GRANT INFORMATION
Grant applications are due no later than 3pm on Thursday April 9, 2026
Welcome
Applications Due : October 15, 2026 at 3pm
Grant Award Notifications : November 2026
The Charles County Charitable Trust is pleased to announce the Fiscal Year 2027 MicroGrant made possible through a partnership with The Wills Group. Grants are available to eligible nonprofit organizations that serve the residents of Charles County. Grants of up to $10,000 will be awarded for the timeframe beginning November 1, 2026 and ending April 30, 2027. Grant applications are due no later than 3 pm on October 15, 2026.
Grant Guidelines - What We Fund
The FY27 Wills Group Microgrant supports programs that contribute to the quality of life in Charles County. We fund programs that keep our communities strong, diverse, and vibrant. These MicroGrants are designed to support small or new nonprofits in their efforts to build or maintain programs supporting underserved populations, health and human services, civic and community development, culture and the arts, education, and the environment.
Eligibility Requirements
- Must have IRS Recognition as a 501 (C)(3) Tax-Exempt Organization
- Eligible applicants must have one of the two following criteria: The date of their 501 (C)(3) Tax-Exempt status was on or after August 1, 2023 OR their annual operating budget is under $100,000 (based on FY26 budget v. actuals and FY27 budget)
- Must have been in operation continuously since receiving their 501(C)(3) Tax-Exempt status
- 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
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):
- IRS 501 (c)(3) Letter of Determination
- Board of Directors, Titles, and Affiliations or Former Affiliations
- Current fiscal year (or calendar year) budget vs. actuals
- Previous completed year-end budget with actuals signed by an authorized person in your organization
- 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
MicroGrants 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:
- Goals, objectives and outcomes are clearly defined and achievable, given the available financial and staff resources
- Potential impact on 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 and reduce costs
- The extent to which a diverse mix of funding is obtained to support and expand program