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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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What Gives in Maine? And Who?

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012   

PORTLAND, Maine - The slow economic recovery has presented challenges to both individual and foundation-based philanthropy - and it shows in a new report on giving in Maine in 2010.

While charitable contributions by individuals dropped, according to the report, Maine Philanthropy Center president Janet Henry says the top 20 foundations held their own.

"We did not see a drop in either the number of foundations, the amount of foundation giving, or the assets."

Foundation giving to Maine nonprofits was up 4 percent, according to the report, with increased support for arts, humanities and education. Taking a longer view, since 2000, the assets of Maine foundations have increased more than 300 percent and giving has risen almost 400 percent.

At Preble Street in Portland, executive director Mark Swann oversees a host of shelters, drop-in centers, soup kitchens and other services for the homeless and hungry. He says the report mirrors his experience in 2010.

"A lot of people wrote notes and said, 'I want to keep helping you, but it's going to be at a lower level this year because I have so many personal exonomic challenges.' So, we saw a bit of a drop-off with the individuals, but foundations stepped up."

Henry says the giving patterns of individuals in Maine reflect national trends noted in the report, with charitable deductions dropping as the economy tumbled.

"We've seen the individual giving also dip in Maine over the last couple of years, but it's still not as significant as the drop nationally."

Swann says he thinks the national conversation about the "haves and have-nots" sparked last year by Occupy Wall Street mobilized Mainers to help Preble Street.

"I think Maine is an independent-minded group of people, and there's kind of a Yankee spirit of pulling yourself up by the bootstraps - but, at the same time, it's neighbors helping neighbors. I see it play out here every day with the number of volunteers, the people dropping off food and clothes, or supporting us financially."

Swann says he was especially moved by a family with college kids home for the holidays who stopped in to tour his facilities just before Christmas - and made an on-the-spot donation of $785,000. He says he'll never forget that very moving moment of generosity, which helped complete the expansion of a young peoples' shelter.

The report is available online at megrants.org.


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