MaineShare Grows Like Organic Farms

Sales of organic foods are not all that’s growing at 20% a year: MaineShare, the charitable giving program that funds preventive programs in Maine with Maine dollars, is doing the same. Executive coordinator Will Childs sees that figure growing: "The sky’s the limit," he says, as MaineShare makes inroads into new workplaces.

Childs started at MaineShare last February, but he was no stranger to the organization before that. Trained as an environmental geologist, he previously worked for 12 years for the environmental consulting firm Harding Lawson Associates of Portland, where he "used to go slogging around hazardous waste sites in the Eastern U.S." Later in his career at Harding Lawson, he moved into market-related work, and he was the workplace coordinator there for MaineShare. His move to executive coordinator of MaineShare almost seemed fated.

"I had met Matt Howe [previous MaineShare executive coordinator] about seven years ago, when MaineShare came to Harding Lawson. I was immediately drawn to what MaineShare represents," says Childs. "I had been looking to do something where I could work more from the heart." The MaineShare opening was "a new challenge that would provide the opportunity to give back more than was possible in my previous position."

The move "turned out to be a great thing to do," he says. "I’m very grateful for the opportunity to represent the many diverse groups that MaineShare represents. A tremendous foundation has been built in the last 10 years." The future of those groups "is a very positive picture from where I sit."

Childs explains that MaineShare represents Maine-based organizations that focus on preventing human and environmental problems in the state. Thus, it complements giving programs that focus primarily on fixing existing problems. "MaineShare is going to the root of problems and seeking long-term solutions."

In that capacity, the organization provides "a different choice for workers to give through payroll deductions or directly. No one charitable association has all the answers...so people want to have a choice." He uses health care as an example: We want a hospital to be there when we need it, but it’s better to prevent the need to go there if possible. "For a healthy Maine, we need preventive action as well as direct services."

Five types of organizations are members of MaineShare, including: environmental organizations, such as MOFGA, Maine Audubon and the Natural Resources Council of Maine; economic opportunity and human development organizations, such as Community Housing of Maine, and Maine Centers for Women, Work and Community; human services and health, such as Maine AIDS Alliance and Consumers for Affordable Health Care; cultural diversity and arts organizations, such as Maine Speak Out Project; and social justice and peace organizations, such as the Maine Civil Liberties Union, Maine Veterans for Peace, and the Maine Peace Fund. "It’s an eclectic, diverse group of 30 organizations," Childs explains.

Among the workplaces where regular payroll deductions can be taken to support MaineShare are the State of Maine Employees, the largest campaign MaineShare runs currently; various local government entities, such as the cities of Bangor and Portland and the towns of Freeport and Falmouth; various public libraries, health care facilities and nonprofit organizations; and, increasingly, many private businesses, such as Diversified Communications in Portland, Harding Lawson Associates of Portland, Lee Auto of Auburn, Westbrook and Topsham, and Tom’s of Maine. "We’re trying to develop a network of MaineShare friends within larger workplaces to talk about the fact that people do want choices," Childs continues. "We need several groups to cover all of the changes that need to be made. By adding choice, people are going to participate in campaigns who otherwise may not have." He says he knows of several examples where MaineShare went into a workplace, even where another payroll deduction plan was in place, and "increased total giving--both to the traditional funding plan and to MaineShare." Having MaineShare as a workplace giving option "benefits everybody, but most importantly, it benefits the people of Maine."

Those who want to give to MaineShare directly or who are interested in having their workplace offer a payroll deduction plan can call Childs at 622-0105 or visit MaineShare’s website at www.MaineShare.org to download a form for giving or to find workplaces that offer MaineShare as a deduction. Look for MaineShare at the Common Ground Country Fair, too. Currently over 100 workplaces offer the program to more than 50,000 people in the state.