The Charles County Charitable Trust has announced approval of 33 grant awards to nonprofit organizations serving the community with a wide range of services. The amount totals $784,800. Of this, $859,800 was provided by the County Commissioners through their longstanding annual support for the nonprofit sector. The additional $700 was contributed by the Trust using small grants and donations received from private sources.
The awards will cover fiscal year 2021, which began on July 1 and will end on June 30 next year.
By agreement with the county government, the Trust has managed the Nonprofit Grant Award Program since 2016. According to executive director Vivian Mills, this year’s grant-making process was similar to the five previous ones in that the total amount sought by local nonprofits exceeded the funds available. She said that this is one reason the Trust encourages them to expand and diversify their fundraising programs to assure ongoing financial health.
The average grant award for this cycle is $23,781, with $60,000 being the highest and $4,000 the lowest. The use of the funds will cover a multitude of services depending on the mission and capacity of the provider organizations. Health and human services to individuals and families in need comprise the largest area. A smaller number of grants recognize the value of the work performed by nonprofits in the fields of arts and environmental stewardship.
All the grant winners had to qualify in terms of their official charitable status, track record, financial soundness, and clarity of their program plans. Each recipient is required to sign a formal grant agreement and to make periodic reports to the Trust saying how the grants are being used and what the outcomes are.
Swynice Hawkins, Trust president, noted that the last three months have been marked by extraordinary demands. She said that it was not only necessary to review and evaluate the applications for funds for the coming year but also to manage emergency grant-making efforts in connection with the pandemic crisis. In April and May County Commissioners approved two Covid-19 relief programs to provide special funds to nonprofits strapped financially as they struggled to meet community demands created by the crisis.
The county government turned over management of these two back-to-back programs to the Trust. Each one earmarked $100,000 and the Trust was able to add $20,050 to the second round total. “As challenging as this work was,” Hawkins said, “all of us recognized how essential it was and what it would mean to nonprofits to get emergency grants and to the people they serve.”
Itself a nonprofit charitable entity, the Trust is dedicated to building the effectiveness of Charles County’s diverse nonprofit sector with the ultimate goal of community benefit and improvement. It is governed by a volunteer board of directors who as a group determine final grant awards. All the board members are Charles County residents as are the staff members, the executive director and a half-time program director.
Additional information is available by calling 301-283-2410 or 301-934-3700, emailing vmills@charlesnonprofits.org, or visiting www.nonprofits.org.
Grant Recipients for Fiscal Year 2021
Awarded by the Charles County Charitable Trust
Total funds awarded: $859,800
- Alice Ferguson Foundation, $7,500
Engage youth and adults on a continuum of environmental education and stewardship in Charles County.
- Bay Community Support Services, $20,000
Implementation of YOUniversity, a technology-driven training program that includes clinical certifications, innovative techniques in patient care and professional development courses.
- Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington/Angel’s Watch Shelter, $65,000
Support for the Angel’s Watch Shelter, which serves single women and families experiencing homelessness, including survivors of domestic violence.
- Center for Children, $50,000
Provision of child psychiatry and substance abuse services for children who have inadequate or no health insurance.
- Charles County Arts Alliance, $10,000
Provision of supplies and funds for arts programs for students in kindergarten through high school, music clinicians to work with middle and high school students, and arts programs for senior centers.
- Charles County Children’s Aid Society, $40,000
Support for families facing financial hardship by offering them school supplies and holiday gifts for their children.
- Charles County HARC, $13,000
Respite care and specialized camp opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
- Charles County Literacy Council, $15,000
Implementation of initiatives for the recruitment and training of tutors and expansion of services for adult learners.
- Charles County Meals on Wheels, $40,000
Support to assure continuity of meals and Telephone Reassurance Service to homebound senior citizens.
- Chesapeake Choral Arts Society, $10,000
Support for a series of choral concerts for residents of Charles County.
