Nazrin-Dixon-FNWMCapacity Building

Learn with UMC: Effective Relationships with Wealth Managers

February 27, 2020By

Our March offering in the Learn with UMC series, Effective Relationships with Wealth Managers, will take place from 9-11 am on March 13, at 16 Bayview in Camden. This event is sponsored by First National Wealth Management.

Invested funds are a critical tool in nonprofit finance. They allow the organization to adapt to situations of rapid change, address emerging needs, and plan for the long term. Portfolio managers Gary E. Stone and Christopher J. Shelton will discuss how to know if an endowment is right for your organization and answer important questions about how to start. Who is the best investment manager to oversee the administrative and fiduciary requirements to properly maintain the endowment? How do you find services to manage your endowment? What other things should you consider?

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KCareyWorkshopCapacity Building

United Midcoast Charities offers Grantseeking: Goals & Objectives

February 5, 2020By

UMC’s next free Learn with UMC event, Grantseeking: Goals & Objectives will be offered at 3 p.m. on Friday, Feb 28 at the Picker Room of the Camden Public Library. UMC program coordinator Kelly Carey will offer hands-on coaching about writing a winning grant application with concrete goals and objectives.

All around the nation, funders are increasingly moving to data-informed, outcome-focused grantmaking strategies. That means that it’s critical for nonprofits to clearly and concretely explain what they expect to do, and why they expect their activities will make difference to a social problem.

This workshop is recommended for anyone with grant-writing responsibilities, but especially for those who plan to apply for a UMC grant in 2020.  Pre-learning resources and post-workshop support are included in registration.

The workshop is free but we request that attendees register here to assist in planning. Refreshments will be provided.

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Public Events

Shop Local, Support UMC on Dec 14.

November 26, 2019By

The holiday spirit is thriving in the Midcoast, where businesses in the Belfast, Camden and Rockland area have set aside Saturday, December 14 to contribute to United Midcoast Charities (UMC) in support of the work of local nonprofit organizations.

Participating shops have committed to generously donate a portion of their sales to UMC, and all proceeds will be applied toward UMC’s grants – which help food pantries, health clinics, nursing services, homeless shelters and other providers of vital services in Knox and Waldo counties. The Day of Giving events are made possible through lead sponsorship from Allen Insurance & Financial and Camden National Bank, with media sponsored by Courier Publications.

“Now in its fourth year, we are seeing a building momentum with Day of Giving events,” said UMC Executive Director, Megan Williams. “Last year, the event raised $10,000 for UMC’s local Grantmaking efforts.  Everyone can show support by shopping local on December 14.”

Participating businesses this year range from co-ops to clothing stores to restaurants. All involved will display Day of Giving posters and are listed HERE.

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Shoppers at the Grasshopper Shop of Rockland on Day of Giving 2018.Events

Calling all Businesses! Sign Up for UMC Day of Giving by November 14

October 28, 2019By

With the holiday season just around the corner, United Midcoast Charities is calling on businesses in Rockland, Belfast and the Camden area to participate in the fourth annual Day of Giving on Saturday, December 14, 2019.

Businesses that sign up by November 14 will receive publicity and recognition through press releases, paid ads in local papers, e-newsletters, postcards to local residents, prominently displayed posters, and promotion on Facebook.

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Agency Events

UMC Offers Board Boot Camp for Beginners

September 6, 2019By

A Learn With UMC event
Board Boot Camp for Beginners will be held at the University of Maine Hutchinson Center in Belfast from 9 a.m. -3 p.m. on October 17. This event is offered in partnership with Maine Association of Nonprofits.

Do you ever worry about whether the board you’re on is covering all of its bases – or whether there’s some outstanding risk or liability that you’ve overlooked? This workshop will provide participants with a working understanding of the legal, fiduciary and governance obligations of nonprofit boards of directors. Attendees will gain clarity regarding the “must do” and “should do” tasks that every board faces and acquire strategies for engaging current and potential new board members in sharing the workload. Everyone will leave with an action plan for increasing the effectiveness of their board and heightened confidence regarding nonprofit board governance in an increasingly complex environment.

This session is for you if you are new to nonprofit governance, if you wonder whether your board is covering all its bases, or if your organization has grown beyond its grassroots origins but the board has not.
This program is intended for current board members, including new board members with little to no experience serving on boards as well as more experienced board members who want a refresher. Executive directors are welcome to attend with other board members, and it is strongly suggested that teams of 2-3 from the same organization attend together for most benefit. A maximum of three participants will be allowed to register from each organization.

