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E-Quality Matters: Creating the solutions that will foster healthy women, girls, families, and communities.

Upcoming Event

Women Standing Together

Begins Thursday, January 14, 2010 at 7:30 AM

The gathering will showcase Charlotte Leavitt. Charlotte will present an overview of her business, CHART Metalworks, and a current business challenge. In a roundtable format…

Our History

In June of 1988, a visionary group of women gathered to create what eventually became the Maine Women’s Fund. Inspired by a talk given by Helen Hunt, a member of the board of the National Network of Women’s Funds, these Founding Mothers were convinced that they could make a significant dif ference in the lives of Maine women and girls through philanthropy.

The Founding Mothers worked deliberately to structure an organization that could last for decades. Much of the first year was spent on logistics: writing and adopting by-laws, designing a logo, assembling a board of directors and opening an of fice. Along the way, they emphasized the importance of speaking openly and from their hearts. Decisions were made by consensus—a process they found frustrating at times, but always revealing and, ultimately, extremely productive.

The Fund hired its first full-time executive director, JoAnne Peterson, in 1992. Two years later, Karin Anderson took over as executive director, a role she held until 2006. During those years, the Fund expanded its programmatic activities and grantmaking, awarding over $1 million to Maine non-profits.

In recent years, the Maine Women’s Fund has continued to build on the Founding Mothers’ groundbreaking work. Today, the Fund envisions and is taking steps to realize a future of economic security for Maine women and girls, without fear of violence and with access to quality healthcare.

Since its inception, the Fund has invested $1.5 million in innovative, goal-oriented programs that are creating systemic change and improving the quality of life in our communities. In 2008 alone, the Maine Women’s Fund awarded $160,000 in grants to 12 organizations promoting social change in Maine.

Over the next five years, current executive director Elizabeth Stefanski and the Fund community intend to triple grantmaking, with a focus on building economic security for women and girls. From its past grantmaking experience, the Fund has learned that a woman’s ability to take care of herself and her family, and her ability to contribute to her community, depend on her financial security. With economic security, a woman can access better housing, healthcare, nutrition, employ¬ment. And because women are of ten the primary decision makers regarding health and education, a woman’s financial status directly impacts her family’s situation.

As the Fund moves into its next 20 years, we look with gratitude, awe and appreciation upon the Founding Mothers. These bold women turned philanthropic support for Maine.

Founding Mothers

 


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