U.S. war effort could reverse giving woes

As president of the Maine Philanthropy Center in Portland, Janet Henry would like to think Maine people are among the most generous in the country.

So it’s not surprising that she was a bit disheartened about the latest “generosity index” from the Ellis L. Phillips Foundation in Boston, which tracks national patterns of giving based on charitable deductions gleaned from itemized individual tax returns. Maine’s state ranking, sad to say, fell from 29th to 33rd.

Henry suggested a couple of factors that might contribute to Maine’s – all of New England’s, for that matter – less-than-stellar rating. In the Midwest, for instance, there are several large, permanent charitable institutions, such as the Kellogg Foundation, to efficiently spread the region’s wealth around. In the South, a tradition of religious tithing has always helped instill a spirit of giving that is passed down through generations. And since not everyone files an itemized tax return, Henry said, the index does not account for every charitable donation made in Maine.

Yet when Henry considers that a poor state such as Mississippi ranked first in the generosity index, and Arkansas second, she can’t help but conclude that Maine could do a whole lot better.

“Yes, there’s a lot of work to be done to turn this around,” said Henry, whose center comprises large and small charitable foundations that provide funding information to Maine nonprofit organizations. “But Maine has some wonderful examples of generosity – philanthropists such as Elizabeth Noyes, Stephen and Tabitha King, Harold Alfond and others – who could create a tradition of giving that our younger generation can grow up with as part of their very heart and soul.”

Ever the optimist, Henry finds all the inspiration she needs in the can-do character exemplified by the World War II generation.

“In speaking with members of that generation, many of them University of Maine alumni, I get a real sense of how very grateful they are to this country, and how much they feel the need to give something back,” Henry said. “In my work I always look to those models in Maine families and communities, people who give their time and resources so unselfishly.”

If World War II could nurture such a spirit of commitment in one generation, Henry asked, what’s to say today’s war on terrorism won’t have a similar effect on the character of younger Americans?

“I wonder if what we’ve experienced since Sept. 11 will make young people grow up to be like ‘The Greatest Generation,’ as they’ve become known,” Henry said. “Since the attacks, young people have been watching their parents and their communities give of themselves in the most interesting ways. And kids have been involved, too, in school. Everyone has felt a tremendous need to do something, whether it’s displaying flags or raising money for relief efforts or donating blood. For young people, it’s like the bandage-rolling and buying of war bonds in World War II. It’s a pivotal experience.”

Henry hopes young people, perhaps 50 years from now, will look back on the pride and generosity they’ve witnessed since Sept. 11, and channel their memories into leadership roles and a sense of volunteerism.

“It’s so important that this spirit be communicated and reinforced through families,” Henry said. “I hope people see an opportunity around Thanksgiving to talk about the generosity in the country today, and to reflect on what more we can do to keep it alive. Sure, it would be great if Maine ranked higher on the generosity index, if we could raise the bar on our charitable donations. But giving dollars is just the tip of the iceberg. It’s also about giving your time to help others and becoming involved in your community.”