Here are a few headlines from the report:

• Foundations have grown in number, from 110 foundations in 1983 to 289 in 2005. Foundation assets have nearly doubled over the last five years, from $800 million to $1.5 billion, while giving has increased by 74%. Of the state’s largest 20 foundations, 18 were created in the past 25 years.
• Individuals in Maine are giving more generously. Individual giving has multiplied more than 7 fold in 22 years (from $67 million to $482 million). In the last five years both total giving and average giving have increased by 25%.

• Individuals account for most of the charitable giving in Maine. Around 80% of all charitable gifts in Maine come from individual donors. Over 165,000 or 27% of households filing taxes in Maine claim a charitable deduction.
• Mainers give less during their lifetimes than the average American. Maine is among the ten states with the lowest average income and is also among the lowest in terms of average charitable deductions.
• Mainers give more generously upon their deaths than national averages (27% of Maine estates include a charitable bequest versus 20% nationally).
• The United Ways of Maine, using funding from individual donors, contributed $17,175,909 in 2007 to issues areas across the state. In 2005, the United Way of Eastern Maine worked with the Eastern Maine Funders to provide either fuel or weatherization for more than 1,000 homes.

• In 2005, Maine nonprofits attracted both national and state funding of $118 million.
• Maine foundations direct more funds to the environment and health and human services than do their national counterparts. This focus reflects the interests and needs of Maine.

• Philanthropy complements and enhances government spending. The total annual grantmaking of Maine foundations could run the state government for 5.3 days.
• In 2005, state and local governments spent $2.3 billion on health and welfare while 20 of Maine’s largest foundations spent only a fraction of that: $21 million. Maine foundations could run the health and human services department for 11.2 days if it received all theirs grants.