Giving
Do you care about women’s issues?
Are there women in your life for whom you are grateful?
Your gifts to The Center will invest in a better life and future for women in our community! Your gifts can also honor the women in your life who have been there for you. As a small non-profit with a big and growing mission, we depend on ALL our donors! EVERY gift has been important. It is our donors that make this work possible. With long term stability in mind, our goal is that only about 11% of The Center’s funding comes from foundations. The bulk of support comes from individual and corporate gifts. We make every dollar go a LONG way. You can help keep us going and growing. Here’s how…
ANNUAL FUNDS: General operating funds are hard to find through foundations, but consistent annual support is what pays for staff and keeps the door open. We invite you to join our community of donors! You can do so as a smaller donor, as a SHERO for $250, a Super SHERO for $500 , or join our Sunflower Circle by making a larger gift of $1,000 or more. A new category of SPONSOR has been added for yearly gifts of $5500 ; this amount covers the cost for one woman to live at Sophia’s House for a year. SHERO and larger gifts can be pledged and paid monthly or quarterly. Unrestricted funds for The Center daily work are the most helpful, but you can also contribute to our Herban Works or Sophia’s House projects.
PLANNED GIVING: Do you have a life insurance policy you no longer need? Are you finalizing your will? Do you have stocks to sell? Through bequests and deferred giving, you can reach your giving goal and help us grow for the future! Please contact us for suggestions and to request a form on which to state your intent to make a planned gift to the women’s center. We cannot render legal or tax advice, but for an introduction to different types of planned gifts CLICK HERE. Please consult your attorney or financial advisor for further assistance.
Our Board is the Development Committee
Each Board meeting begins with a 1 hour hands-on task or planning session related to fundraising, followed by a 90 minute business meeting. We have 100% participation from the Board. They also each recruit new SHEROs, cultivating relationships with our larger donors, and nurture relationships with ongoing supporters. With your help, our development plan will lead us to being self sufficient and assure our long term sustainability.
Thank you to these sponsors
Banks and other businesses
(Gifts of $250 or more. Links are donations of over $500.)
Androscoggin Bank Auburn Savings Bank Bangor Savings Bank
Community Credit Union Mechanic Savings Bank
Norway Savings Bank TD Bank Design Architectural Heating
Austin Associates B-Street Clinic Head to Toe PT Health Affiliates Maine
Chill Yoga Design Architectural Heating Lewiston/Auburn Rotary
Liberty Mutual Loves and Fishes/Dominican Sisters Network for Good
Re-Awakening Renew You! Massage and Reiki Sofia Fima
Walmart Wausau Financial Systems
Churches
Episcopal: Good Shepherd (Rangely), St. Alban’s (Cpe Elizabeth), St. Bartholomew’s (Yarmouth), St. Columba’s (Boothbay), St. Margaret’s (Belfast), St. Matthew’s (Hallowell), St. Matthew’s (Paramus, NJ), St. Mary’s (Falmouth), St. Michael’s (Auburn), St. Paul’s (Brunswick), Trinity (Lewiston)
Lutheran: Good Shepherd (Brunswick), Grace (Auburn)
Methodist: Calvary (Lewiston), Park Ave. (Auburn)
Other: First Universalist Church (Auburn), Temple Shalom (Auburn), Community of the Resurrection (Biddeford), and Seekers Church (Washington, DC),
Foundations
In addition to ongoing support from The Daughters of Wisdom, The Sisters of Charity (St. Hyacinthe), and the Robitaille Family Foundation, we have also received support over the years from…
Bates College, Carignan Fund Bingham Project
Episcopal Diocese of Maine John T. Gorman Foundation
Narragansett Number One Foundation Simmons Foundation
Maine Community Foundation and their Androscoggin County Fund
United Thank Offering of the ECW Women of the ELCA
Note: The above are all 2017-18 donors. If we have left anyone out or made a mistake please let us know!
Other Ways to Help
Clynk – If you live in the Lewiston/Auburn area, ask us for our bags for redeemable bottles. Fill the bag with bottles and take the bag to Hannaford. Scan our sticker on the bag, leave it in the Clynk deposit slot at any Hannaford store. The income is deposited into our account! You help the environment and us!
Amazon Smile – Shop at Amazon Smile and a % of your purchase will be donated to us!
Wish List
- Hygiene items: Feminine products, shampoo/conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste/brushes and floss, soap etc. (These are given away. Please only full size products, not samples, new/unopened.)
- Beverages: Instant coffee (reg. & decaf), hot chocolate, herbal teas, powdered milk, honey, sugar & creamer.
- Snacks: cookies, oatmeal, healthy munchies like granola bars, dry fruit & nuts, single serving fruit cups
& soups, diabetic snacks, peanut butter. - Paper goods: toilet paper, napkins, paper towels, plates & cups.
- Gift certificates: Office supply stores (for printer ink, paper etc.), hairdressers (to give away for
birthdays), $4 Dunkin Donut cards, $25 grocery cards. - In Kind: Computer tech support, social media manager; printing services.