Responsive Grants
The Community Foundation presented its 2026 Responsive Grants to 16 local nonprofits, totaling over $268,000. This year in an effort to encourage collaboration rather than competition among local non-profit agencies, the grants targeted collaborative partnerships between no fewer than two non-profits for initiatives addressing the needs of Washington County.
Resources for the Responsive Grants come from the growth and earnings of established Community Funds at the Foundation as well as a partnership with the Pauline Anderson Foundation.
2026 Responsive Grant Recipients
In 2026, the Community Foundation presented grants to the following programs:
Boys & Girls Club of Washington County/Big Brothers, Big Sisters of WC/Girls Inc. for Out of School Time Mentoring & Literacy Initiative- $37,288
Cibus Mission/Eliza’s House for Youth Urban Farm Program - $7,200
Education Foundation of WCPS/Washington County Free Library for Dolly Parton Imagination Library - $25,000
Fort Ritchie Community Center/Tabitha’s Table for Rural Health and Food Assistance Program - $16,006
Gatekeepers Corporation/Ladders to Leaders for Basic Needs for Returning Citizens - $13,000
Global Vision Christian School Broadfording/Star Community for Belonging Together: An Inclusive Community Initiative - $5,000
Lasting Change Recovery Solutions for Women/Gatekeepers Corp. for Business of Living Program for Women in Recovery - $2,400
Leitersburg Ruritan Community Center/Smithsburg Youth Athletics, Aiden Matthew Ripple Effect for Healthy Horizons Youth Camp - $7,000
Literacy Council of Washington County/Washington County Free Library, Western Maryland Consortium, HCC for Gaining Objectives in Adult Learning (GOAL): Remedial teaching to equip students for GED prep classes. - $3,300
Potomac Community Services/Washington County Mental Health Authority for Washington County Mobile Crisis Response and Stabilization Services - $25,000
Reach of Washington County (REACH)/St. Johns Family Shelter for Shelter Housing Case Management Collaboration - $30,000
Reach of Washington County (REACH)/Community Action Council for Hope for Home Program - $16,500
Robert W. Johnson Community Center/YMCA of Hagerstown for Swim Safe, Work Ready, Youth Aquatics Access and Teen Lifeguard Pathway at RWJCC - $35,000
St. Mark's Community Food Bank/America's Hauling for Hope for Cooperating to Feed the Need -$20,000
The Arc of Washington County/Maryland Symphony Orchestra/Women’s Club for Music for Children with Developmental/Intellectual Disabilities - $5,000
United Way of Washington County, Maryland, Inc./HARC, Family Healthcare of Hagerstown, and Lasting Change for Ride United Network (RUN) - $20,700
Creating a Legacy
It’s thanks to our gracious donors that we are able to provide for the hundreds of causes and scholarships each year. Local community foundations like ours allow us to preserve a bright future for our friends, families, and neighbors for generations to come. If you’re ready to donate, we’ll help you make the biggest impact with your funds.
Call us to learn about our funding opportunities or how we can help connect you to a larger endeavor.
