Maine Health Access Foundation

Strategic priorities. RFPs. Applications. Reporting requirements. There is a lot about philanthropy that is standard,
predictable - and sometimes fixed and inflexible. Foundations are used to doing things their way. Yet that approach doesn't always get people engaged, or lead to the best results.

Patricia Knox-Nicola has made a thirty-year career of finding the resources needed to offer quality health services to the Penobscot Nation. Over the course of her career, she's been no stranger to rigid federal and state grant requirements. Meeting funding request deadlines and reporting requirements kept her busy with little time to learn how to work with other funders. But in 2002, when MeHAF offered its first grant funding, Knox-Nicola did something
new and applied for a grant. "We were able to expand our dental services as a direct outcome of that grant."

Because of her work as a tribal health director, Knox-Nicola was later invited to serve as a member of MeHAF's Community Advisory Committee. This statewide group helps connect the Foundation with people of diverse perspectives and experiences. "This was the first time I had worked with a foundation," Knox-Nicola recalls. As she began developing a relationship with MeHAF as a prospective grantee and advisory committee member, both the Foundation staff and Pat realized they could learn a lot from each other.

"Many years ago, MeHAF reached out and said, 'Here's what we have to offer. Tell us how we can help you.' MeHAF staff has come to personally sit down and meet with those of us providing health care for the native population, to
find out what the needs are." Over time, MeHAF has provided funding for a health education fair on Indian Island and equipment for a dental clinic serving Native Americans.

Knox-Nicola knows that tribal communities have a lot of different needs, making it hard to know where to most effectively direct the health centers' limited resources. With MeHAF's support, the four Maine tribes in five tribal communities came together to work on a unique survey that would assess the health needs of the people in their communities. Knox-Nicola is coordinating this work.

MeHAF has learned that to successfully meet the needs of all cultures and communities, it is important to determine how best to work with the people to be served. What are their expectations? Traditions? Cultural experiences and perspectives? Productive relationships need nurturing. MeHAF understands that improved health results among the Maine tribes can be better achieved by a community-driven process where the people manage the process and data; in this case an assessment that was "developed by native people, created for native people, and implemented by native people."

Knox-Nicola has learned that some funders can listen and adapt their funding approaches to meet the needs of specific cultures. "They have shown me that there are different avenues for finding funds and support... MeHAF broadened our base of support and possibilities for our projects."

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