaningful difference. We do this across four core strategies: strengthen advocacy, model leadership, build relationships, and advance learning.
If we do our work well, our community is more informed, more connected, more equitable, and more resourced — leading to a vibrant, just, and equitable Maine.
What We Do
Programs & Communities
| “The MPC conference brings people from the sector together like nothing else in Maine does.” -Nonprofit member |
Maine Philanthropy Center hosts programming throughout the year, including:
- Network meetings for funders and nonprofits that build skills, deepen understanding of the field, and provide space for collective action
- Workshops and tutorials to expand your knowledge about best practices for grantseeking and grantmaking
- Sessions to learn about topics important to our sector and our state
- Opportunities to connect with others in your field
MPC also hosts our biennial conference, bringing together people from across the philanthropic and nonprofit sector to build community, learn, and move our work forward.
| “As someone who is new to philanthropy, the networking spaces and learning opportunities offered by MPC have been some of the most valuable resources I've encountered. MPC has helped create so many new connections for me and helped me feel more oriented to this complex new sector.” -Funder member |
Resources & Data Products
| “The service I've used most in my many years in nonprofit management in Maine is the grants directory.” -Nonprofit member |
Maine Philanthropy Center develops and collects resources for grantseekers and grantmakers to deepen your understanding of best practices and make it easier to get the data you need to do your work well. These include:
- Unique data products like the Directory of Maine Grantmakers (lists over 400 funders) and annual Giving in Maine Reports that offer accessible information and invaluable insights about funding in Maine
- Resource pages on grantseeking and grantmaking best practices, offering tools and guides to bolster your work
- Monthly newsletters and grant deadline calendars to give our members the opportunity to learn about what is happening in our sector as well as reminders of grant opportunities
- Custom data sets and consultations using our unique database and connected network across the sector
- Access to national datasets like the Council on Foundation's Salary and Benefits Report through our relationship with the United Philanthropy Forum and national Philanthropy Serving Organizations (PSOs)
| “I really like the monthly newsletters, and find the monthly grant deadline calendar to be one of the most valuable emails I get. I have found many grant opportunities through this resource.” -Nonprofit member |
Advocacy
| “MPC advanced conversations about supporting the US Census effort in 2020, which led directly to [my organization] hosting a collaborative funding effort to support Census outreach work in Maine. They have seeded a number of important conversations over the years that have directly and indirectly impacted the design of our work.” -Funder member |
Maine Philanthropy Center advocates for changes in our sector both at the policy level and within our networks. We lead by example through living in our values and sharing how we have changed our practices accordingly. We advocate for more equitable practices in funder conversations and encourage community-centric fundraising with nonprofits. Our work here includes:
- Build skills and knowledge for philanthropy to meaningfully engage in the advocacy and public policy space.
- Serve as the voice of Maine philanthropy from the halls of August to the Capitol in Washington, DC
- Host educational sessions on issues and legislation that impacts the work and mission of our member community
- Build sector relationships with state government officials and policy makers so that our work can be more informed and effective
| “[Maine Philanthropy Center’s conference] in 2023 was a wonderful learning opportunity for our staff and board members. It helped bring many concepts we share with our board to life and to give them a better sense of the broader philanthropic and nonprofit ecosystem we operate in.” -Funder member |