Nonprofit Day at State House set for June 6

AUGUSTA — The Maine Association of Nonprofits is set to hold Nonprofit Day at the State House from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, in the Hall of Flags.

Since 2004, the association has hosted this day to showcase the work and worth of nonprofits, increase policymaker awareness of their essential contributions to the state’s economy and quality of life, and strengthen relationships between nonprofit leaders and public officials, according to a news release from the association.

This year’s Nonprofit Day, the first in person since 2019, offers a new format to provide opportunities for both nonprofit staff and volunteers — those new to advocacy and those more experienced — through a morning program of networking and connecting with legislators, speaker remarks, panel discussions and private State House tours.

More than 115 nonprofit staff and volunteers representing 75 charitable organizations from 13 counties are registered to attend, with missions spanning 16 areas from arts and culture to health and human services.

“Advocacy is a critical part of the success of mission-driven organizations across the state,” said Mary Alice Scott, MANP’s public affairs manager. “Not only does this day promote the richness and diversity of the sector, it creates a unique opportunity for nonprofit leaders to connect with not only their legislators, but one another, to establish meaningful connections that can have lasting positive impact on their work.”

Speakers and panelists include Jayne Giles, MANP board member; Joann Bautista, deputy secretary of state; Martin Grohman, executive director of E2Tech; Ninette Irabaruta, director of Public Policy and Advocacy at the United Way of Southern Maine; Bill Nemitz, president of the Maine Journalism Foundation; Susan Sharon, deputy news director at Maine Public; and Larry Sidelinger, executive director of Lincoln Community Television.

For more information about MANP’s advocacy work, email Scott at mascott@nonprofitmaine.org.