Community foundations across the country have been studying the results of the 2000 Census with enormous interest and, in a number of cases, with great concern. The new numbers will have a significant impact on how these foundations proceed in their programs and projects to strengthen communities in America.

In Maine, the results of the Census are mixed, with contrasting demographic trends taking place across the state. While some communities appear to be slipping off the map, others are growing in leaps and bounds. Young people are leaving the state; older adults are finding Maine the perfect place to retire.

For going on 20 years, the Maine Community Foundation’s staff and volunteers have trekked all over the state looking at communities and trying to ascertain what makes them tick – and not tick. We put our faith in the idea that strong communities make a strong state. At times, the mission feels like an uphill battle; at others, we are elated with progress made.

The census data have not taken us by surprise. We have witnessed firsthand the struggles of some Maine communities to survive, of others to deal with rapid growth. We know about the struggles of single-parent households to make ends meet, about the economic ups and downs of communities, the inequities of health care and educational resources, the lack of affordable housing.

In order to respond to these situations, the foundation has developed grant-making strategies that it hopes will help communities face future challenges. Eight county funds, for example, have been set up to develop a significant base of charitable capital directed at supporting Maine’s more rural areas. These funds support a panoply of creative, entrepreneurial projects that support the foundation’s grant-making priorities.

All of us must continue working on many fronts. Census figures suggest there is a growing number of nontraditional students who are fitting in college classes between work and family responsibilities. We hope to help these adult learners return to school through expanded scholarship programs. We also want to encourage Maine students to stay in the state. Various foundation programs, including George Mitchell Institute scholarships and college debt retirement, will go a long way toward building long-term ties to Maine.

At the same time, the Maine Community Foundation has played a role in studying the overall well being of Maine communities. In March, Gov. Angus King announced the results of a foundation-sponsored social capital survey undertaken in Lewiston-Auburn as part of a nationwide study of civic engagement. There was a lot of good news for the residents of this city, including the fact that the city ranks higher than the national average in every category of civic engagement. Yet significant issues also arose, such as low participation in neighborhood groups, that need addressing. The findings will help guide the foundation in making the most of community funds.

We remain optimistic about the future health of our communities, small and large, but we are also critically aware of the realities, underscored by the Census data. It’s not just a matter of shoring up; it’s a matter of making a commitment to strengthening communities so that they remain strong and viable. That’s the challenge and the opportunity.

Henry Schmelzer is the president and chief executive officer of the Maine Community Foundation. He can be reached at Hschmelzer@mainecf.org.