Courtesy / WalletHub
WalletHub map showing Maine's ranking in terms of charitable giving.
Updated: November 19, 2020
Giving Notebook: Maine in top 10 for charitable giving, credit union awards $25K
File photo / Courtesy, Riding to the Top
Riding to the Top in Windham has been awarded a $2,000 grant from Town & Country Federal Credit Union's Good Neighbor Fund. The nonprofit will use the money to provide "riderships" to children with disabilties.
When it comes to charitable giving, Maine ranks among the top 10 states, according to a new report by personal finance website WalletHub.
It found that while the pandemic may have disrupted some volunteer opportunities this year, it hasn’t stopped people from giving to worthy causes. In fact, donor grant making was up 16% in the first four months of 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
Of the 50 states, Maine received an overall rank of No. 9, sandwiched between North Dakota (No. 8) and Colorado (No. 10).
Scores were calculated based in 19 metrics from a state's volunteer rate to the share of income donated to the share of sheltered homeless.
Maine fared far better in volunteering and service, coming in at No. 6, than in charitable giving, where it was ranked No. 29. Those categories had equal weighting in calculating overall scores and rankings.
In a ranking of the number of charities per capita, Maine is No. 5 after Vermont, Montana, Alaska and Massachusetts.
$25K for 8 Maine nonprofits
Following a month-long online vote in October with a turnout worthy of the current election cycle, Scarborough-based Town & Country Federal Credit Union unveiled the recipients of $25,000 in grants.
Eight nonprofit organizations in York and Cumberland counties have been awarded grants through Town & Country's Good Neighbor Funds, as announced in a virtual ceremony.
There were 25 finalists up for a vote, and more than 10,000 people cast their ballots to choose this year's winners.
"Nonprofits are such an important part of our community, and many are teetering on the brink of survival," said David Libby, Town & Country's president and CEO. "From the beginning of the pandemic, we recognized the need to help our communities."
The fund was launched 10 years ago to celebrate the ideal and Maine tradition of neighbors helping neighbors, a concept that has a long and rich tradition in Maine. The credit union said it has awarded $275,000 to 88 charitable initiatives to date.
Grant recipients and amounts
Strive Maine (South Portland): $5,000 to expand an online program to teach independent living skills to individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism and to provide scholarships to people with financial need.
The Summer Camp (Bridgton): $5,000 to furnish girls between the ages of 6 and 18 living in low-income and foster homes across southern Maine with free “camperships” to experience summer camp in 2021.
First Lutheran Church Pre K Program (Portland): $5,000 to provide tuition support to needy families.
Frannie Peabody Center (Portland) : $2,000 to expand the purchase of food for clients living with AIDS/HIV in need of emergency assistance over the coming year.
Girls on the Run Maine (Westbrook): $2,000 to expand access to a youth development program for girls in third through eighth grade.
Habitat for Humanity of York County (Kennebunk): $2,000 to support Saco’s first home built this fall.
Riding to the Top Therapeutic Center (Windham): $2,000 provide “riderships” to needy children ages 3 to 18 with disabilities to access the benefits of therapeutic riding, hippotherapy or equine-assisted learning.
Sanctuary Baking (Harpswell): $2,000 to expand fresh food and baked goods donation program for homeless, at-risk elderly and shut-in populations through mobile bakery, plus the launch of a nutrition and basic cooking program for the underserved.
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