1% Back to Maine
I wanted to share more about my favorite nonprofit, 1% Back to Maine. A few years ago, Dava Davin (the owner of Portside Real Estate Group) approached me with an idea. Despite already having the Portside Foundation, she felt we weren’t doing enough in our local community. What if agents, along with Portside itself, could do just a little more? From there, her idea blossomed and we channeled the power of collective giving; all agents, plus Portside as a company, could contribute 1% of top line revenue, which can be used to directly fund local nonprofit grant requests. 1% Back to Maine was born and I was lucky enough to be asked to be a founding member, along with Taylor McFarlane, Erin Oldham, and Alyssa Bouthot (we are now 7 board members strong!).
1% Back to Maine has one overarching goal; to support the next generation of Mainers, Maine’s youth, and to help give them the greatest chance at creating a more wonderful world. We do this by focusing on 4 key areas:
Education
Generational Poverty + Affordable Housing
Medical + Mental Health
Food Insecurity
So how does it work?
All participating agents contribute 1% of their real estate commissions, along with Portside contributing 1% of topline revenue, into a fund. Our fund sits with Maine Community Foundation, an incredible organization that helps link donors with community nonprofits, meaning that all grants that have been submitted through MCF is not only seen by 1% Back to Maine, but many other donors in the state as well. Twice per year, 1% Back to Maine committee members meet to review grants that are in line with our mission statement. Once approved, we fund that grant!
What has been our impact so far?
In conjunction with the Portside Foundation, we were able to raise over $200K+ in 2023 for local nonprofits! We have raised over $600K+ since the inception of the Portside Foundation. The typical grant we fund can be anywhere from $5,000-$15,000. For many small nonprofits, this is a huge boost to their operating budget. We also intentionally make our giving unrestricted, meaning nonprofits can use the funds to best support the organization. We have heard countless stories from our nonprofit partners about the impact on unrestricted giving and the ways in which it allows them to pivot to meet the needs of the communities they are serving.
How does a nonprofit participate?
To be considered for a grant, there are required community building criteria that must be met:
Does it benefit Maine’s youth?
Does it address generational poverty, substance abuse, and limited access to medical care, education, and food?
Does it offer a sustainable solution to an existing problem?
Is the organization a 501c3?
We also ask that the proposal supports the following principles and/or groups:
Breaking generational cycles
Addressing issues negatively impacting families and youth
Black, Indigenous, and people of color
Children and families experiencing poverty, hunger, or homelessness
Children and families with mental health challenges, including substance use disorders
Youth at higher risk (esp. those who are homeless, recently incarcerated, or who have mental health challenges, including substance use disorders)
If these criteria are met, the non-profit connects with Maine Community Foundation to begin the process. A huge benefit to applying through MCF is that all donors in their organization can see the grant, giving it a higher likelihood of funding!
What’s next for 1% Back to Maine?
I am beyond thrilled to share our first business partnership. Lotfey Dennett Insurance has partnered with Portside Real Estate Group to contribute 10% of all revenue of business that stems from a Portside realtor to 1% Back to Maine! This will continue to enhance our giving power and I am so grateful to them for agreeing to this partnership.
Know a great non-profit?
I always love to hear about incredible nonprofits in our local communities. If you know a great nonprofit, I’d love to be connected with them to learn more and share how 1% Back to Maine may be able to help!