Emily Farley Education Fund

The Emily Farley Education Fund, part of the Maine Community Foundation, honors the work and memory of the indomitable Emily Farley and financially supports programming of an educational nature. Emily was finance chair of the LWV Portland Area for many years as well as a dedicated board member and President.  

The LWV Emily Farley Education Fund (EFEF) was established by the League of Women Voters of the Portland Area (LWVPA) in 1997 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the formation of the LWVUS. The Fund collaborates with the Maine Community Foundation, which provides investment advice and support. 

Throughout its existence the LWVPA has provided the public with opportunities to become informed by organizing educational forums, candidate debates, registering voters, and encouraging voter understanding and participation in the government. The EFEF was designed to support this type of educational programming. 

The Fund is named in honor of the indomitable Emily Farley, who was finance chair of the LWV Portland Area for many years, as well as a dedicated board member and President. She was a steadfast volunteer wherever and whenever needed for the tasks of the LWV including answering the LWV telephone, doing research, leading discussions, organizing meetings, and registering voters. Emily has been an inspiration for all who worked with her or have followed her as members of the LWVPA.
 

The EFEF Advisory Committee reviews project proposals and makes recommendations to the Maine Community Foundation for Fund distributions consistent with the purpose of the Fund.

Proposed projects should provide educational opportunities for presentation and discussion of the pros and cons of public policy issues on national, state, or local levels in the following ways:

• Organizing public forums, discussion groups, panels, lectures, debates and conferences as formats for learning about both sides of public policy issues
• Developing education materials to help citizens understand difficult public policy issues in a balanced presentation
• Informing voters on election issues such as referenda questions and citizens initiatives
• Holding nonpartisan candidate debates and forums
• Providing information to help citizens participate in their government and the political process
• Registering voters in a nonpartisan manner

The Fund cannot (1) support political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate or (2) exceed the levels of advocacy permitted under Section 501(c)(3) of IRS rules. 

Examples of prior funding include support for nonpartisan candidate forums, contributions toward the production and distribution of LWVME Voter Guides and the Vote411.org website, and support of Anne Schink student internships.
 

In 1982, the League of Women Voters of the Portland Area (LWVPA) created an award program to annually celebrate a League member who most fully embodied the traits admired in Emily Farley, with special emphasis on Portland Area League members.

A person named as an award recipient is honored for exceptional performance in one or more of the following areas:

• Increasing respect for the LWV in the community
• Demonstrating outstanding leadership ability (motivating others, initiating new ideas and directions, taking risks)
• Demonstrating high standards of performance (thoroughness, reliability, attention to detail, organization)
• Showing deep commitment to the purposes and processes of the League
• Giving devoted service to the League

From 1982 – 2001 there were 14 awardees:

The program disappeared in 2001 as the energy of the LWVPA faltered. In 2014, the LWVPA reconstitute itself, forming a new Board and a new Emily Farley Education Fund Advisory Committee. In 2016, the Emily Farley Award was revived. From 2016 – 2025 the EFEF honored nine outstanding League members. Follow the links to learn more about each awardee.

Anne Schink was the 2018 recipient of the EFEF Award and the inspiration for the 2022 establishment of the Anne Schink Internship program. This internship was made possible, in part, by the generous contributions to the EFEF by friends and family wanting to memorialize Anne’s long-time, tireless contributions to the LWV both at the local and national levels.  

Anne Schink devoted much time and energy over 50 years to the League of Women Voters, serving at every level and in many leadership roles. Anne understood that civic participation is key to making democracy work, and that through-line connected all her volunteer and professional work. She was an expert in facilitation, moderating countless candidate debates for the League, and helping many organizations navigate difficult meetings and conversations. She was an expert in volunteer management, she was unfailingly supportive of those taking their first steps as volunteers, and she inspired several generations of young women to find their voices and claim their places in public life.   

To honor Anne’s life and work, the Emily Farley Education Fund and the LWVPA agreed in 2023 to annually fund student internships in Anne’s name. We can think of no better legacy than one that supports young people taking those first steps into civic life. 
 

Please help us to continue to honor Emily's work with your tax-deductible donations to the fund. 

Donate online here.

Donate by mail:  Send your check directly to the Maine Community Foundation, 245 Main Street,  Ellsworth, ME 04605. Please reference that it is for the League of Women Voters Emily Farley Education Fund.

Questions about donating? Contact us at info@lwvme.org.