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Public Events

Annual Community Celebration Happening September 19

August 9, 2019By

The 2019 UMC Community Celebration will take place on Thursday, Sep. 19 from 5-7:30 p.m. at the Samoset in Rockport. UMC will recognize its 2019 grant recipients and supporters with an evening of fun, dancing and delicious food and drink, including music by The Right Track.

The Unsung Hero community volunteer of the year, a joint project of Courier Publications and UMC, will also be awarded at the Community Celebration. Nominations are being accepted now through Sep. 2 at UnitedMidcoastCharities.org/unsung.

The public is invited to attend the Community Celebration. Tickets are available for $30 in advance here or by calling 207-236-2299. If space allows, tickets will be available at the door via cash or check.

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2018 Unsung Hero Awardee, Kathy BeckNews

Nominations now accepted for Community Volunteer of the Year Award

August 7, 2019By

NONPROFITS, tell us about that one amazing volunteer who is quietly going about getting the job done!

Nominations for the “Unsung Hero Award” are accepted under the following criteria:

  • Nominee(s) must be an individual who volunteers in Knox and/or Waldo County, Maine.
  • Nominations must be made by a nonprofit. Employees and paid staff of the nonprofit may not be nominated for work at their organization.
  • Board and staff of United Midcoast Charities and staff of Courier Publications are ineligible for nomination.

Awards are determined by an Award Selection Committee based on award criteria. Award will be presented on September 19 at UMC’s Community Celebration at the Samoset.

To nominate a volunteer for the Unsung Hero Award, please follow this link to the Unsung Hero Award Nomination Form.

ALL NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 2, 2019.

If you have questions, please email Megan Williams, megan@unitedmidcoastcharities.org

The award recipient will be selected from nominations by a panel made up of UMC’s Nonprofit Advisory Council, UMC’s Board Members and Courier Publications Editorial staff. Their decisions are based on reviews of each application and assessment of the following criteria:

IMPACT – How significant is the impact of the nominee’s service on beneficiaries? Tell us about the volunteer’s impact on organizations, their community and others. How has the volunteerism impacted this individual?  Reviewers look at whether the service is exemplary or unique.

INSPIRATION – Tell us how your volunteer stands out from others doing the same or similar things. Do they serve as a strong role model for others, and inspire others to serve?

COLLABORATION – Does this volunteer encourage community members or organizations to work together to solve problems/get things done? How is their service collaborative in nature?

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Nonprofit Marketing and Branding 101 & 102 Workshops Offered

February 11, 2019By

A Learn with UMC Event

We are pleased to announce the next offerings in our free educational series, Learn with UMC: Nonprofit Marketing and Branding 101 on March 8 and Nonprofit Marketing & Branding 102 on April 5. Presenters from United Midcoast Charities’ communication committee will offer an interactive and hands-on series of workshops, drawing on their 190 years of combined experience in the field to help address current marketing needs of local nonprofits.

Please join the United Midcoast Charities’ Communication Committee for a series of two workshops designed to help your organization develop a marketing plan or enhance your marketing efforts. Whether organizations don’t know where to start, or have started and would like some guidance as they take next steps, this workshop series can help.

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Gift Acceptance, Investment & Spending Policies Workshop Feb. 7

January 28, 2019By

First in Educational Series

United Midcoast Charities will offer a series of free educational opportunities on topics essential to nonprofit sustainability and impact throughout 2019. This series was developed in response to needs expressed by UMC’s nonprofit grantees and is made possible with support from donors and sponsors. Our goal is that attending nonprofits will emerge equipped to make a stronger impact than ever!

Midcoast nonprofit representatives are invited to register for UMC’s inaugural workshop in the series, Gift Acceptance, Investment & Spending Policies. Join us on Feb. 7 at 9 a.m. at Allen Insurance and Financial, 34 Elm St. in Camden to learn the hows and whys of developing your gift acceptance and investment policies with experienced gift planners, Abe Dugal and Sarah Ruef-Lindquist. This opportunity is open to nonprofit board members and executives who have a hand in developing organizational polices. Space is limited so registration is requested in advance. Call UMC at 236-2299 with any further questions.

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