Grants
About Our Grants
The Community Foundation of Washington County MD, Inc. was established to be a permanent and growing philanthropic vehicle for charitably-minded people and corporations to contribute financial resources that enrich the community’s quality of life. Income from our various funds offer financial support, in the form of grants, which allow us to meet current needs and prepare for the future. We support a wide range of qualified Not for profit organizations and causes, primarily in Washington County, MD.
Our grantmaking objectives are to:
- Support creative, focused, results-oriented responses to existing or emerging community challenges
- Reward efforts that recognize and build on community strengths and assets
- Improve the effectiveness and build the capacity of Washington County’s nonprofit organizations
- Facilitate cooperation and collaboration among community organizations
We assign high priorities to innovative programs that are preventive and farsighted, rather than remedial; ones that demonstrate good planning in light of overall community needs.
What We Fund
Each year, Community Foundation Grants are directed to programs and activities addressing the areas of greatest need.
As a result of the Strategic Community Impact Plan ( a collaborative assessment of community needs coordinated by the Community Foundation and the United Way), our Granting Committee has established the following funding statement:
2012 grants will be directed to organizations and programs addressing one or more strategies within the following Strategic Community Impact Plan focus areas as outlined in the SCIP document: Education; Family Safety and Security; Health and Well-Being; Elderly; Disabled Population; and Self Sufficiency.
An edited version of the final SCIP document for use during the application process can be downloaded below. This version includes only the goals and strategies of the focus groups identified in the funding statement.
What We Do Not Fund
The Community Foundation usually will NOT approve grant requests for:
- Funding annual operating expenses
- Endowment campaigns
- Projects that would ordinarily receive public tax support
- Sectarian religious programs
- Political activities or organizations
- Special fundraising events / celebration functions
- Scholarships or financial assistance for grades K-12
- Deficit retirement
- Capital campaigns
- Any organization whose Board of Directors or programs are not primarily based in Washington County, MD
Each proposal will be reviewed for completeness, clarity and eligibility, then considered and evaluated by the Foundation's Grants Allocation Committee and subject to final approval by the Board of Trustees. The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees will notify all applicants in writing of its decision.
The Community Foundation makes financial commitments for only one year at a time.
An improvement in our process is that application for unrestricted grants can now be made online. Here is the link:
http://www.cfwcmd.org/unrestricted-grant-application
Please include all relevant programming information in the narrative section. All materials related to the grant applicationare due in our offices by close of business on Tuesday, November 15, 2011. Awards will be made by March 1, 2012. Direct any questions to Kristy Smith, Programs and Communications Manager, at 301-745-5210.
Grant applicants are encouraged to visit or call the Community Foundation office before submitting a proposal. Whether or not you decide to proceed, we welcome the chance to learn more about our community's charitable needs and opportunities.
