Fiscal Year 2025 Grants will be due April 11, 2024

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GRANT INFORMATION

APPLY FOR GRANT AWARD

Grant applications are due no later than 3pm on Thursday April 9, 2026

Welcome

The Charles County Charitable Trust is pleased to offer the ARPA Community Impact Grant to eligible nonprofit organizations serving Charles County residents.

This grant opportunity is supported through funding made available under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and is intended to support eligible projects that address qualifying public health and/or negative economic impacts associated with the COVID-19 public health emergency while strengthening the capacity of local nonprofit organizations to serve Charles County residents.

Local nonprofits have played an essential role in helping Charles County residents navigate the challenges created or intensified by the COVID-19 pandemic. At the same time, many organizations continue to experience increased demand for services, workforce challenges, increased operating costs, technology needs, facility needs, and other impacts.

The ARPA Community Impact Grant provides an opportunity to make a strategic investment in the organizations serving our community.

Our Goal: To turn ARPA recovery dollars into measurable, lasting community impact.

Grant funding will prioritize projects that strengthen nonprofit organizations, expand services, improve organizational capacity, and address the continuing needs of Charles County residents.

Grants of up to $75,000 will be awarded for the timeframe beginning November 1, 2026 and ending December 31, 2026.  Grant applications are due no later than 3 pm on October 19, 2026.

Grant Guidelines - What We Fund

We aim to put dollars where they can have the most immediate impact: directly into the hands of organizations helping Charles County residents recover, stabilize and thrive. A strategic investment in local nonprofits allows the Charitable Trust to leverage organizations already embedded in the community and already serving residents experiencing economic hardship.

Applications should fall within one or more of the following four priority areas:

  • Direct Services for Residents Experiencing Economic Hardship (Priority)
    Purpose: Funding to support programs that address the ongoing economic and community impacts experienced by Charles County residents.
    Examples may include: Food insecurity, Housing instability and homelessness, Emergency assistance, Utility assistance, Transportation, Senior services, Mental and behavioral health services, Domestic violence services, Workforce development, Services for vulnerable or economically impacted populations 

 

  • Nonprofit Workforce & Organizational Capacity
    Purpose: Strengthen the people and organizational infrastructure nonprofits need to deliver services.
    Examples may include: staff recruitment and retention, Employee training and professional development, Organizational development /consultants, Human resource systems and infrastructure, Financial / Accounting management improvements, Strategic planning, Consulting or technical assistance directly related to organizational recovery or capacity


  • Technology & Digital Capacity
    Purpose: Funding to help nonprofits improve the technology, systems and tools necessary to effectively serve residents in a post-pandemic environment.
    Examples may include:  Computers and technology equipment, Client or case-management systems, Data-management systems, Website improvements and accessibility, Digital communications, Technology supporting virtual or hybrid services, Technology necessary to improve service delivery, Data collection, evaluation and reporting systems


  • Facilities, Safety & Capital Improvements (Limited)
    Purpose: Address physical infrastructure needs that affect a nonprofit’s ability to provide services safely and effectively.
    Examples may include: Accessibility improvements, Safety and security improvements, HVAC or air-quality improvements, Equipment, Facility modifications necessary to expand service capacity, Technology infrastructure, Other eligible capital improvements

Eligibility Requirements

  • Must have IRS Recognition as a 501 (C)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization with an exemption date on or before January 1, 2021
  • Must have been in operation continuously since January 1, 2021
  • Must be in good standing with the State of Maryland 
  • Must have a Board of Directors with at least 3 members who are not related and operate with an annual operating budget
  • Applicants should propose projects that can be fully implemented and paid for within the required ARPA expenditure period.

Key Dates

September 24, 2026 – Grant Virtual Workshop – Live Q&A – 10 am

LINK FOR TEAMS MEETING

October 19, 2026 at 3pm

Applications Due

November 2026

Grant Award Notification

Grant Period: November 1, 2026 – December 31, 2026

Grant Application Instructions

You may log on to the Grant Application Portal to submit your application by clicking on the Application button located on the top of this page. Please make a note of your password as you will need it to re-enter the portal.

Your form will automatically save your entries as you move through the application. You may return to your application to add information as often as you like before submitting your application. We recommend saving your application narratives on a separate word document in case the data does not save to the application before submitting. 

  • For narrative answers, use a Word document and cut-and-paste text into the application.
  • Do not use formatting like bullets, bold, or highlights, as they will not translate to the application.
  • Answer all questions and upload the required documents or the system will not allow you to submit your application.
  • When you successfully submit your application, you will receive an email acknowledgement and a copy of your application. Contact the Trust office if you do not receive the email.
  • Please monitor the email (including checking the junk email box) of the application contact. 


Documents that you will need to upload into your application (PDF Format):

  1. IRS 501 (c)(3) Letter of Determination
  2. Board of Directors, Titles, and Affiliations or Former Affiliations
  3. Current fiscal year (or calendar year) budget vs. actuals
  4. Most recent (2025) Audit or 990 if required. If not required to complete an audit or 990, submit your previous year-end budget with actuals signed by an authorized person in your organization
  5. Program Budget- Download the budget template, complete, then upload it in the designated space provided

STAFF CONTACT

Questions about the grant program can be directed to Christie Burnett
cburnett@charlesnonprofits.org, 301-934-3700.

Grant Application Review Process

ARPA Community Impact Grants are awarded through a competitive process. Staff review each application and supporting documentation to ensure its completeness, the applicant’s eligibility, and program description.  Applications are then reviewed by a panel composed of select Charitable Trust’s Board of Directors. After all grant applications are reviewed and scored by the panel, the panel will finalize grant awards. Awards will be announced in November 2026.  

Criteria for awarding grants include, but are not limited to:

  • Describing the impact resulting from COVID-19 that the project will address. The application goals, objectives, and outcomes are clearly defined and achievable
  • Explain specifically what the grant will purchase, create, expand or how it will improve the quality of life for residents of Charles County at large, such as arts and culture, the environment, education and community supports
  • The extent to which partnerships are formed with other organizations to better target services, improve programs, reduce costs and other measurable improvements resulting from the grant