FARMINGTON — Heather Davis, MPH, executive director of Healthy Community Coalition, was a featured speaker at the recent Philanthropy Partners Conference, “Changing Times, New Opportunities,” presented by the Maine Philanthropy Center.

The biennial conference, which took place in Northport, brings together the largest gathering of grantmakers who fund in Maine with nonprofit and public sector leaders from around the state. The conference focused on the reality of the new economy and the challenges it has placed on the philanthropic, nonprofit, and governmental sectors.

Davis presented as part of a panel discussion called “Funder Collaboration: Is the Whole Greater Than the Sum of its Parts?” The panel offered models of collaboration that work and pitfalls to avoid, as well as collaboration strategies — from information sharing and peer learning around a common interest to pooling funds for joint grantmaking. Others on the panel included: Cynthia Gibson, Cynthesis Consulting; Jay Espy, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation and Environmental Funders Network; Nancy Brain, Sam L. Cohen Foundation and Oral Health Funders; and Lisa Kavanaugh, Community Dental.

HCC is an affiliate of Franklin Community Health Network.