About
Who We Are
The Charles County Charitable Trust manages the grant application and award process for nonprofits located in Charles County, Maryland. Funding for grants is provided to the Trust by the Charles County Board of Commissioners. The Trust monitors the grants awarded, performing site visits to grantees, and tracking the impact of grant dollars on the community. The organization provides opportunities for representatives of nonprofit organizations to participate in comprehensive learning experiences, including fundraising plans, nonprofit networking and collaboration, and marketing and communications to increase overall support and assure sustainability.
"We could not have inspired these students and those following behind without your support" - KidsSTREAM
"With your support, 37,110 hot and frozen meals were delivered to clients" - Charles County Meals on Wheels
Board of Directors
Russell A. Yates, CPA
President
Yates, has over 30 years proven leadership and management experience in all facets of financial accounting, reporting and internal controls. As a former CFO and Treasurer, he has managed and directed the corporate financial accounting, reporting, tax, treasury, fixed asset, and audit functions. He successfully led, trained and developed staff, chaired liaison groups, and drafted contracts and proposals.
Nicole Daniels
Treasurer
A Licensed Clinical Marriage and Family Therapist (LCMFT), Nicole has provided years of service previously working in the non-profit arena as a therapist in Charles County and in other counties in the tristate area supervising and as an employee. She was President but is now a member of the board of the Center for Abused Persons in Charles County. She is now self-employed, in Charles County and knows the importance of the non-profit community’s function in mental health support of the community.
Mark Gaskill
Secretary
Teaching Elder in the Presbyterian Church (USA). An advocate and volunteer in Charles County including the Safe Nights Program, Fair Housing Task Force and Charles County Service and Advocacy Network.
Monise A. Brown
Board Member
Monise A. Brown was appointed to serve as a Circuit Court judge in Charles County in January 2022. Monise is involved with various community service-based organization boards including the Maryland State Bar Association Foundation, Delta Sigma Theta, Sorority, Inc., United Way of Southern Maryland, NAACP, and as a school volunteer and guest speaker. Monise has earned recognition for her dedication the community as a Top 100 Women recipient by the Daily Record and as a Leader in the Law.
George Hawley
Vice President
Local Veteran Government Representative for the Maryland Department of Labor. Volunteers with Project Opportunity, helping veterans with business planning. Past president Waldorf Kiwanis and on several Chamber of Commerce committees. Offers professional help with planning special events. Navy veteran with service as a hospital corpsman, Bethesda Naval Hospital.
Darlene Breck
Board Member
President/CEO Southern Maryland Business Center and Chief Judge of the Orphans’ Court. Extensive nonprofit experience including Charles County Chamber of Commerce president and board chairman for the University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center. Appointed by the Maryland Senate to the Maryland Commission for Women and active in Zonta International.
Bill Dotson
Board Member
A long time Charles County resident and CEO of Modern Door. A current Associate Orphans Court Judge, Bill has been part of several Charles County organizations, including the United Way. Bill, and his wife Julie, are philanthropists that support multiple nonprofit organizations in SoMd. Their largest community investment is The Bill and Julie Dotson Imaging Center at the Charles Regional Medical Center in Laplata.
Laura Forbes
Board Member
With 18-years in the Real Estate Industry, Laura has been a part of the Southern Maryland business landscape for nearly a generation. Giving back to the community has been a primary goal from the beginning, passionately serving through many charitable activities and supporting women and children in our community.
Tina Wilson
Board Member
Retired Second Lieutenant with the U.S. Army and Veteran of Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Current Chair of the Charles County School Board, President of the Port Tobacco River Conservancy and Vice president of the Southern Maryland Alumni Chapter of UMES.
Staff
Christie Burnett
Executive Director
Kelly Porter
Director of Development
Jessica Minopoli
Administrative Coordinator