My family and I have traveled to Maine each summer for decades. But serving as the Onion Foundation’s first executive director for the past two years has enabled me to begin to experience all the state has to offer year round.

It’s also deepened my appreciation for the creativity and industriousness of the nonprofit sector here, particularly in the arts and environment sectors in which the foundation works. With every proposal, site visit, or virtual meeting in which I’ve participated, I’ve gained a better sense of the artists, art educators and presenters, outdoor enthusiasts, and environmental instructors and activists who weave communities together across the state and increase our well-being.

Their important work throughout the state has inspired my team and me to immerse our foundation not only in grantmaking but also in the conversations, assessments, and learning initiatives that help sustain the vibrancy of Maine. With our newly revamped website and the launch of its Insights publications hub, we hope to participate in and advance discussions that help the state’s philanthropic sector to thrive.

Insights for the Community

I’ve worked in philanthropy for many years — in the U.S. and internationally — and I’ve come to learn that local knowledge and relationships are key factors in program success. They result in ambitious — yet realistic — goals, stimulate new ideas, build confidence, and enable programs to overcome challenges. By revamping our website, we hope the Insights section will help share local knowledge and, in the process, reveal current and potential connections among programs.

Insights will be a central source for publications that:

• Highlight the work, approaches, and views of our grantees

• Offer observations about and aspirations for the arts and the environment sectors from our staff and board members

• Share our views on what makes strong proposals, programs, and organizations

• Reference and circulate helpful reports and resources

• Advocate for new practices or policies when they’re needed

• Showcase perspectives and insights from guest bloggers within the field

We aim to provide a platform that encourages discussion and helps nonprofit organizations — practitioners, advocates, volunteers, and board members — learn from each other. Our goal is to publish articles that not only reflect the state of the arts, environmental, and philanthropic sectors today, but also provide a blueprint for where they can go — and what needs to be built, discarded, or amplified to get there.

Importantly, the Insights section will help us advance the values behind our work:

• Equity: We’re committed to leveraging our resources to reduce systemic inequities so all people in Maine can fully realize their potential.

• Learning and creativity: We believe that knowledge has the power to effect positive change, so we seek out and share new and unconventional ideas and take risks to improve.

• Inclusion and diversity: We respect lived experiences and encourage a broad range of ideas, perspectives, and knowledge systems to foster a sense of belonging.

• Accessibility and transparency: We strive to be welcoming, transparent, and accessible to all in our work and to build trust through clarity and openness.
  
  

An Unwavering Commitment to Growth

As I’ve sought to learn more about Maine’s 16 counties and the arts and environment sectors in which we work, I’ve gained a wealth of information from my colleagues at the Onion Foundation.

True to our values, these individuals are respectful, curious, and highly knowledgeable about our grantees’ work. They’re committed to listening to and learning from our grantees and to developing the kind of trusting relationships that lead to a solid exchange of information and viewpoints. They’ve taught me a great deal about the tenacity and optimism our grantees bring to their work, as well as the tough challenges they face — from inadequate public and private funding and poor community transportation options to climate change and rising sea levels.

Yet, despite all I’ve learned, I’m eager to know more about how our grantees are building their organizations, refining their strategies, and engaging their constituencies. Are they collaborating to advocate and stretch resources further? Have they identified their most important roles within their sectors? Despite many demands, do they play to their strengths? Will they take time out to reflect, plan, and build their organizational and programmatic capacity?

I’d venture a guess that I’m not alone in wanting more information about what works, what doesn’t, and how organizations throughout Maine are driving change. Launching our new website and Insights section offers an opportunity for my team and me to continue learning and further engage the communities in which we work. We invite you to share in the conversation, learn alongside us, and provide feedback on our views and practices.

Strengthening Connections Throughout Maine

Both the environmental and arts sectors in Maine are fueled by talented and dedicated staff, board members, and volunteers.

And, like many of their counterparts throughout the world, these community leaders are buoyed by their unshakeable beliefs — in their ability to improve the well-being and raise the aspirations of humanity, in their capacity to deliver meaningful experiences and protection despite limited resources, and in their skill to learn from setbacks and find new pathways to carry out their missions.

These individuals and communities are not only enriching our lives today, but also building toward a vibrant and healthy future for the state and its people.

And while our grantees’ work is complex, our aim at the Onion Foundation is simple: We want to learn from their experiences and perspectives and — from the privileged perch of philanthropy — share our own. In the process, we hope to strengthen connections among these enterprising organizations and expand the knowledge and capacity of the individuals who support them.

We’re thrilled to be embarking on this journey, and we hope you’ll join us by reading, reflecting, and contributing your own perspectives.

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