Hosted by Maine Philanthropy Center
Have you ever wondered about the origins of wealth in Maine?
Tuesday, April 7, 3:00pm to 4:30pm ET
Maine MILL in Lewiston
Join the Maine Philanthropy Center for the launch of The History of Philanthropic Wealth in Maine, a new report developed in collaboration with Place Matters at the University of Southern Maine. This gathering will take place at Maine MILL, a museum that encapsulates and celebrates stories of work and the cultural heritage of Central Maine.
We invite funders, nonprofit leaders, community partners, and all who care about Maine’s future to join us to engage in an honest exploration of how wealth was accumulated in our state—and how those histories continue to shape communities today.
Grounded in research and interviews with historians and philanthropic leaders, the report traces connections between land dispossession, extractive industries, enslavement, and modern-day philanthropic structures. It offers both historical context and practical frameworks to support more equitable, restorative, and community-centered approaches to giving.
The event, set to the backdrop of Maine artist Charlie Hewitt’s exhibit Drawn in Light, will feature reflections from the report’s authors, voices from Maine’s philanthropic community, and opportunities for dialogue and practice with the toolkit.
Together, we will consider how philanthropy can move beyond acknowledgment toward action—embracing transparency, accountability, and repair as essential components of building a just, vibrant, and equitable Maine.
Whether you are a foundation leader, donor, nonprofit partner, or community member, this launch is an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reimagine the role of philanthropy in advancing shared prosperity. We hope you will join us for this important conversation and be part of shaping what comes next.
