Welcoming Year Four…

It’s hard to believe we are already in our fourth year as the Maine Women in Philanthropy group! We’re excited to connect this year around topics that are timely, practical, and rooted in what many of us are navigating right now. As always, please bring your ideas—your suggestions help shape a calendar that’s useful and relevant for all of us.

We’ll meet every other month on the third Wednesday at noon. If you have an interest in hosting—please let us know! Topics this year include:

May 20 — Diversifying Revenue Streams

Many of us are facing shifts in our fundraising landscapes: significant losses in government funding, overreliance on revenue from an annual gala or event, changes in donor giving habits, or declines in corporate support; just to name a few. Together, we can discuss ways we are seeking to diversify revenue so our organizations can strengthen financial solvency and build resilience.

July 15 — Board Education and Engagement

Board members are critical to our success, but it can also be a challenge to manage committees and volunteers. We’ll talk about strategies that have been successful in helping board members understand our mission and the impact they can have, and how to encourage the board to advocate for your organization among their peers and contacts.

September 16 — Data Hygiene

As a group, let’s share software, tools, or best practices that we’ve implemented to keep our CRMs clean and current. And also discuss how we use data to tell the impact of our organizations and inform our fundraising plans.

November 18 — Year-End Grace

Let’s meet for a coffee as we navigate the end of the calendar year. In a time of year that can feel overwhelming, how do we give ourselves grace, protect our time and energy and practice self-care.

We are grateful to all of you for being a part of this community of women in philanthropy—whether you’re a funder or fundraiser, thank you for being here and sharing your wisdom and experiences with the group!

Courtney + Ashleigh