MCF TURNS 25

Donating money to charity, especially large sums, is worthy and commendable. Ensuring that money does not duplicate existing efforts and can be pooled with other funds to do more good is smart business and increases the value of such philanthropy. That is the philosophy behind the Maine Community Foundation, which marks its 25th anniversary this year.

Begun in part by Bangor area businessmen including Bill Bullock, Herb Sargent and Andy Nixon, the foundation has long aimed to not only raise money for community projects, but to ensure such funds are managed and used effectively.

Today, MCF manages $245 million in more than 1,000 different funds and scholarships. The goal, says Henry Schmelzer, the foundation’s president, is to match financial capital with needs. Rather than having families or other donors start their own foundation, MCF can use its expertise and staff to manage the money and ensure it goes to the most appropriate organization. MCF also has earned healthy returns for the funds it manages, meaning even more money to give out. Last year, it gave $16 million to hundreds of groups statewide. It has given out $125 million in 25 years, making it one of the top community foundations in the country.

MCF has helped fund thousands of projects statewide. For example, the foundation has been involved with the Penobscot Theatre in Bangor for years. Although the average grant received by the theater has been only about $4,000, the information and support provided by MCF has been as important as the money. Funding from the foundation has helped the theater stage productions in rural areas and to keep the cost of student tickets affordable, allowing school groups to attend performances. This exposes new audiences to live plays while also building audiences for the theater, an important attraction in downtown Bangor.

The foundation also has provided funding and advice to the Mabel Wadsworth Women’s Health Center in Bangor. MCF offered advice on the center’s $1.3 million capital campaign and connected the center with an anonymous donor of $300,000.

It has given money to local schools, libraries and churches, the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance, the Maine Heritage Policy Center, the American Folk Festival, the Red Cross and many others.

The foundation is returning to its roots by creating county committees to raise money locally for local projects. The first three committees – for Aroostook, Piscataquis and Androscoggin counties – were established in 1986. A Penobscot County committee is now being formed.

As the Maine Community Foundation looks ahead to its next 25 years, it plans to focus on aging – especially encouraging volunteerism among baby boomers – higher education and building on Maine’s sense of place, a recommendation from the Brookings report, which MCF helped fund.

The foundation has quietly built and supported countless Maine organizations, helping to sustain and grow local communities. Building on that success, it has much to celebrate and look forward to.