- College of Southern Maryland Foundation, $20,300
Expansion of CSM tutoring services to help improve student success and completion rates for students.
- Community Crisis & Referral Center, Inc. dba Center for Abused Persons, $50,000
Maintenance of the 24-Hour Crisis Hotline operations and related services.
- Community Support Systems, $10,000
Expansion of services to deter homelessness by providing emergency cash assistance to avert eviction, foreclosure and or loss of utilities.
- Conservancy for Charles County, $4,000
Support for continuance of land protection and preservation services.
- Health Partners, $50,000
Provision of dental services to underserved people by deploying the Transportable Dental Unit, expanding hygiene services in Nanjemoy and financial assistance for those unable to afford treatment.
- KidsSTREAM, $17,650
Support for Summer and Enrichment Programs to provide youth from grades kindergarten – 9th grade with the opportunities to engage in activities based on STEM and research learning
- LifeStyles of Maryland Foundation, $60,000
Provision of Charles County’s emergency hypothermia shelter services for homeless persons through the Safe Nights program, as well as homeless services year-round.
- Lions Camp Merrick, $20,000
Summer camp for underprivileged children from the Nanjemoy area to help them develop skills and gain independence, and weekend events with structured activities for children and their families throughout the summer.
- Maryland Crime Victims’ Resource Center, $25,000
Provide legal representation and advocacy for victims of crimes in Charles County.
- Maryland Veterans Memorial Museum, $10,000
Develop an education program as part of Maryland’s celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War by incorporating video and an activity booklet to inform the public about Gen. Washington’s and Gen.Rochambeau’s role in the War and their impact on Maryland history.
- Mattawoman Creek Art Center, $5,000
Support Charles County home-schooled youth by providing opportunities to learn about and explore visual art forms, art history, art culture, and art exhibits.
- Melwood Horticultural Training Center, $30,000
Enrich the lives of children, youth, and adults through accessible, high-quality summer recreational programs that promote inclusion for individuals of all abilities.
- Our Place Waldorf, $15,000
Support the healthy, nutritious meals program by adding a third night rach week, when Charles County residents in need are provided a meal at the Calvary United Methodist Church in Waldorf.
- Port Tobacco Players, $10,000
Support viability of Port Tobacco Players during the Coronavirus pandemic by providing one month of the theater’s fixed costs.
- Rebuilding Together Charles County dba Christmas in April Charles County, $30,000
Support the repair of homes for low-income seniors, disabled individuals and veterans.
- Southern Maryland Center for Family Advocacy, $30,000
Provide court advocacy and legal representation for Charles County victims of crimes of domestic, dating, sexual violence and stalking.
- Southern Maryland Center for Independent Living, $15,000
Provide out-of-pocket expenses for disabled individuals with a need for durable medical equipment or for equipment modifications, allowing them to be independent and safe.
- Southern Maryland Community Network, $5,000
Assist individuals with serious mental problems find employment.
- Southern Maryland Tri-County Community Action Committee, $40,000
Provide low-income residents with food and rental assistance, and scholarships for the Commercial Drivers’ License training program.
- Spring Dell Center, $55,000
Provide specialized transportation for individuals with disabilities for access to community-integrated employment, volunteer opportunities and social and educational activities.
- The Arc of Southern Maryland, $15,000
Provide assistance to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families who face financial hardship with unfunded housing needs, adaptive equipment for work or school, and respite care.
- The Catherine Foundation of Maryland, $25,000
Expand early prenatal care and material assistance to members of the community who are typically underserved and uninsured to help promote healthy families.
- The Promise Resource Center, $27,350
Provide intensive in-home parenting support for at-risk families in order to facilitate family reunification and prevent foster care placement for children living in the home.
- United Way of Charles County, $20,000
Support for the Community Connections program that provides the working-poor population with a variety of social services and resources at an accessible time and location, increasing household stability in Charles County.
Even if regional in scope, nonprofit organizations awarded a grant are required to use the funds solely for the benefit of Charles County residents.